As temperature goes up, AC goes off at apartment building in Brooklyn

SPRING CREEK (WABC) -- It's ironic that as the unofficial end of summer arrived, so did the summer like weather.

But it's making things tough for thousands of people who had their air conditioning turned off September 1st, at Spring Creek Towers in Brooklyn, formerly known as Starrett City.

"It's hot, very hot like 90 in there," said a resident, Shanika.

"It's hot but they turned off the AC at the wrong time," said 23-year resident Luis Santos.

Even though it's September, above average temperatures and humidity have made the first few days of the month unbearable for 15,000 residents who normally have air conditioned apartments.

"It's an oven, 400 degrees. Normally it goes off in Octoberm I don't know why it went off so early," said 20-year resident Agnes Berks.

One power plant fuels all 5,661 units here - including the dual cooling and heating system in Starrett City which is now named Spring Towers. Management says the shutdown is to fix the turbine system in time for winter.

"We needed the entire month of September to make this change to meet the New York City requirement of heating by October 1st," said Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations Devorah Fong.

It's turned into a hot mess for people who are sensitive to the heat.

"We have our public safety officers going out to make sure residents are OK - we have made accommodations for the most vulnerable and we have designated the Brooklyn sports club as a cooling center," said Fong.

"They are giving out fans, giving air cooling at the pool club, they're trying to accommodate," said Starrett City Tenant Association President Rebecca Caraballo.

But some residents say it's not enough and cooling centers won't help at night.

"Smoltering hot! I couldn't even sleep last night, four showers just to keep cool," said one resident.

Temperatures are pushing the mid 80s now and by Saturday we will be back to near 90.

"Nature does what it does, but we have to give heat where it is require and we don't want to be without heat this winter," said Fong.