Bangor, Maine — The City of Bangor is taking legal action against the operators of the Bangor Mall for what it claims are environmental and public health hazards stemming from leaking sewage systems. Recent court filings indicate that human waste is purportedly seeping from the mall’s facilities into local water bodies, prompting the city officials to demand rectification.
Filed in mid-December, this lawsuit marks the second complaint lodged by the city against the mall’s management. The initial lawsuit was brought forward in October over allegations that the mall’s parking structures, roof, and signage were not compliant with city regulations.
City officials discovered over the summer that the stormwater and sewage systems servicing the mall were compromised. In response, the city is now suing Bangor Mall Realty LLC, Bangor CH LLC, and Bangor Nassim LLC. They are requesting that the court compels these entities to address the damages, estimating repair costs in the tens of thousands, and to devise a comprehensive remediation strategy.
According to court documents, persistent infrastructure problems have negatively impacted tenants such as the Ten Bucks Theatre, which has resided at the mall for nearly six years. The president of the group, Deanna Rice, mentioned that the deteriorating conditions have made their continued occupancy untenable. Rice cited water leaks leading to damage and frequent use of buckets and shop vacuums to manage the water intrusion, alongside increasing rental and utility costs projected at about $2,000 a month, as key factors in their decision to relocate.
The theatre group, amidst packing up their props and set pieces, plans to vacate the premises before their lease concludes in March. Past rainfalls have already forced them to discard damaged props and constantly check for new leaks.
For long-time Bangor residents like Christy Bruton, the mall’s decline is both visible and disheartening. Bruton recalls a time when the mall was bustling with a variety of shops, making its current dilapidated state particularly poignant for those with fond memories of its heyday.
Court files also highlight communication lapses, noting that the city has not received sufficient responses or confirmations from the defendants concerning the issues at hand. The city is advocating not only for financial compensation and repairs but also for the establishment of an emergency contact within the mall’s management who is available to undertake immediate corrective actions.
A hearing scheduled for Jan. 3 will further address these concerns, where the city will reiterate its demands for fiscal accountability and a solid resolution plan from the mall’s overseers.
The parent company overseeing the mall, Namdar Realty Group, has not responded to requests for comments on the matter.
Disclaimer: This article was generated by Open AI and aims to inform on general events. However, details about people, facts, dates, and other specifics may not be accurate. Any concerns, requests for removals, retractions, or corrections can be addressed by emailing [email protected].