by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Air conditioning service at 11 E. was disrupted Monday night and representatives for the building say it won’t be restored before the end of the weekend.
“From what I understand, there have been some problems with the air before now,” said one resident who asked not to be identified. “But this is a bit more severe and it’s taking longer to fix.”
Leaks in the now-defunct system were responsible for past service interruptions, a representative from Calex Reality Group Inc. confirmed. Calex manages the building.
“There was a tendency for there to be a lot of pressure inside the pipes when the old system was starting up,” said Joanne Kazmierski, a spokesperson for Calex. “We were aware of the problem and we had planned to address it when it wasn’t so hot outside. Unfortunately, a PVC pipe burst and we had to do it much too soon. That’s why there isn’t any air right now.”
According to Kazmierski, the old PVC pipes are being replaced with newer ones constructed of a more resilient carbon steel.
Tenants speculated a relatively high occupancy rate contributed to the problem. 11 E. is currently 80 percent occupied.
“That wasn’t a factor and it certainly won’t be in the future,” said Kazmierski. “In fact, after we are finished switching out the old pipes, the system will run more efficiently when the building is at full occupancy. That’s what it’s designed for.”
Air conditioning on the first floor still works — it is a separate system — and many residents are spending a great amount of time in the common area during the indoor heat wave. Windows on upper floors are sealed, allowing for minimal circulation.
“It’s a historical building so we were told that we couldn’t put screens in the windows,” said Kazmierski. “As a liability, we needed to keep them closed.”
Making the inconvenience as “comfortable as possible,” Calex has knocked $400 off October’s rent, which many residents are using to pay for hotel lodging. A letter distributed earlier in the week listed hotel rates and pet policies.
“It’s an act of good faith on our part and we wanted to communicate that to the residents,” said Kazmierski. “We understand this is an inconvenience so that is why we are doing everything we can do insure that it won’t happen again.”
In the meantime, traffic inside the building has dropped significantly while work continues.
“A lot of people are gone, but many of us are just going to stay,” said one resident. “It’s almost more of a hassle to pack a bag than it is to just wait it out while they’re taking care of it. It’s definitely warm inside, but we’re getting through it. You have to have a good sense of humor about it.”