Aerial view of Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights. Photo courtesy of Loopnet

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – A third-party pre-condemnation appraisal of Sunrise Mall requested by the city of Citrus Heights and initiated on Aug. 28 is not yet complete, according to city communications officer Marisa Brown.

The original projected timeline for completion of the appraisal was likely between 12 and 14 weeks, or late December, according to the city.

“We’ve been informed by the appraiser that they need some additional time to complete it given the scope and complexity of the (Sunrise Mall) property,” Brown said.

The completed appraisal will be sent to city staff who will evaluate it and determine the appropriate next steps, which typically includes providing a copy to the property owner (Namdar Realty), Brown said.

“At this time, there is not a specific timeline for this process,” she said.

As of Jan. 7, Namdar Realty Group has accrued just over $3.56 million in outstanding fines that span from July 2024 through the present, the city said in a recent statement.

In a prior statement issued in November 2025, the city clarified that, although Namdar briefly brought the property into compliance in December 2024, violations resumed in April 2025, leading to new abatement notices and the continuation of daily penalties, prior to the inspection in May.

City officials confirmed that fines began accruing in July 2024, following initial abatement notices issued to address a range of property maintenance problems.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines were later triggered by health and safety violations identified during an interior inspection of the mall completed in May 2025 by officials from City of Citrus Heights, Sacramento County and Sacramento Metro Fire District.

The numerous fines reflect multiple categories of recurring violations, including poorly maintained landscaping visible from public areas, significant weed accumulation, ongoing litter and debris, graffiti, unsecured vacant buildings and inoperable vehicles left on site.

Each day a violation remains unaddressed results in additional fines, which have compounded over time due to prolonged noncompliance.

After completing its comprehensive inspection of the interior and exterior of the mall the city issued a “Notice to Abate” and then filed a lawsuit against Namdar Realty Group in July 2025.

Brown said a case management conference on a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court against the Namdar Realty Group is scheduled on March 6, 2026.

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

The city’s lawsuit filed 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.

In a statement issued in November 2025, the city clarified that, although Namdar briefly brought the property into compliance in December 2024, violations resumed in April 2025, leading to new abatement notices and the continuation of daily penalties, prior to the inspection in May.

A copy of the inspection report which listed the violations found was provided to the defendants (Namdar Realty Group) in the city’s lawsuit.

“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 in an earlier interview with the Citrus Heights Messenger.

“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.

The Sunrise Mall property spans just under 100 acres and is currently divided into seven separate parcels owned by five different entities, which has caused confusion and complications for redevelopment of the site.

The New York-based Namdar Realty Group acquired a portion of the Sunrise Mall property in December 2018, and then acquired another portion in 2020, which was home to Macy’s at the time.

The remaining portions of the Sunrise Mall property are controlled by Ethan Conrad Properties, JCPenney, Red Robin and Antioch Street LP.

Just over one dozen businesses remain inside the mall according to a recent count by city staff in mid-January, not including those outside the mall, such as Red Robin, Goodyear Auto Service and Sunrise Montessori. The mall property can reportedly house 120 tenants.

Namdar Realty Group has not responded to a request for comment.