Officials said if tenants are not getting a fast response from the property manager at Trinity Towers East & West, people can file complaints to a HUD contractor. The contractor is North Tampa Housing Development Corporation; phone number: 800-982-5232
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — HUD has regulations and guidance for tenants living in HUD-subsidized housing. For detailed information please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/groups/tenants
HUD said it received several complaints June 27.
The manager refused to answer questions when Sutton showed up at the property.
Late Tuesday evening after both of Eyewitness News reports, the company who runs the tower released a statement:
"In 2013, POAH acquired Trinity Towers from the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Melbourne, which had owned these three senior housing properties for over 40 years.
The air conditioning mechanical system that serves Trinity Towers East is an original 100 ton York Chiller and air sourced cooling tower. Due to its age, the current system has experienced an unexpected number of mechanical problems recently requiring a considerable investment.
In the first instance, an electrical surge caused one of two 50-ton compressors to fail. A replacement compressor was ordered and subsequently installed through our service company. This work was concluded at a cost of $30,000.
On June 13, 2016 the second of the two compressors failed, possibly due to the burden of operating independently while the repairs were made on the first compressor. A replacement for the second 50-ton compressor was ordered and delivered to the property. It is important to note that during the period when the repairs were being made the first compressor was operational and providing cool air while work continued on the second compressor.
Repairs were completed that allowed the system to deliver cool air to all of the units on Trinity Towers East by Friday at midnight. Additional adjustments were made to further improve the system on Sunday morning. Nonetheless, the system was operating and delivering proper cooling to the residents all weekend long. The cost to replace both compressors and other components are estimated at more than $65,000.
We have not received any additional reports from residents regarding the air conditioning.
POAH Communities believes the new compressors; the doubling down of the preventive maintenance and the fact that we are aggressively maintaining the system will provide residents with comfortable interior temperatures until the new system is installed as part of the yearlong rehab that will commence in September. POAH maintenance staff members are at this time visiting each one of the apartments checking their individual units, and changing and cleaning out the filters to make sure that the residents are getting the cool air that the system is delivering.
This past Spring, POAH completed the first phase of the renovations with Trinity Towers West. The $9 million renovation of this 17-story building includes all new kitchens and baths, windows, roof replacement, flooring upgrades, energy efficiency measures, and a new air conditioning system. A number of health and fire safety upgrades were added, including pull cords in the bedrooms.
POAH Trinity Towers East will be undertaking a substantial renovation expected to start in September 2016. The scope of work includes the removal of the entire AC mechanical plant and distribution system within the subsequent 8 -10 months & the installation of a brand new system similar to that at Trinity Towers West.
POAH is in constant communication with HUD and all of our finance partners."