PHILADELPHIA -
FOX 29 gets results for a Southwest Philadelphia senior whose home sustained "collateral damage" when the house next door was demolished.
Mildred Cliett, 79, was thrilled when FOX 29 helped get the city to contract for demolition of the vacant eyesore next door to her home on the 5400 block of Baltimore Ave. last fall.
But during the demolition, workers broke a large dining room window. It reaches nearly from floor to ceiling.
The contractor- identified by the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections as A&M Curran LLC of suburban Philadelphia- placed a sheet of plywood over the opening, but the plywood had a couple of holes, which allow cold air to pour through.
"It's awful," Cliett told FOX 29's Bruce Gordon. "It's all through the winter- that cold air coming in there. My gas bill's going higher. It's just a mess."
Mildred had to take matters into her own hands, not to mention a hammer and some nails.
"I've got a sheet and I've got a blanket over the window, to keep the air out!"
She says she placed numerous calls to L&I to get them to force the contractor to replace the broken window. To no avail.
"They said, 'we'll call you back. We'll call you back. We're going to talk to him- we'll call you back.' That's all I've been getting."
Gordon called L&I, and a spokeswoman said they were aware of the problem and were working to resolve the issue.
A half an hour later, the spokeswoman called back, promising the contractor would be out to replace the window this week.
Mildred's response to Gordon?
"I can't wait! I'll be so happy! And thank-you so much! Because if it hadn't been for you all, it would never be fixed!"
We won't take any credit until the window's actually replaced.
L&I tells us A&M Curran has been the subject of numerous complaints and the department no longer uses the firm.
Mildred just wants to be able to look out her window, to the now-vacant lot next door.
Oh, and she'd like to take the plywood and bedding down, too!
We'll keep you posted.
Part of Mildred Cliett's home was damaged when the home next door was demolished last fall.
