GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Fans, frozen rags and spray bottles of cold water — that’s what Sandy Bispo relies on to get through the day inside her Glendale apartment because the air conditioning keeps going out.
Bispo has lived at the Spectra Apartments for nine years, but she said the past year has been unlike any other. The A/C cuts out day and night, and with another dangerous heatwave bearing down on the Valley, she said relief is nowhere in sight.
“It gets so bad sometimes we can’t breathe. The heat is so, so extreme,” Bispo said.
When the system fails, she said temperatures inside can climb past 100 degrees. The heat has affected more than just her comfort. It has put her pet in danger, too.
“She got so overheated she became limp. She couldn’t even walk. I packed her with ice and sprayed her down,” Bispo said.
‘This does not feel like home’
For fellow resident Lauren Bonaparte, the situation has become too much to bear. She said she has been pushed to the point of packing up and leaving a place she once called home.
“I might as well be outside. Literally, it’s just basically four walls and a roof over my head. This does not feel like home. I hate coming here,” Bonaparte said.
Tenants said generators have not kept the A/C running consistently, and when the system goes down, there is no on-site cooling area for residents to escape the heat.
“We’re scared. It’s too hot in here.” Bispo said.
County program offers limited help
Maricopa County offers emergency A/C repairs and replacements, but reduced funding has made it harder to reach people who need help this year.
“A lot of people can’t afford to replace their air conditioner today, and with our extreme heat, it makes homes unlivable and unsafe,” said Jamie MacFarlane with Maricopa County.
The program is limited to households at or below 80% of the area median income and is designed for qualifying homeowners, not renters.
That distinction left the residents at Spectra Apartments without access to the assistance.
“Unfortunately, because there’s less funding, we will be able to assist fewer people, unfortunately,” MacFarlane said.
Information on Maricopa County’s Home Improvement Programs, including emergency A/C assistance, is available at maricopa.gov.
Asset Living, the management company for Spectra Apartments, says it is aware of cooling concerns at Spectra West and that crews responded after the system had an issue.
Asset Living is aware of concerns regarding the cooling system at Spectra West and understands the impact this has had on residents.
When the system experienced an issue today, our on-site team immediately responded and coordinated with service providers to restore system functionality. Cooling performance may fluctuate as repairs and system adjustments continue, and our team remains onsite to respond to resident concerns and provide updates.
Ownership has informed Asset Living that it has submitted an insurance claim related to the property’s mechanical systems. Separately, Asset has provided the owner with a seven-day notice to resolve issues under the management agreement. Following the cure period, Asset Living has notified ownership of its intent to terminate the management relationship and at that time will no longer serve as the management company for the property.
Asset Living remains committed to the high standards of service, maintenance, and resident care that we strive to provide across every community we manage. Those standards guide our decisions and our actions in every management relationship.
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