WATCHDOG UPDATE: Southern Park Mall owners pay property taxes three months past due date
According to the Mahoning County Auditor's website, Southern Park Mall's ownership has paid its property taxes for the first half of 2025 on Friday, June 13.
Mahoning county property taxes were due more than three months ago, but one of the larger bills remains unpaid.
Kohan Retail Investment Group, the owners of the Southern Park Mall, have now racked up nearly $50,000 in penalties on top of $519,344 in property taxes.
In August, the group will owe over $500,000 more.
“It really hurts next year's operation if that money is not collected. It's missing from being able to fund police, fire, road, school teachers programs. Those are all things that when we talk about tax collection, that's where it goes,” said Jason Loree, Boardman Township Administrator.
The group also owes money for being part of a special improvement district. That's an incentive program that provided money through bonds and tax breaks for the mall's previous owner in exchange for making improvements to the mall.
When Kohan took over, the benefits remained, but Kohan was absent. When the township had an annual review meeting, Kohan did not show up.
“Prior to them taking ownership, the mall had used that ESID and they put in new HVAC systems and roofing. It’s to help seal the building envelope, improve that energy efficiency. It’s a program through the state of Ohio. So, they already benefited from it,” said Loree. “I’ve been in communications with the ECID attorney, and we’re trying to understand what happens when the mall doesn’t pay their money back, and they’re not responsive.”
This comes at a time where dozens of malls owned by Kohan Retail Investment Group are being sold.
A glimpse from Kohan's real estate portfolio that the company buys or sells or that have closed, fluctuates yearly, based on the number of locations listed on the company's website since 2021.
According to their website, using end-of-year location numbers, Kohan owned 51 malls in 2021. By the end of 2022, that number rose to 63 properties but dropped to 51 one year later. By late 2024, Kohan's portfolio declined 48 percent, down to 27 properties.
Since the beginning of the year, Kohan Retail investment Group has bought three new properties: in New York City, Moline, Illinois, and Boardman, while selling three.
Multiple county and township officials, including Loree, have been trying to meet with Kohan Retail Investment Group, but have not heard anything back.
Township trustee Tom Costello said as time goes by without a word from Kohan, his optimism for the mall's future is dwindling.
Carol Rimedio-Righetti, Mahoning County Commissioner, has been trying to meet with Kohan for months. She said without speaking to the owners, she is unsure about the motives for the interest in the mall.
Loree said if the group didn't pay their property taxes, the township would need to think of ways to make up for that shortfall. While speaking with 21 News, Loree gave us a message for Kohan.
“Pay your taxes, pay your ESID. If you have any questions about why it's so important to the township or the school, call us,” said Loree.
It could take years for a property to go into foreclosure if property taxes aren’t paid. As for ECID, no action can be taken until the group doesn’t pay for five years.