![Tenants received warning of water service shutoff from the city earlier this week. [Rosalie Murphy / The Devil Strip]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bdc0f76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F1%2F03%2F701419469_1320591232.jpg)
Akron’s Chapel Hill Mall is facing foreclosure due to more than $165,000 in unpaid taxes, according to Summit County officials.
The county is still early in the process of foreclosure proceedings, said the county’s Chief Deputy Fiscal Officer Michael Migden. It could take eight to 12 months, and during that time, the owner will have an opportunity to pay off the debt.
The foreclosure won’t impact mall businesses unless the owner fails to pay and no one bids on the property, Migden said.
“If no one bids at the sheriff’s sale, the property would then result in a forfeiture and the current owner would lose the property,” Migden said. “At that time, we would have to make a determination as to what to do with the current tenants.”
The county attempted to reach the property owner several times regarding $166,290.04 in unpaid taxes, Migden said, but never received a response.
The property has also come under fire from City of Akron officials. The city’s Office of Integrated Development delivered a warning to mall tenants earlier this week that water service would be shut off Friday due to unpaid bills.
In a statement, the city said by Friday morning it had received sufficient payment to prevent immediate shutoff.
“While payment has been made today, the water/sewer account for this property remains in a delinquent status,” according to the statement. “The City will continue to negotiate with the property owner regarding an appropriate payment plan, or additional shut off notices may be issued in the future.”
Neither Chapel Hill Mall management nor owner Kohan Retail Investment Group responded to requests for comment.
