CLOVIS, Calif. (FOX26) — Shoppers and employees at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis are dealing with persistent heat inside parts of the building, with workers reporting that air conditioning has not worked in some areas for years.

The Sierra Vista Mall was originally listed as a cooling center for the city of Clovis, but city officials have re-evaluated that status and the mall is no longer considered a cooling center.

Shoppers and employees at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis are dealing with persistent heat inside parts of the building, with workers reporting that air conditioning has not worked in some areas for years (FOX26).

Instead, the Clovis Community Center will serve that role.

“Since (the Clovis Community Center is) our facility it’s controlled by us, it’s still connected to our HVAC, why not put it into play for the cooling center on those days where the predicted temperature is gonna be in excess of 105,” Chad Fitzgerald, public information officer for the Clovis Fire Department, said. “It’s centrally located in Old Town and as a former city facility, people are familiar with where it is so it’s easy to get to.”

FOX26 News Crews visited the mall throughout the week and recorded a temperature of 80 degrees inside on Sunday, July 26.

[RELATED] Sierra Vista Mall tenants raise concerns over ongoing air conditioning issues

On Wednesday, July 29, one store’s thermometer later read 81.8 degrees.

Under state law, once it hits 82 degrees, employers are required to adopt safety measures to prevent heat illness.

Store owners and employees said they have relied on portable air conditioning units and fans to stay cool, and that they have repeatedly told mall owners the air conditioning is broken but nothing has changed.

Some stores have temporarily closed because of “extreme heat conditions.”

Mall ownership has acknowledged the air conditioning problems.

A spokesperson said last week that ownership is aware of the issue and is actively working to fix it.

“Ownership is aware of the rooftop HVAC concerns raised by tenants at Sierra Vista Mall and has been actively working to resolve them. Since taking over day-to-day management of the property, the operations team has been working closely with the general manager, on-site staff, and multiple independent HVAC vendors to assess each affected unit and identify the most effective, lasting solution. In recent months, the team has returned a number of rooftop units to service, completed repairs to several tenant systems, and have an additional replacement unit pending installation that will serve four tenant spaces. We have also expanded our pool of qualified contractors to secure competitive bids and accelerate the remaining work. We recognize how difficult the summer heat has been for our tenants, and temporary cooling measures have been put in place where appropriate while permanent repairs are finalized. This work remains actively underway, and Ownership is committed to restoring reliable, comfortable conditions throughout the property,” a spokesperson for the mall owners said.

Several store workers and owners declined to share their stories on camera, citing fear of retaliation.

A city spokesperson encouraged anyone with concerns or fears of retaliation for speaking out to contact the city.

Sierra Vista Mall’s is owned by Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group

Namdar Realty Group has a history regarding the maintenance of its malls.

The company has faced legal challenges involving other malls including Sunrise Mall in California, Pittsburgh Mills in Pennsylvania, and Bangor Mall in Maine.

Those cases involved allegations related to property conditions, including code violations, safety concerns, and maintenance issues.

Local officials at those locations sought repairs and accountability from mall ownership.

In one case, a court ordered nearly $2 million in fines tied to dozens of alleged maintenance violations.

Another case involved more than $1.1 million in penalties.