ST. LOUIS – It was a bad time for a boiler break down for people living in a loft building downtown. They said they've been without heat for five days.
Residents at Artlofts on Washington Avenue said they are freezing, frustrated and, at one point Monday night, they were in fear that the whole building was going to burn down.
Inside or outside the Artloft building, temperatures aren't too different.
"This is what I wear when I come downstairs to get my mail or come in the hallway at all. It's freezing," said Jackie Kelly, a resident bundled up in a down coat and hood.
A broken boiler issue has turned into a cold war between the tenants and management.
"We're on day five now [without heat]. The response I got was 'Don't contact me, these are off hours,'" said Jim Hughes, a longtime loft resident.
Residents say many units have no heat at all.
"They're in the mid 50's, even 40's. We've requested space heaters. To my knowledge only one person has gotten one," said Hughes.
"Last night I didn't even stay here, I stayed at a friends house because it was so cold. I have like a space heater pointed right at me," said Kelly.
And in the middle of our interview Monday night, a fire alarm rang through the building for nearly half an hour.
Many residents thought one of those space heaters was about to burn the building down.
"With so many space heaters are plugged in, my circuit has already blown a couple of times,"
said Kelly.
But firefighters responded to a burst water main pipe in the basement- possibly caused by the cold temperatures. And an hour after we contacted Central PM LLC for comment about the situation, space heaters finally arrived for residents.
Some of these fed up renters say it's too little too late.
"I know the owner wouldn't stay here himself in this cold. So for him to do this to us and expect us to stay here ... I think it's ridiculous," said Kelly.
A representative for Central PM LLC says they've been waiting for a part for their boiler to arrive.
In their latest email Monday night- they say the heating problem is fixed.
Residents disagree, saying it's still not working.
Full Response from Central PM LLC
"St. Louis has been experiencing record-setting cold temperatures. While there is never a good time for HVAC issues, the issue is exacerbated with this occurring over a holiday weekend.Our tenants can confirm that our HVAC vendor, Trane, has been on site the majority of the weekend working on a solution.
Our property management and maintenance staff have kept the tenants updated throughout the weekend as they work overtime.
ArtLoft is on an electronic boiler, and the extreme weather has caused the control board to malfunction. We have identified the main issue and are awaiting a part which has been ordered and may arrive tomorrow.
We are happy to share the HVAC managers contact information who can confirm further details.
It is important to understand that our tenants have renters insurance for these unfortunate issues, and they can stay at a hotel if they wish.
We have issued space heaters to many of the tenants who have complained, and members of our crew are at the store right now buying more space heaters to deliver. Trane is also currently at the building.
If more tenants want space heaters, they just need to ask, and we will happily provide. Unfortunately our hands are tied while we await the part to arrive, as this happening on the holidays has caused a delay.
We are open to any additional feedback or advice.
Thanks
Kyle Hennessey
Director of Operations
Central PM LLC"