City, Mall Owner Agree to Improvements

The City of Effingham and Village Square Realty Management have signed an agreed order in which the Mall owner pledges to make certain structural improvements to portions of the mall.

The agreed order signed this week follows the filing by the City of a request for an emergency order of injunctive relief. The order directly affects currently unused portions of the Mall. Improvements must be completed by November 1 to the former J.C. Penney suite, the former Rural King suite, and the former Rural King loading dock and storage area. Other improvements are to be completed on or before August 15 to the suites of Exclusively Dance, The Journey church, the former Weight Watchers location, the former Shoe Sensation, Night Terrors, the former Jubilee Foods, Double Feature, a sign store, the former Kirlins/CJ Banks, another suite, Glik's, GNC, and the main hall.

The order also keeps closed the roadway along the south side of the mall building due to concerns that the parapet wall of the Mall building at that location has had bricks falling off.

The order also directs that restroom facilities must be constructed to serve the Mall outside the cinema complex. The restrooms in the cinema complex are separately owned.

The order also affects the Wabash Tire and Auto building off South Banker at the Mall complex, where repairs are also ordered.

A status hearing has been scheduled in court for 10am on August 16 to gauge the progress made.