Drivers Raise Concerns Over Dangerous Potholes Near Grand Forks Mall

City says it can't intervene on private roads, leaving mall owners responsible for repairs.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:48am

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An extreme close-up of a large pothole in the asphalt, with the cracked, pebbled texture filling the frame and conveying the worn, weathered nature of the damaged road surface.Potholes and crumbling pavement around the Columbia Mall have become a growing safety concern for drivers in Grand Forks.Grand Forks Today

Drivers in Grand Forks, North Dakota are reporting a high number of dangerous potholes in the parking lots and roads surrounding the Columbia Mall, causing damage to vehicles and forcing drivers to swerve to avoid them. However, city officials say they cannot intervene because the roads are privately owned by the mall's management company, J-K Real Estate, and any repairs or maintenance must be handled by the property owner.

Why it matters

The deteriorating road conditions around the Columbia Mall are a safety hazard for drivers and could potentially deter shoppers from visiting the mall, impacting local businesses. The city's inability to address the issue highlights the challenges of maintaining private infrastructure that is still used by the general public.

The details

Drivers have reported that the potholes are widespread throughout the parking lots and roads surrounding the Columbia Mall, with one local resident, Dexter Cronquist, saying his truck nearly bottomed out after hitting a deep pothole. Other drivers have said they've had to swerve to avoid the potholes, risking damage to their vehicles. Grand Forks city officials say they've received numerous complaints about the issue but cannot take action since the roads are privately owned by the mall's management company.

  • Drivers have been reporting the dangerous potholes around the Columbia Mall for several weeks.
  • Dexter Cronquist hit a pothole that nearly bottomed out his truck just last weekend.

The players

Dexter Cronquist

A local resident who drives through the Columbia Mall area and has experienced damage to his vehicle from the potholes.

J-K Real Estate

The company that has owned the Columbia Mall since 2004 and is responsible for maintaining the private roads and parking lots surrounding the mall.

John Bernstrom

The Grand Forks Public Information Officer who says the city cannot intervene on the private roads around the mall.

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What they’re saying

“That helps a lot for hitting some of these bumps, but my wife is in a smaller SUV, and she's got small-wall tires, and so she'll end up breaking a rim, she can rip her bumper off, stuff like that.”

— Dexter Cronquist, Local Resident

“The roads (are) traveled by the public, and we totally get that, and we've started getting complaints, (but) we forward them off to the owners and management company of the mall.”

— John Bernstrom, Grand Forks Public Information Officer

What’s next

The city of Grand Forks says it is exploring what legal recourse it may have to force the mall's management company, J-K Real Estate, to address the dangerous potholes on the private roads. In the meantime, the city and local residents are continuing to communicate with the property owner in hopes of finding a resolution.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges cities face in addressing infrastructure issues on privately owned property that is still used by the general public. While the potholes pose a safety risk to drivers, the city's hands are tied unless the mall's management company takes action to repair the roads. Ongoing communication and potential legal action may be the only ways to compel the property owner to address the problem.