Construction equipment in place as demolition of Century III Mall becomes inevitable

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) — The saga surrounding the abandoned Century III Mall continues to linger on. 

All parties agree it needs to come down, but it has been a slow process that has featured court battles. Equipment is now outside the former JCPenney store to start the eventual demolition.

Border-up doors, broken windows and graffiti have turned the mall into an eyesore.

"The borough is doing everything possible to help them in their pursuit of getting the proper applications with the Allegheny County Health Department," West Mifflin Solicitor Phil DiLucente said.

A court hearing last week told the mall owners and borough to work together on getting this process done. According to DiLucente, in the past week, Moonbeam Capital Investments has been working in good faith to get the job done.

"That's exactly what we're both doing, trying to follow the judge's order to a T," DiLucente said.

The West Mifflin community development director says shelves are being removed from the old JCPenney. More equipment from Neiswonger, the company doing the demolition, is getting set up in the parking lot. An Allegheny County spokesperson said an asbestos survey has been done and none was found in the parking structure.

"The first part of the process would most likely be the parking garage facility," DiLucente said. "We're hopeful, and we feel this was a positive week."

The demo can start there on March 26 unless a municipal engineer orders it sooner.

A complete asbestos survey for the mall building has not been done yet, which must be completed before any demo. DiLucente is hoping we see some action sooner as opposed to later.

KDKA-TV reached to Neiswonger to learn more about its timeline but did not not hear back on Friday.