Tenants at a Harlem apartment building are voicing growing frustration after the property’s only elevator remained out of service for months, leaving some residents struggling — or unable — to reach their homes.
The problem is affecting residents of 220 Bradhurst Avenue, where the elevator has reportedly been out of operation since September. The prolonged outage has become particularly difficult for elderly residents and people with mobility limitations who cannot easily use the stairs.
Among those affected is 68-year-old Linda Crowell, a fifth-floor tenant who uses a walker because of joint problems. Crowell told Eyewitness News that she has effectively been unable to access her own apartment because she cannot manage the stairs. She and her husband have lived in the building for approximately 25 years.
Crowell said she repeatedly contacted 311 and the building’s management seeking repairs. After months without a resolution, she stopped paying her $1,060 monthly rent in protest over the conditions.
The dispute has also drawn the attention of city authorities. On July 31, the New York City Department of Buildings issued a summons to the property owner, Northern Manhattan Equities, after inspectors found that the building’s only elevator was out of service and had remained inoperative for several months. The standard penalty associated with the violation is $6,250, according to the report.
As of Tuesday, the property owner had not responded to Eyewitness News’ request for comment regarding tenants’ allegations of neglect. A hearing concerning the violation is scheduled for October 8.
For residents, however, the dispute is about more than inconvenience. In a multi-story apartment building, the lack of a functioning elevator can effectively prevent people with limited mobility from independently entering or leaving their homes.
The continuing outage has therefore intensified calls from tenants for the elevator to be restored and for building management to address accessibility concerns as quickly as possible.
