The city of Chicago has filed an emergency motion to shut down Ford City Mall on the city’s southwest side due to health and safety concerns, with officials saying leaks and problems inside the building could lead to “catastrophic” structural failure.
A statement sent to NBC Chicago by the city’s Department of Law side an emergency motion to vacate the mall, at 7601 S. Cicero Ave., was issued April 10. It was filed after both the Fire and Building Departments’ concerns that the mall’s defective fire suppression system “could create an imminent health and safety risk” to tenants and shoppers.
“The mall’s fire suppression system has been riddled with leaks and has not been functioning properly for that past two years, which, in the event of a fire, could result in severe death and/or injury” the statement read in part.
The city added that leaks in the system that have not yet been identified threaten the land and soil supporting the mall and could potentially lead to the “creation of a sinkhole and catastrophic structural failure of portions of the mall itself.”
During a hearing held Monday, Judge Leonard Murray gave mall owner Namdar Realty Group until Thursday to respond to the motion. According to the statement, the city has been ordered to provide notice to vacate to the mall’s 16 remaining commercial tenants.
Photos and video captured by NBC 5 photographers outside the mall Tuesday showed some windows and doors boarded up.
Ford City Mall’s website showed several open stores, including Bath & Body Works, Claire’s, Foot Locker, JCPenney, LIDS, Ross and Sephora. The mall’s “About Us” page said the mall, which underwent a renovation, has more than 70 stores and restaurants.
The mall did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment. Emails sent to Namdar Realty Group were returned as undeliverable.
