Flatbush apartment building residents call for immediate fix to nonworking elevator issue

The service knockout comes in the aftermath of a woman being injured after the elevator she was riding plummeted down multiple floors in August.

Rob Flaks

Sep 15, 2024, 3:14 AM

Updated 28 days ago

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Residents at 305 Linden Boulevard in Flatbush are calling for new elevators to be added to their building, after weeks of three out of four elevators being out of service within the unit.
The service knockout comes in the aftermath of a woman being injured after the elevator she was riding plummeted down multiple floors in August. The incident forced the closure of one of the building's elevators to this day.
"We pay our rent, and we demand better service, I believe this is the call of all the residents," said resident Merle Murray.
Murray's husband was recently carried up the stairs by the fire department, as his dialysis treatment leaves him unable to walk up and down the four stories he needs to daily.
"He cannot walk, we have friends who carry him up, but this is dialysis. Thisis impacting him and his health," Murray said. She adds that she is grateful to those in the building who help him when the fire department is not able to.
Residents tell News 12 he's not the only reason the department makes frequent stops at the location.
"Every week when they are running, people get stuck, they get called to pry them out. How is this not a problem for the city that it's always the same building with these issues?" said resident Stacey Ann-Richards. "The building should pay when this happens, maybe then they will make a real fix."
She tells News 12 they are calling for new elevators to help maintain quality of life for residents. She says that the steep steps, many with crumbling or missing sections, are not safe.
"The way they have been fixing isn't working. We need new elevators because we have too many people, too many old people to not have elevators, and they have been living for decades because they could ride them," she said.
News 12 reached out to the Department of Buildings which said an inspector has been sent to review the conditions within the facility.