Overview
- City officials removed vacate notices early March 5, clearing the mall to resume operations after inspectors verified fixes to eight of nine life-safety violations.
- Fire-rated doors remain the focal requirement, with a staffed fire watch and temporary sealing in place until full compliance by March 31, when missed deadlines would automatically reinstate closure.
- Emergency generators must be repaired or replaced within 90 days, and the owner must indemnify the city for losses tied to any fire or evacuation.
- Anchor stores JCPenney, Macy’s, and Harkins Theatres stayed open during the shutdown due to independent fire-protection systems, while many smaller tenants now return after two weeks of lost income.
- City records cite 88 code violations since 2019 and nearly $700,000 owed for infractions and services; mall leaders have challenged the process but continued repairs and coordination with inspectors.