By Sara Beth Williams–
Fines accrued by Namdar Realty Group for various code violations have exceeded $500,000, according to an update from the city.
In a June 23 public memo posted on the city’s website, Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney said that fines against the mall’s majority property owner were, at the time, over $300,000, which was consistent with statements from past interviews with Citrus Heights Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber.
In a statement emailed to the Sentinel Monday, July 14, the city said outstanding code violation fines totaled over $498,000 and added that Namdar Realty has paid $7,780 in fines.
On Tuesday, the city filed a lawsuit against Namdar Realty seeking over $500,000 in accumulated fines, plus compensation for services such as attorney fees, police services, code enforcement services, and inspections.
In the lawsuit filed on July 15, the city outlined multiple current violations ranging from extensive fire, electrical, and health and safety violations to exterior landscaping deferred maintenance issues. The city also cited past repeated code violations, which, though resolved, outlined a pattern of neglect, including repeatedly ignoring landscaping issues outside the former Macy’s buildings, as well as neglecting to clear away accumulated trash and debris from the Macy’s buildings. The repeated neglect resulted in daily fines throughout April, the lawsuit states.
An inspection warrant report obtained by The Sentinel included pages of photos documenting the multiple code violations, including photos of extensive debris and damage from unhoused individuals accessing the former United Artists movie theater, extensive damage from unhoused individuals accessing and living in the abandoned Elephant Bar, extensive water damage across the rooftop of the mall, various plumbing problems including leaking water fountains and broken roof drains, as well as open and broken electrical outlets, and broken brick and potted planters.
Upon inspection, Sacramento Metro Fire officials found that the fire alarm system was inoperable, and the sprinkler system also appeared inoperable and showed evidence of being tampered with. Metro Fire also stated that multiple fire exits were blocked and requested that all padlocks immediately be removed from exits. Previously, some of the doorways on the southern end of the mall had been padlocked, presumably to prevent break-ins.
An inspection of the former Macy’s buildings found numerous electrical hazards, along with mechanical equipment issues, walls damaged and left exposed, and “water intrusion” in several locations, including an area on the first floor where water had been apparently leaking through the ceiling, “causing deterioration and staining of the ceiling” and damage to the floor and wall “for a long period of time.” There were also signs of rodent and insect intrusion and graffiti tags.
Multiple photos also showed damage in vacant eatery spaces in the abandoned food court, including standing water and signs of rat infestation.
Photos from the report were also included in the lawsuit documents filed in Sacramento Superior Court.
According to the suit, due to the size of the property, the three-day inspection, which took place in May, covered only a portion of the property. Inspection report descriptions show that inspectors focused on vacant businesses within the food court, the common corridor of the mall, some of the mall’s exterior, and the vacant Macy’s buildings in the north and east.
The lawsuit also states that the defendant was previously provided a copy of the list of violations as well as given a copy of the inspection warrant report on June 11, and multiple violations have still not been addressed.
