Bangor Condemns Aging Mall Over Safety Violations and Unpaid Debts

Bangor condemned the nearly 50-year-old Bangor Mall, posting notices that declare it unfit for human habitation or use and bar entry until safety conditions are corrected. The order followed years of disputes over maintenance and code violations, including a leaking roof and broken sewer line; the owner, Namdar Realty Group, reportedly owes the city and an insurance company more than $2 million. Most of the mall is closed, while J.C. Penney and Dick’s Sporting Goods remain accessible through exterior entrances, separate from the sealed interior. Retailers and workers were left facing an abrupt shutdown, and the mall’s future is uncertain as a proposed purchase and redevelopment effort has encountered financing problems. Local business leaders have expressed concern for displaced workers and discussed helping retailers find space downtown.