Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has announced he is filing a criminal incitement against the owners of Century III Mall.
Moodbeam Capital, based out of Las Vegas, is the owner of the property that shut down in 2019.
They bought the mall several years ago with plans to remodel it, but never did.
During a news conference on Tuesday morning, Zappala said pointed out hundreds of incidents that people breaking into the abandoned mall.
He said the owners have shown they have no plans to renovate the land saying, “this is a monument to blight.”
Century III Mall PA LLC is charged with a felony, causing or risking a catastrophe along with make a public nuisance. That charge is a misdemeanor.
“They clearly have no intention of doing anything with the property, as it exists, they’ve abandoned for all intents and purposes, they’ve abandoned this property,” said Zappala.
With the charges and a restraining order filed Tuesday, Zappala said the County Court of Common Pleas will take control of the site and pursue demolition.
After jumping through the necessary hoops, Zappala believes demolition could begin the next 2 to 3 months.
The owners have been hit with fines and a fire broke out last April at the mall.
There's been a significant increase in trespassing and vandalism, including YouTubers trespassing on the property for content.
The mall that opened in 1979 closed permanently in 2019.