Harbour Lights Declared ‘Uninhabitable,’ Residents to Stay at Hotel at Owner’s Cost

Bristol Borough officials Monday condemned the Harbour Lights Apartments complex buildings C and D as uninhabitable, according to Borough Deputy Fire Chief Tony Riccio.

The buildings were condemned because of  expected “severe temperatures” over the next few days. The notice came in light of a broken heating pipes issue, documents say.

Notices were placed on the entrance ways to the buildings by Licenses and Inspections. Residents were placed at a local motel at the expense of the owners, which according to local officials, is owned by First State Properties LLC  managed by a John Leapson.

Borough Code Enforcement officer John Miller said earlier Monday that until the pipe work is completed residents will remain at the designated hotel

According to borough officials, Bristol fire police will be providing security for the complex from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day as repairs to the damaged pipes and heating system takes place. The declaration will remain in effect  “until normal heat is restored to the affected buildings”  an e-mail LevittownNow.com obtained says.

First responders throughout the borough were notified of the move shortly before 11 a.m. Monday.

Residents at the complex have started he process of moving their belongings and all they could take with them as they heard about or saw orange notices posted to doorways of the buildings where heat has been an ongoing issue since before Christmas.

Currently, the code enforcement has levied approximately $25,000 in fines against the often-changed LLC that owns the complex.

One resident, with a family of five including an infant, told LevittowNow.com that his apartment has had problems with heat for weeks now.

Another resident, when Miller came to inform residents about the evacuation answered the door in a tank top, he said.

No one is clear on the exact nature of why heating sources are working in part of the complex but not the other, but officials have said they believe to with aging pipes.

Related:

• More Charges as Heat Issue Remains Despite Bristol Borough Action
• Apartment Complex Owners Cited 16 Times for Failure to Provide Heat
• Residents: Apartment Complex Without Heat or Hot Water for Weeks