Residents of a 19-story Soundview apartment building on Evergreen Avenue say they are fed up after both elevators were out of service for two days, forcing tenants to climb multiple flights of stairs.
Tenants tell News 12 the elevators in the private building were shut down after a pipe leaked on the roof. Wet floor signs now block the elevator doors, leaving residents with no option but to use the stairs.
Outside the building, stains believed to be from the leak are frozen along the exterior. A sign posted near the front desk reads, “Due to the extent of the damage, the elevators will remain out of service for several days.”
For residents on upper floors, the outage has disrupted daily routines.
“We had to cancel our grocery plans,” said 66‑year‑old Teddy Dukes, who lives on the 18th floor with his wife. He added, “The building’s falling apart.”
His wife said she feels management is not prioritizing maintenance issues.
News 12 attempted to speak with building management but was escorted out by security. Staff said management could not be reached Monday night and advised calling back Tuesday.
For now, tenants say they are left climbing stair after stair — or waiting in the lobby until help arrives.