Hawthorne officials obtained a permanent court order, which requires the owners of the mall in Hawthorne Plaza Mall to redevelop or demolish the property by August 31, 2026.
The 35 -acre shopping center, which was closed in the late 1990s, included JC Penney, The Broadway and Montgomery Ward, along with a mixture of smaller retailers. The property was also shown in movies including “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “Gone Girl”.
The property, owned by Charles and M & A Gabae, extends along Hawthorne Street from 120 to 126 streets.
Community members have long raised concerns about the infringement of the property of others, sabotage, garbage and safety on the site. City leaders say that redevelopment is necessary to stimulate the city center and reduce the burden on nearby neighborhoods.
If the owners fail to meet the deadline for the year 2026, the city says it will ask the court to appoint a reception to control the mall and determine its future.
In 2017, The developers presented plans To convert the site into a multi -use project with more than 600 housing units, offices and about 500,000 square feet of commercial spaces, including the grocery store, the dining hall, gym and cinematic theater.
These plans have never been fulfilled.