Official: Heat Restored At Apartment Building In Lower Merion

LOWER MERION, Pa., (CBS) -- UPDATE (Feb. 19, 2015) -- A Lower Merion Township official tells CBS 3 Eyewitness News heat has been restored at a apartment building in Lower Merion, Montgomery County after some residents told CBS 3 they've been dealing with chilly apartments for several days.

See original story below.

By Steve Patterson

LOWER MERION, Pa., (CBS) -- Imagine waking up in the morning inside a chilly apartment during this dangerous cold. Residents of a Montgomery County apartment building tell Eyewitness News that's what they've been dealing with for several days.

Lower Merion resident Justin Helmer says his apartment feels like an icebox. But he's much more concerned about how is two-year-old daughter feels.

"It's been bitter bitter cold," he said. "It's hard. Her fingers get all red and her cheeks are red. Let my little girl sleep at night without waking up all cold. It's not good."

Justin is one of many increasingly angry tenants at this apartment building on West Montgomery Avenue.

He told Eyewitness News Reporter Steve Patterson that since Friday, the heat had all but stopped working.

"It's frustrating. Stuff happens," He said. "I understand that but like... we're going on a week now."

Down the hall, Tenant Tricia Bowie says her roommate is the latest of nearly half-a-dozen people she knows who have left.

"My thermostat is bottomed out. Somewhere below 40. It doesn't go any lower than 40," she said. "I'm not going to lie. I'm probably going to leave tonight."

Tenants said the building's managers have told them the heater is working but it is simply too cold for the quality of fuel being supplied and that they've made attempts to get it fixed. Residents continue to complain about the cold.

CBS 3 Eyewitness News spoke to a Lower Merion Township Housing Officer. He said Township Code during the cold weather includes keeping housing units above at least 68 degrees.

The officer said they've called the management at least four times Tuesday and that he personally drove to the complex to investigate. They've received no response.