Lincoln Mall Faces Numerous Safety and Fire Code Violations

Lee Edwards | As of Thursday, September 5, 2013

Lincoln Mall in Matteson, Il is in need of several exterior and interior repairs to ensure that the mall is safe for tenants and customers.
Lincoln Mall in Matteson, Il is in need of several exterior and interior repairs to ensure that the mall is safe for tenants and customers. Photo by Lee Edwards.

Lincoln Mall, located at 208 Lincoln Mall Dr., adjacent to Lincoln Highway in the Village of Matteson, is still open for the time-being despite early speculation that the mall will close due to numerous building, safety and fire code violations unaddressed by the mall’s owner, Michael Kohan.

Kohan, a New York real estate investor, has a history of purchasing decaying malls and then leaving them in worst condition when he sells them to a new owner.

According to the Toledo Blade newspaper, in 2009 Kohan under the management company Woodville Mall Realty Management LLC, purchased Woodville Mall in Northwood, OH, roughly 12 miles south of Toledo, OH, and allowed the mall to become increasingly more unhabitable until he sold it on December 27, 2012.

The Chicago Citizen Newspaper called Woodville Mall Realty Management LLC but the phone line has been disconnected.

“Despite our many attempts to discuss these problems and work with Mr. Kohan on a rehabilitation plan, he has ignored and refused to address numerous safety issues. In fact, an inspection last month showed that in addition to the dozens of health, safety and code violations previously discovered at the mall, even more violations have been identified since Mr. Kohan’s tenure,” said Matteson Village President Andre B. Ashmore in a written statement. “I will not allow visitors to Lincoln Mall to be placed in harm’s way because of an owner who has failed to act in the best interests of tenants and shoppers.”

The Village of Matteson was originally seeking to close the mall via a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. However, Cook County Judge Thomas J. Condon ruled that the Lincoln Mall will now be controlled by Collateral Trustee, Inc. for its day-to-day operation while Kohan is still the owner of the mall. President of Collateral Trustee, Inc., John Suzuki, is reportedly assigned to oversee the process moving forward.

“We are happy that the Court has found a way to keep the mall open while we address some of these troubling issues. The Village never wanted to shutter the mall permanently – we simply wanted it to be a place where tenants are proud to work and customers are comfortable shopping. Most of all, though, we want it safe,” said Ashmore.

Kohan has deposited $100,000 in a good faith effort to repair some of the more crucial issues.

According to the Village of Matteson’s inspectors, Lincoln Mall currently has 25 outstanding safety, building and fire code violations.

“It’s been a struggle; it’s really bad now in terms of traffic, all of the attention to the mall is having the reverse effect. People are coming to the store question when the store/mall is closing,” said Kevin Roberts, owner of Azizi Books located inside Lincoln Mall. “I haven’t seen a lot of change yet; if I don’t see a future here we have to move and moving is not easy.”

Roberts who has been a tenant in Lincoln Mall for the past six years added that several businesses within the mall will need to see substantial improvements in order to properly prepare for the coming holiday season.

Mr. Kohan’s attorney, Michael Aschenbrener, who has an office in downtown Chicago, did not respond to the Chicago Citizen Newspaper by press time.

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