A Berks County lawmaker is calling on the owners of Berkshire Mall to address what she believes are serious concerns about the rapidly deteriorating condition of the property.
State Sen. Judy Schwank, a Democrat who represents the Wyomissing community where the mall is located, has sent a formal letter to Namdar Realty Group requesting an update on the structural integrity of the building and asking them to provide transparency about their vision for the future of the property.
Schwank shared a copy of the letter with the Reading Eagle.
She said in the letter that since Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall in 2010 the condition of the mall and surrounding property has steadily declined. She noted she is particularly concerned about structural issues that have emerged in recent months.
Officials from Namdar Realty Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Schwank’s letter, she pointed out that sinkholes have caused large portions of the parking lot to be fenced off for months; that numerous community members have seen signs of damage both inside and outside the building; the food court is almost entirely closed; and major parts of the roof and facade are showing signs of serious neglect.
“The Berkshire Mall was once a thriving hub of retail activity and remains an important property in our community,” Schwank wrote.
The lawmaker requested in her letter that Namdar Realty Group provide an update on the current structural integrity of the property, list completed repairs, submit a timeline for full remediation of the known issues and share its long-term vision for the property.
Schwank said the people of Berks County deserve answers.
“This is not just an issue Wyomissing Borough should be left to deal with on their own,” she said. “The condition of the Berkshire Mall impacts surrounding communities, and we all want to see it once again become a hub of activity.
“The further it falls into disrepair, the more difficult and costly the task of breathing new life into the property becomes for future developers,” she added.
Schwank said the Berkshire Mall is not the only property that the company owns that is being neglected.
Namdar Realty Group is also facing scrutiny at another mall it owns in Pennsylvania that has fallen into disrepair. The company was recently ordered to pay $1.8 million in fines for repeated codes and maintenance violations at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall.
Schwank concluded her letter by urging the owner to sell the property if it’s unable or unwilling to provide updates or make the investments needed to ensure safety.
Michele Bare, borough manager, said the issues at the mall have been ongoing and are the subject of pending litigation against Namdar Realty Group.
“The board very much appreciates the support of the senator,” she said.
Bare said she and other Wyomissing officials would like to see the 58-acre parcel in the center of the borough reclaim its place as an economic driver.
“It could be a huge generator of tax revenue in terms of not just the assessed property value but the mercantile privilege tax,” she said. “The assessed value has basically been reduced by $50 million within the past decade so any improvement to the property, just general routine maintenance that keeps it from looking like an eyesore would be beneficial to the borough and surrounding property owners.”
An ongoing issue
Borough officials have taken their concerns over the property to court.
As a result of ongoing concerns for the safety of the visitors of the mall, the borough filed a court petition in November seeking Namdar Realty Group to immediately address issues to avoid the condemnation of the mall during the holiday season.
Following a hearing shortly after the petition was filed, borough officials and representatives of the mall reached an agreement that allowed shopping to proceed. The impacted lots and travel lanes were closed to traffic and pedestrians, and fencing and barricades were installed.
Despite that resolution, the court battle has continued with the borough asserting that several issues still need to be resolved by Namdar Realty Group.
Source: Berkshire mont
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