Elevator outage leaves East Flatbush tenants climbing steps and crossing rooftops
For Maureen Achie, who lives on the fourth floor, the outage means climbing 17 steps multiple times just to leave and return home - a task she says has become unbearable over the past month.
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An 85-year-old woman is among the residents struggling daily in a six-story apartment building where a broken elevator has turned routine errands into exhausting and sometimes dangerous journeys.
For Maureen Achie, who lives on the fourth floor, the outage means climbing 17 steps multiple times just to leave and return home - a task she says has become unbearable over the past month.
“I can't go nowhere,” Achie said. “I have doctor's appointments. I have to go to the pharmacy. I can't go in the supermarket. Nothing. Oh, how could I? This is a terrible situation.”
Neighbors say the situation is not only inconvenient but unsafe. One resident tells News 12 that his grandmother has been forced to take an unusual and risky route just to access a working elevator in a nearby building.
“Someone had to bring her to another building, have her take the elevator to the roof, and then cross the roof to come back down,” said resident William Mitchell. “We're not quite sure why it’s been down for a month.”
Despite repeated complaints, residents say they have received little clarity from building management. When contacted, the building owner offered few answers.
“The only people who can answer that is the office. I don't know what to say,” said owner Joe Gugenhime, in a phone conversation.
Frustration among tenants continues to grow. Records show 276 complaints filed with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, along with 12 service requests made through 311 in just one week.
For many, the ongoing disruption has reached a breaking point.
“It’s very inconvenient,” said resident Peaches. “I just need them to fix the elevator.”
City officials say action is now underway. The Department of Buildings confirmed that an inspector is being sent to investigate the issue and that enforcement measures will be taken to hold the building owner accountable if necessary.
Until then, residents, especially elderly tenants like Achie, remain effectively trapped, navigating a daily obstacle that has turned their homes into barriers rather than safe havens.
