The Chinese investors group that owns Milwaukee's former Northridge Mall plans to fight the city's raze order.

U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group Inc. soon will file a formal appeal, a move that will delay the raze order pending a hearing date, according to a letter sent this week to city officials.

"Black Spruce disagrees with the City’s conclusion that its property can be razed against its wishes or that any repairs that could be made are 'presumed unreasonable,'" said the letter from Eric Hatchell, the company's attorney.

"Black Spruce remains committed to the City and to the Northridge Property," Hatchell wrote.

"Black Spruce has made significant progress on its plans to renovate the Northridge Property and would like an opportunity to share these plans and developments with the City in person," Hatchell wrote.

The Department of Neighborhood Services order, issued April 11, demands Black Spruce demolish the 900,000-square-foot building because it's dilapidated and a threat to public safety.

Once demolished, the land beneath the the building and its parking lots, totaling around 100 acres north of West Brown Deer Road and west of North 76th Street, could be used for light industrial buildings, housing or other new developments.

The condemnation order is about public safety and health, not real estate development, Mayor Tom Barrett has said.

City building inspectors have repeatedly issued orders over the past year for Black Spruce to make repairs at Northridge after people have broken into the mall — some of them removing items to sell for scrap.

People illegally entering the property are putting themselves at risk, city officials say. And the mall's dilapidated state also raises concerns about asbestos exposure and other environmental issues.

A raze order can be issued when the estimated cost of repairs exceeds 50% of a building's value.

The preliminary repair cost estimate is $6 million, said Tom Mishefske, commissioner of the Department Neighborhood Services. The building assessed value is just $81,000.

Black Spruce has not proceeded with plans to remodel the mall into a trade mart for Chinese manufacturers to sell their toys, furniture, clothing and other goods to North American vendors.

Those plans were announced after Northridge was sold in 2008 for $6 million. The building has remained dormant since then.

City officials say the mall's owners haven't responded to their demands for action.

Hatchell, in his letter, said Black Spruce's owners want to meet with city officials in late May to update them on the projected timetable and further development plans.

"Black Spruce wants to work collaboratively with the City and would prefer joint discussion instead of contested litigation," Hatchell wrote.

He also said Black Spruce has added private security and maintenance workers at the property, and is "pursuing additional security and camera systems" to prevent break-ins.

City officials have been considering possible ways to pay for demolishing Northridge.

That tab could run from around $10 million to $12 million, according to a preliminary estimate from city public works officials.

The city could add the demolition cost to the former mall's property tax bill.

If that bill goes unpaid, the city could then take ownership through property tax foreclosure. The property could then be redeveloped.

The condemnation case comes after Department of City Development officials in March said the mall's former Boston Store will be demolished to make way for a future light industrial development, or other new use. That building is owned by the city.

Northridge's last remaining store shut its doors in 2003 after years of eroding sales at the mall.

The loss of a regional mall led to a big decline in retail traffic on Milwaukee's far northwest side.

However, there has been increasing demand for light industrial space in the Northridge area.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.