Nittany Mall sues township over bid to fix sinkhole

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAJ) – Namdar Realty Group, the organization responsible for the Nittany Mall, has filed a civil suit against College Township to prevent the municipality from trying to fix the sinkhole near Rural King .

According to the complaint, in 2023 they became aware of a sinkhole that had formed at the bottom of a stormwater basin at the southeast corner of the property. Adding that they hired a company to investigate and design a repair for the sinkhole.

In the complaint, Namdar alleges that they had already begun the process of fixing the sinkhole in May 2024, but discovered the project was “much larger” than they thought. They then say that the township demanded they deal with the issue within 30 days.

They argued that the demand “was made without regard to the newly discovered problems with the sinkhole and the need to redesign a solution.” They added that on June 14 they did request additional time to complete the remedial work. The municipality claims otherwise.

“We tried having multiple conversations with them, both electronically and through letters, and really were getting no response,” Assistant Township Manager Mike Bloom said.

When the sinkhole was not filled, the township put up the project to bid, estimating a $153,000 job that would eventually be paid for by the mall. The group argues that the bidding process for the township to do the work themselves comes at a “substantial increase.”

They also alleged that the township based its decision on a code dealing with “improper maintenance,” but the suit argues that the basin was properly managed and the situation was an “unforeseen subterranean collapse.”

The group added that they feel they have been acting in good faith to determine a solution. Adding that they placed fencing around the sinkhole and that it is located away from residential areas.

Overall they claim that the township lacks a legal basis for the action of repairing the sinkhole and back-charging the mall. They have asked the court for an injunction to prevent the township from entering their land to perform the work. Adding that this would give them the time to complete the work themselves.

You can read the full civil suit below:

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As of Sept. 13, no date has been set for a court hearing.

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