Tenants express frustrations over broken elevators at Hunts Point apartment building
While the broken elevators are problematic, some tenants said that's not even the worst issue.
Tenants at one apartment building in Hunts Point say they're living in dangerous and degrading conditions — including broken elevators that have been out for nearly two weeks.
"If they're maybe in a wheelchair or maybe they’re disabled it’s going to make it very difficult for them to manage the help up and down the stairs," said John Rodriguez, who lives at 985 Bruckner Blvd Apartments. Rodriguez goes for kidney treatment a few times a week. He said since the elevators are down, he has to take the stairs.
"Basically, I’m so tired and exhausted that the elevator was a big help for me to get up to my house," said Rodriguez. "Now, I have to go up about a couple stories up to my apartment and it takes me about 15 minutes to get to my house."
While the broken elevators are problematic, some tenants said that's not even the worst issue.
"They running this building like a shelter and a penitentiary," said Jasmine Morton.
Morton says the building is considered supportive housing, but she and her neighbors said they haven't been getting anything they're supposed to receive for the past couple of years, including proper maintenance.
According to the building's management company, Community Access, the elevators unexpectedly went out of service May 1, and it is working with its vendor to fix the situation as quickly as possible.
The Department of Buildings also confirms it received multiple complaints, and an inspection is scheduled for Friday morning.
