Settlement discussions between the city of Bangor and the owner of the Bangor Mall have stalled, the company said this week.
Bangor Mall owner Namdar Realty Group said in a statement to the Bangor Daily News that it is negotiating with multiple buyers and a sale would present a “clear and practical path toward addressing long-standing conditions at the site.” However, the New-York based company said a sale depends on settlement discussions, which have “stalled.”
Namdar released the statement in response to the city of Bangor sending a letter pleading to a judge to issue a decision in two pending lawsuits the city has filed against the company.
Bangor sued the mall owner in late 2024, and in April 2025 Penobscot County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mallonee ruled the mall was violating city code and must create plans to fix its leaking roof, crumbling parking lot and sign, and lingering sewage. Some repairs have been done but the roof is still leaking, the city said last week.
Both sides are waiting on Mallonee’s opinion, about four months after oral arguments before the judge. An opinion will likely set what, if any, fines Namdar must pay, and give the city an avenue to ensure repairs are made.
Bangor is seeking at least $2.1 million in fines for the ongoing code issues as of February 2025. The majority of the fines accumulate daily until repairs are completed.
“There’s a lot to unpack in that Namdar statement, but our foremost consideration right now is withholding public comment as we await the judge’s ruling,” said city spokesperson David Warren, who declined to comment further.
An immediate ruling from the judge would “risk this unique opportunity to achieve the City’s goals for the future of Bangor Mall and its ultimate redevelopment,” Namdar said.
The lawsuits involve what Namdar said are “disputed allegations,” despite the judge finding multiple violations occurred.
“A premature or adverse decision—before a negotiated resolution can be reached—could unnecessarily scuttle the pending sale and prolong the outcome that parties on all sides have been working to achieve,” Namdar said.
Repairs have been made to the property, including filling in potholes and removing the decaying sign. The roof has been repaired in some spots, but the city said it continues to leak into the building.
Namdar “has acted in good faith throughout this process,” the company said.
It is working to transfer the property to an owner who wants to reinvest and redevelop, the statement said.
“A litigation-first strategy risks years of further delay, uncertainty, and deterioration,” Namdar said. “Namdar continues to believe working constructively with the City toward a settlement that enables revitalization serves Bangor far better.”