Eastland Mall property owners held in contempt of court, fined $250 per day until conditions improve

The City of Columbus continues to push the owners of Eastland Mall to improve unsafe conditions and code violations, and now they’re hitting them in the pocketbook.

The Columbus City Attorney’s office announced yesterday that Franklin County Municipal Court has held the property owners of Eastland Mall in contempt of a June 2022 court order that required them to address safety concerns like of crime, poor lighting, a sinkhole in the parking lot and more. 

The court also ordered owners to conduct a daily litter pickup.

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As the property owners have allegedly not complied with court orders, they were hit with a one-time $3,500 fine, in addition to fines of $250 daily that will continue until the property is brought into compliance.

“Small business owners, patrons and east side residents deserve better than what they’re getting at Eastland as property owners failed to meet reasonable benchmarks to comply with the Court’s order to improve safety and security,” Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a press release. “The City will continue to pursue every legal option to hold owners accountable and ensure this property is brought into compliance so that it can once again drive economic opportunity on the east side of Columbus.”

A status conference has been scheduled for Jan. 10, 2023 to assess the property and determine the City’s next steps.

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