As a heat wave engulfs the Mahoning Valley, some living in downtown Youngstown are sweating through the high temperatures without any air conditioning. Some residents in International Towers said it's been years without the amenity and they are fed up.
“It’s hot as Hades in here,” Jewel Stevens, who lives on the 8th floor said.
“You see my face sweating like three bloody pigs," Venise Thomas who lives on the 4th floor said. “It feels like it's a hot oven.”
After three consecutive days of 90+ degree temperatures, some have started bringing in their own units or fans to try and get some relief.
“I literally had to put my pillow at the end of the bed so the fan was right on my head and I still, I was super uncomfortable,” Cheryl Wolfe, who lives on the third floor said.
And the higher up the floors go the worse things get.
“My apartment alone has gotten to almost 90-some degrees and it felt like it was over 100,” Stephanie Spangler, who lives on the 16th floor said. “Just yesterday I [dumped] five bottles of water on our dog because of how hot it's been in my apartment. It's been 88 degrees for almost four days in my apartment.”
Residents said the majority of the floors have no air conditioning but the second floor community room and the lobby does have cool air.
But every night without any air isn't just uncomfortable, it is causing some to worry about the strain on their bodies.
“I have chronic asthma…I am feeling very sad and at night I'm scared because of my breathing,” Stevens said.
“You need the AC, it shouldn't be that much to get a, touch a couple of buttons to get the AC back working,” Cora Claytor, who lives on the 6th floor and has AC because of a portable unit said.
Residents said property managers haven't been giving them an update. With no end in sight some have resorted to staying at family members' houses.
“I’m not paying no rent for July...cause I haven't been here and I'm not living like this,” Thomas, who's living with her son at night said.
21 News reached out to the property manager to see when the AC could be fixed. Millennia Housing Management, Ltd manages the property and is based out of Cleveland and did not respond to our request. The bottom floor of the building is an office for local property managers. The office was closed Wednesday with a sign on the door stating they are only open Monday’s and Friday’s. Messages left with the local managers were not returned.
A spokesperson from the City of Youngstown said they've been in contact with the property owners about the issue and have Code Enforcement Officers providing water and doing wellness checks on residents. The spokesperson added that the issue is a "computer system malfunction, which has been ordered and should be in this week."
Meanwhile, a cooling station has been set up at the Eugenia Atkinson Recreation Center at 903 Otis Street in Youngstown.