Judge: Woodville Mall must be demolished

Woodville Mall in Northwood, Ohio, was built in 1969.

BOWLING GREEN - A judge in Wood County Common Pleas Court today ruled that the former Woodville Mall must be demolished.

Judge Reeve Kelsey ruled in favor of the city of Northwood, ordering current owner Ohio Plaza Shopping Center and former owner Woodville Mall Realty Management to demolish the building.

The defendants must construct a fence around the former mall by Sept. 2. The judge also ordered that they must submit a plan of abatement to the city engineer for final approval on or before Sept. 30.

All unused structures must be removed on or before May 2, and all asphalt and cement slab must be removed from the premises by July 31, 2014.

The vacant building has water damage, mold, and asbestos concerns, and has been closed to the public since December, 2011.

The city of Northwood had filed the lawsuit previously, calling the dilapidated building a public nuisance and calling for the abatement of the facility's numerous violations.