AKRON, Ohio — You could say the writings are on the wall — inside Chapel Hill Mall.

There are more vacant storefronts inside the mall than actual stores.

• The owner owes more than $170,000 in taxes
• A bill will be sent out to the owner for $400,000 for additional unpaid property taxes
• If it's not paid, the foreclosure process will proceed and the mall will eventually become part of a sheriff's sale

"It's very sad, I worked at Sears during my college days at the University of Akron, so I have personal memories of the mall," said Kristen Scalise, Summit County fiscal officer.

The mall has been in decline since 2017, when the Kohan Retail Investment Group took it over.

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise says the owner has never paid property taxes in full.

"As of today, they owe over $170,000 in taxes," said Scalise.

Scalise says the county is mailing out a bill for $400,000 for additional property taxes.

The county has initiated the foreclosure process through the Summit County Land Bank, and documents could be filed as early as this week

"It can take nine months to a year, because the property is somewhat occupied,” said Scalise. “There won't be an expedited foreclosure, so this foreclosure will have to go through Summit County Common Pleas Court."

The owner can step in and pay the bill at anytime.

But if not, the foreclosure process will proceed, eventually going to a sheriff's sale.

It would be the county's second mall to foreclose following Rolling Acres.

"With the amount of taxes that are due this year, if those are unpaid as well, it will be the most delinquent property in all of Summit County," said Scalise.