Driving around Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer is like an arcade game with real world consequences.
A driver must create a mental map of all the potholes. Winners get home from shopping without significant damage to their cars.
It was just like that for Ashlynn Bashline on Wednesday. The Harrison resident was out for a typical Sam’s Club run.
“It’s weird to contemplate going to Sam’s Club or car repairs because of possible damage to the car,” Bashline said. “That is a lot of money for potholes that could be completely avoided.”
Like many malls across the country, Pittsburgh Mills is not in its heyday, with stores closed and the remaining stores losing more and more foot traffic because of what many have described as deplorable road conditions.
Some in the area are vowing not to shop at the mall until the property’s owner, New York-based Namdar Realty Group, fixes the roads and parking lots.
After promising last year to fix the potholes, no work has been done.
Namdar has not responded to messages for comment.
A lawsuit filed in September by Frazer against the mall seeks to cover the $4.5 million needed to fix the roads in and around the mall.
“We are currently still in the lawsuit, and we are exploring every legal action possible,” said Frazer Township Supervisor Lori Ziencik, who also is township secretary.
Related:
• Jan. 10, 2025: Springdale resident rallies community to fight Pittsburgh Mills' potholes
• Jan. 11, 2025: Editorial: Social media helps to identify the pitfalls of Pittsburgh Mills potholes
• Oct. 20, 2024: How Namdar Realty profits from Pittsburgh Mills and other ‘dying’ malls
The roads in and around the mall are privately owned and not under the control of Frazer. The roads are private property.
Ziencik was unable to provide further details on the litigation.
The situation has officials and shoppers frustrated.
“If there’s a pothole on a state road, I can get it fixed. If the state had authority over this property, I would have had those potholes fixed two years ago. I would never tolerate conditions like this on state property,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele, whose district includes the Pittsburgh Mills property.
But since these potholes are on private property, neither the state nor Frazer has authority to step in and fix the problem without a court order.
“That property is owned by a large, negligent property owner, and this is what they do,” Steele said.
For people like Bill Shipeck, whose home is a quarter-mile from Pittsburgh Mills, the roads are unavoidable.
He is renovating his home and likes the convenience of being able to stop into the Lowe’s quickly. But the convenience comes at a price.
“I have to risk that damage to my vehicle,” he said.
Residents are taking to social media to point out the road conditions with sites like the Facebook group “Pittsburgh Mills Mess!” Multiple posts on that site claim vehicle damage, including blown-out tires, from hitting one or more of the many potholes.
Another Facebook group, “oneBURGH,” goes as far as to rate the Mills potholes on a Turner’s Tea scale. Group members use Turner’s Iced Tea cartons to measure the size of the holes, and the unanimous winner for MVP (Most Vicious Potholes) is one that has been estimated as a “40 TITC-sized” pothole.
Kidding aside, residents and workers are concerned about the threat the holes pose to public safety.
Colin Maudhuit, 18, of East Deer travels about 10 minutes to work at Lowe’s each day.
“I’m terrified,” he said.
“I’ve seen people fall in the holes, and I’m worried that it will cause accidents. I just want someone to take the initiative to fix them,” Maudhuit said, “Eventually, it is going to kill our sales and service. I’ve already noticed a decline, because people don’t want to come out.”
As a delivery driver, George Hohman of Harrison drives on those roads daily. He knows the danger they pose. Sometimes, the holes are so deep that drivers have to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid them he said.
“Sometimes, I wonder if the Frazer police will think a person is drunk driving because of all the swerving that has to occur to avoid the potholes,” Hohman said. “It is ridiculous and really dangerous, and I do not recommend that anyone goes up there unless they absolutely have to.”