For nearly seven months, residents of a Morrisania apartment building say they have been living without a working elevator, turning everyday errands into grueling treks or outright impossibilities for seniors and people with disabilities. Simple trips to the supermarket, pharmacy or laundromat have become punishing ordeals in a building where the basic promise of an elevator has vanished.
Tenants Say Elevator Has Been Dead Nearly Seven Months
According to News 12 The Bronx, tenants report that the building’s only elevator has been out of service for close to seven months. Cynthia Burrell, who uses a seated scooter and has a heart condition, told the station, "I am trapped in my house. I want to go outside… I haven't been in the supermarket for seven freaking months."
Her neighbor Belky Garcia says she has not been able to haul laundry down the stairs since before September, and News 12’s cameras showed a massive pile of clothes stacked outside her door. The Department of Buildings told the station it issued two violations in December for failing to maintain the elevator, and public records reviewed by News 12 show the property owner owes more than $40,000 in violations and penalties.
City Enforcement Options And Where To Complain
The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development can step in when owners ignore urgent repairs. Through HPD's Emergency Repair Program, the agency can address immediately hazardous violations and certain elevator referrals by hiring contractors, completing the work and then billing the owner through the Department of Finance. Under HPD's Emergency Repair Program, unpaid charges can eventually become tax liens on the property.
Tenants who need inspections or want to log an official complaint can file a service request through NYC311, which routes housing issues to HPD or the Department of Buildings for follow-up.
Management Says Repairs Are Stalled Over Money
Residents say they have been told that payment and contracting disputes are holding up the fix. Wavecrest Management, which operates the property, told tenants it has a quote from the elevator company but is waiting for building management to pay. The owner, Exact Capital, told News 12 The Bronx it was just learning of the outage and is working with management to address residents' concerns.
Maintenance Complaints Ripple Across Morrisania
The elevator outage is part of a broader pattern of problems in the neighborhood, including leaks, pest infestations and slow responses to repair requests that tenants and local outlets have documented. A February report that laid out similar problems in nearby Franklin Avenue buildings suggested that Morrisania renters are frequently left waiting for basic fixes.
Legal Options And Tenant Resources
Tenants who are effectively housebound or facing unsafe conditions can call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline, or seek free legal help through city programs that connect renters to counsel, Housing Court resources and HPD enforcement. For more information on available legal assistance and city programs, see the city’s guidance on legal services for tenants.
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