Judge rules Northridge Malls owners to secure building or pay fine.

• Position: William Sosnay

Byline: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF

A Milwaukee judge ruled on Monday that the owners of the former Northridge Mall will have to secure the vacant building by Friday or pay $2,000 a day, local outlets reported. The mall, at 8110 W. Brown Deer Road, was the site of four major blazes possibly set by trespassers within 30 days.

Milwaukee County Judge William Sosnay scheduled a final ruling on U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group's appeal to the city's order to demolish the mall, Urban Milwaukee reported. The ruling signaled the end of a legal dispute between the city and building owners, which has dragged on since 2019.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said the mall was a drag on city resources after fire crews battled blazes in the 900,000 square-foot property for the fourth time in one month. Fires broke out on Wednesday, Aug. 10, July 24, 19 and 16, and the fire chief added crumbling conditions made it extremely dangerous firefighters to go inside.

No one has been arrested for suspected arson at the property, but...