Hawthorne Mall Demolition: July Court Order Set August Start Deadline, but Completion Needs Verification

HAWTHORNE, Calif. — October 31, 2026. The long-vacant Hawthorne Mall has been subject to a court-ordered demolition process, following years of disputes over the property’s condition and potential redevelopment.

A July 31 announcement by the City of Hawthorne says that a judge ordered the owners to begin demolition by August 14, 2026 and submit outstanding demolition permit applications for two parking structures by August 28.

What the work plan says

According to the city, the demolition contractor is AMPCO Contracting Inc. and the site is at 12124 Hawthorne Boulevard. The work plan calls for phased removal beginning at the south end of the site, followed by successive stages moving north.

The city describes traffic-control requirements intended to reduce neighborhood impacts. Heavy demolition trucks are required to enter and leave the property via West 120th Street, with debris sent to designated facilities.

What remains unconfirmed

The July announcement established enforceable deadlines and the contractor’s proposed sequence. It did not establish that demolition was fully completed by October 31, nor did it authorize us to assume that the mall has been replaced with a new commercial development. Those outcomes require more recent inspections, permit history and worksite records.

Why residents care

The property has been a subject of longstanding community concern involving unauthorized access, dumping, graffiti and safety conditions. The city has pursued nuisance-abatement actions, but how and when the site will be redeveloped remains a separate issue from demolition.

For current permit and construction details, contact Hawthorne City Hall at 310-349-2900. Residents should obey fences and detour signs and should not enter demolition areas.

Illustrative photo: Raymond Kotewicz / Unsplash. Vacant commercial property elsewhere, not the Hawthorne Mall demolition site.

Sources: City of Hawthorne, July 31, 2026 court-order update; City’s September 2025 nuisance enforcement history.

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