Judge sets date for Ford City Mall to close after Chicago files motion over safety concerns

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A date is now set for Ford City Mall on Chicago's South Side to close for good.

A judge ruled that the mall must close by noon on June 22.

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The City of Chicago filed an emergency motion to close the mall due to concerns over a defective fire suppression system.

The city's Department of Law filed an emergency motion last month to vacate the Ford City Mall, located at 7601 S. Cicero Ave.

Officials said the reason for the motion for closing the mall is due to health and safety concerns for mall tenants and visitors.

"The Mall's fire suppression system has been riddled with leaks and has not been functioning properly for that past two years, which, in the event of a fire, could result in severe death and/or injury,' a statement from the Department of Law read in part. "Additionally, the still unidentified leaks in the system could potentially undermine the stability of the soil supporting the Mall, and lead to the creation of a sinkhole and catastrophic structural failure of portions of the Mall itself."

ABC7 has reached out to the owner of the mall for comment.