Broken elevators leave seniors trapped in two Morrisania apartment buildings
Residents in two Morrisania apartment buildings say they’re fed up after ongoing elevator outages have left some tenants trapped inside their homes and struggling to get through their daily routines.
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Residents in two Morrisania apartment buildings say they’re fed up after ongoing elevator outages have left some tenants trapped inside their homes and struggling to get through their daily routines.
Marciana Lopez, 88, says she’s been unable to leave her sixth-floor apartment for the past two weeks after the elevator stopped working. Lopez, who uses both a wheelchair and a walker, says she even missed an important medical appointment because she couldn’t get downstairs.
“I can’t. It’s not normal… I missed my appointment last week… it was important for me to make it,” Lopez said.
Neighbors who are able to use the stairs say the repeated trips are taking a physical toll.
“I’m hoping I’ll make my next birthday before I catch a heart attack going up and down stairs,” said resident Rashiyd Shabazz.
Nanette Santiago says carrying groceries up multiple flights of stairs has become increasingly difficult.
“I’m tired. It’s hot… carrying this stuff up is not good. And I also have a bad knee,” Santiago said.
Just across the street on Intervale Avenue, residents in another apartment building say they’ve also been without a working elevator for months. Both buildings are managed by Wavecrest Management.
Tenant advocate Karl Johnson says residents have not received the assistance they believe they’re entitled to during the prolonged outages.
“Under the mayor’s new rules, after 14 days, management should be providing alternative accommodations, which includes hotel accommodations, vertical transportation up and down the stairs. We’ve received no information about that,” Johnson said.
News 12 reached out to Wavecrest Management for comment on both buildings and is still waiting to hear back.
