STEUBENVILLE — Relief could be on the horizon for residents of Steubenville’s Heritage Place apartments.

Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese was slated to hear arguments Friday morning in connection with a complaint tenants of the affordable housing complex filed three weeks ago against its owners and management company, alleging they’d been without whole-house heat since at least the beginning of December and that the space heaters they’d been given by management were inadequate.

Friday’s hearing, however, had to be continued because an earlier, unrelated case ran much longer than anticipated, wreaking havoc with the judge’s already busy docket. But, after that hearing ended and before tackling his afternoon cases, Bruzzese joined the attorneys for a private discussion that lasted about 30 minutes.

Afterward, attorneys for the defendants — WG Heritage Place Ohio and Green National, and their now-former management company, ABC Management out of Beechwood — declined to comment.

Pamela Bolton and Kristen Lewis of Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, however, later in the day announced the closed-door meeting yielded a proposal for a temporary solution — an alternative heat source — until the malfunctioning boiler can be repaired or replaced. They declined to offer specifics until it’s entered into the court record.

“No one asked for a continuance,” Lewis said. “The attorneys were all prepared to move forward but (the delay) gave us an opportunity to talk to the attorneys representing the defendants in this case. Hopefully, we have an alternative temporary agreement.”

Bolton said the attorneys initially talked among themselves, “then the judge came in and talked.”

“There will be an order forthcoming that the judge will sign, it will likely be Monday before it’s before him,” she said.

Bolton said they’re hoping the entire heating solution will be resolved next week or very early the following week.

“We’re hoping this comes to a close quickly,” she said.

“A temporary resolution is not what we ultimately hoped for,” Lewis added, “but it should ensure sufficient heat for tenants from an alternate heating source.”

They said their clients “will be given a choice as to whether they want to participate in the new heating program,” Botlon said. “If they don’t want the resolution, they don’t have to take it. But we’ll advise them of what the repercussions would be.”

Bolton said Legal Aid represents 11 named plaintiffs, though other tenants have contacted her. Lewis pointed out children and individuals with disabilities are among those grappling with heating failure, which impacted up to 64 apartments.

“The clients were disappointed to not have their day in court today,” she said, adding that the alternative would be to continue battling with temperatures some have reported dipped to the low 50s.

“We hope this will be a better solution (and) make sure they have sufficient heat. Part (of the proposal) is they have to meet a threshold — if units are not heated to a certain temperature they’re going to be moved or at least be offered to move somewhere else. So, I think this does assure that their home is sufficiently heated (until the boiler is repaired) and if it is not, then they need to be moved.”

They said the proposal should “at least make them more comfortable in their homes until the boiler is permanently repaired.” Bolton said they’re hoping that will be in the next 10 days, “but there’s no guarantee.”

Bolton said the damage aspect of the case will continue to be litigated, regardless.

“That part will be the next step in the case,” she said. “What they’ve gone through during the past several weeks is to make sure heat is restored, that tenants are provided adequate heating or temporary housing while the repairs are in the works.”

Bruzzese continued the hearing until Thursday at 9:30 a.m.