Judge fines owner of Century III Mall $150K for rampant safety hazards

[FakeNoose]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/10/17/century-iii-moonbeam-mall-west-mifflin-safety-hazards/stories/202310170101

A county judge has ruled that the owner of Century III Mall [West Mifflin, Allegheny County] must pay $150,000 in fines to West Mifflin Borough for failing repeatedly to remediate a litany of safety hazards.

Common Pleas Judge Thomas E. Flaherty imposed the penalty against owner Moonbeam Capital at a hearing Tuesday morning for three code violations: unsafe structures, sanitation problems and rampant weed growth. Judge Flaherty lowered the fines from $240,000, first ordered in July by a district judge.

Butch Anthony, the borough’s community development director, said he was “unsatisfied” by the outcome. Borough representatives had asked the judge to raise the fines to $324,000 as Moonbeam has failed to pay the original fine or address the violations first cited three months ago. The mall’s condition has only worsened since summer. In August, the roof caved in where a fire had raged in April, leaving piles of debris. The collapse occurred just weeks after a teenage trespasser fell through the roof and sustained serious injuries.

A separate case over the mall’s condemnation status is ongoing, with a closed hearing scheduled for next Monday. Local officials hope that case will lead to demolition, which they estimate would cost $10 million to $15 million. Borough council voted to condemn the structure in July, citing myriad hazards, including collapsed roofs, rampant mold and broken glass throughout the building.

- more at link -

I can remember back to the late 70's and early 80's when Century III Mall was the pride of western Pennsylvania. Now it's an empty, collapsing hulk that's a fire hazard as well as an attraction to homeless people and trouble makers. Moonbeam Capital purchased this mall and allowed it to disintegrate through neglect. It should be on them to cover the costs of tearing it down.