Contributed City firefighters reported 13 code violations during the mall's biennial fire inspection earlier this year, an electrical box damaged by roof leaks.

STEUBENVILLE — Fort Steuben Mall conditions worsen, inspector reports more violations

A follow-up inspection at the Fort Steuben Mall has uncovered worsening conditions and “even more problems,” Chief Building Official Tim Maurer reported Wednesday.

The initial inspection in April identified a series of alleged code violations, prompting city code enforcement officers to declare large portions of the mall “unsafe for occupancy and uninhabitable.” The mall’s owner, Total Finance, was given 30 days to hire a consultant and develop a plan to address issues including shifting storefront facades with displaced glass panels, uneven flooring with concrete deviations, broken skylights, roof leaks extending into storefronts and common areas, odors suggesting mold or mildew and large potholes in parking areas.

Seven free-standing businesses on the property — including 7 Ranges, JCPenney, Walmart, Texas Roadhouse, Eat’n Park, The Shoe Department Encore, Aspen Dental and Dunham’s Sports — were not impacted by the order. Businesses located in the main mall corridor, including Touch of Elegance Bakery and The Ville Restaurant, were allowed to remain open if a temporary floor-to-ceiling wall was installed to separate them from unsafe areas, designed by a licensed professional with emergency access points.

Days before the initial 30-day deadline expired, city officials said the owner indicated interest in addressing the issues and was granted an additional 30 days to submit required reports. That deadline expired Wednesday.

Maurer said the follow-up inspection was conducted to determine whether any corrective actions, inspections, testing, engineering evaluations or repair work had begun.

“At the time of inspection, no evidence was observed indicating that corrective measures have been undertaken,” Maurer reported. “Furthermore, several conditions appear to have worsened since the previous inspection.”

Maurer said active roof leaks were observed in multiple areas of the building.

“The most significant deterioration was noted within the JCPenney corridor, where (about) eight full-size refuse containers had been placed to collect water,” he noted. “Several containers were observed to be at least half full of rust-colored water. Multiple fans and blowers were operating in the area, with extension cords extending across walking surfaces.”

Instead of a professionally designed temporary wall, Maurer said inspectors observed “wooden mall benches…wired together and positioned as a barricade, restricting access to a portion of the corridor.”

He also reported continued structural and interior deterioration.

“At the 3 Bad Hombres storefront inside, displacement previously observed at the upper portion of the storefront system has continued to progress,” he said. “This movement has resulted in visible cracking of one of the large storefront glass panels.”

Gaps above emergency corridor doors increased by about one inch since the prior inspection, Maurer said, indicating continued structural movement.

“A strong musty odor remains present throughout portions of the facility and is consistent with conditions commonly associated with prolonged moisture intrusion and possible mold or mildew growth,” he wrote. “Additional ceiling tiles have fallen or been removed within the main restroom/electrical corridor area, exposing a greater portion of the roof structure above. Exposed metal roof components continue to exhibit significant corrosion, including areas where the metal has rusted completely through.”

City Manager Mike Johnson said at a recent council meeting that it had been several weeks since contact with the mall’s owner. Maurer said his office has not received required documentation including engineering reports, repair plans or corrective action schedules.

“Based upon observations made during this inspection, the condition of the structure continues to deteriorate, and the previously identified concerns regarding structural integrity, water intrusion, life safety and building maintenance remain unresolved,” Maurer said.

Johnson said city officials will meet Monday with building inspectors and Law Director Costa Mastros to determine next steps.

“It’s not good,” he added. “Years of neglect and little-to-no maintenance has resulted in a mall with lots of issues.”

Firefighters are also scheduled to conduct a follow-up fire inspection early next week to determine whether safety issues have been addressed.