Pictured is an aerial view of Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights. Photo courtesy of Loopnet

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The City of Citrus Heights has additional information about a lawsuit it filed against the Namdar Realty Group, owner of a substantial portion of Sunrise Mall, and details about the cost and timeline of a third-party mall pre-condemnation appraisal, which the city announced Aug. 28.

A pre-condemnation appraisal will be conducted by a third party on behalf of the city at an estimated cost of $35,000 and a timeline for completion is likely between 12 and 14 weeks, according to city communications officer Marisa Brown.

A case management conference on a lawsuit filed by the city of Citrus Heights in Sacramento County Superior against the Namdar Realty Group has been scheduled for March 6, 2026, according to Brown.

Citrus Heights law firm Jones Mayer, performing service as the city's attorney, filed the suit.

“We expect their (Namdar’s) responsive pleading in the coming weeks,” Brown said.

The lawsuit filed by the city on July 15 seeks $565,000 in outstanding fines and the immediate abatement of fire, health and safety and code violations, including structural, fire system, electrical, plumbing and landscaping violations, and recovery of costs associated with attorney fees, police services and code enforcement, and inspection.

The City of Citrus Heights assessment of code enforcement and public nuisance penalties followed a comprehensive multiple-day inspection of the mall’s interior and exterior with the help of Sacramento County and Metro Fire District officials this past spring.

A copy of the inspection report which listed the violations found was provided to the defendants in the lawsuit on June 11.

Brown said that the city continues to regularly meet with Namdar Realty Group representatives to discuss Sunrise Mall operations, generally twice each month.

“Since 2024, the city’s Code Enforcement Unit has conducted daily exterior inspections of the mall to address violations such as neglected landscaping, weed accumulation, litter, debris and graffiti. These daily inspections will continue, alongside scheduled interior re-inspections, until all violations are resolved,” Brown said.

“City Code Enforcement and Building staff are taking action to ensure Namdar corrects the violations identified and the city will maintain oversight until the property is brought into compliance,” Brown said.

A request for comment sent to a public relations agency working on behalf of Namdar Realty about the city’s lawsuit and when its responsive pleading might be filed in Sacramento County Superior Court was not returned, as of press time.