City officials asked a Cook County judge on April 15 to order the immediate evacuation of all tenants and occupants at Ford City Mall due to ongoing safety issues with the property’s fire suppression system, according to court records.
The request comes as conditions at the nearly vacant Southwest Side mall continue to worsen, raising health and safety risks for those still operating there. The city’s emergency motion follows earlier complaints filed in May 2024 when the Fire Department began working with owner Namdar Realty Group to repair fire system defects. Despite repeated meetings and repair efforts by Namdar, including addressing water leaks and damaged sprinkler heads, recent tests showed that the fire suppression system remains nonfunctional.
Kristen Cabanban, director of news affairs and administration at the Law Department, said after an April 6 fire pump test revealed persistent problems: “The defective fire suppression system creates an ‘imminent health and safety risk to commercial tenants and occupants.’” Cabanban added that leaks could also undermine soil stability beneath the mall, risking a sinkhole or structural failure. Other hazards cited in court documents include flooding, open wiring, poor lighting, large vacant spaces, and dirty conditions.
Tenants such as JCPenney and AMC remain in operation despite these issues. The city has continued legal action against Namdar since May 2025 after conditions failed to improve. At a hearing Monday, Judge Leonard Murray continued the case until Thursday while ordering notification for approximately 16 remaining commercial tenants.
Nefsa’Hyatt Brown from the Department of Buildings said last month: “The Department of Buildings is committed to ensuring the places people gather and call home are safe, and in the interest of public safety will continue to work alongside all appropriate agencies to achieve compliance.”
Ford City Mall’s future is further complicated by redevelopment plans from Kurv Industrial proposing a $200 million industrial campus on site. Alderman Derrick Curtis previously described these plans as vital for economic development but warned that if they fall through “we might be stuck… I’d be really afraid.” Meanwhile JCPenney confirmed it recently extended its lease at Ford City Mall but did not comment on next steps following this latest legal move.
Assistant corporation counsel Greg Janes acknowledged potential sale talks but said: “We just can’t have an occupied mall in the interim… We can’t be sure it’s safe.”
Broader implications include uncertainty for current tenants while rezoning approvals for redevelopment remain stalled amid ongoing safety concerns.
