Both elevators at Surf Vets Place in Coney Island have been out of service since May 1, turning a basic building amenity into a daily crisis for older and mobility‑impaired residents. Tenants say what used to be quick errands or routine medical appointments now require painstaking stair climbs, carefully timed favors from neighbors, or skipped trips altogether. Building management says it is working with its elevator vendor to get things running again, but residents say help has been uneven and details are scarce.
Management: Sprinklers, Water Damage and Vendor Engagement
In a statement to News 12 New York, a spokesperson for Concern Housing said the trouble started with an incident inside an apartment on May 1 that set off the sprinkler system. Water then poured into the elevator shafts and “caused significant damage” to key control systems, according to the spokesperson.
Management said elevator company KONE was notified that same day. KONE responded with a diagnostic proposal on May 4 and followed up with a site visit on May 6, ultimately determining that both elevators had to stay out of service until substantial repairs and replacement parts could be secured. Concern Housing said staff are onsite to assist residents who need help, but it has not provided tenants with a clear timeline for when the elevators will be back.
Tenants Describe Repeated Outages and Limited Help
Tenants told News 12 New York that with both cabs down, stairs have become the only option for getting in and out, and neighbors have turned into ad hoc porters for groceries, medical equipment and supplies.
“It's hard to not have the elevators and have [my father] stuck here,” one tenant said. Another resident added, “I have to climb and have somebody with me to carry my walker down.”
Several tenants said many of their neighbors are older veterans or people with mobility impairments and that elevator outages are not new. According to residents, failures have occurred multiple times over the past year, leaving some afraid to plan appointments or outings when they are not sure they can safely get home.
What the Building Is and Who Lives There
Surf Vets Place is part of a broader redevelopment that includes supportive housing for veterans alongside affordable units, according to architect SBJ Group. The firm’s project description highlights the building’s role in providing housing and services tailored to veterans and residents who may need additional support.
Real‑estate listings and building profiles put the address at 2002 Surf Avenue near West 21st Street and note that the property has elevators and common‑area amenities, per CityRealty. Because the building mixes supportive and affordable housing, tenants say the breakdown has hit hardest those who most rely on accessible features to live there safely.
Legal Options and Accessibility Rules
Residents who want to escalate the situation can file a housing complaint through NYC311, which can trigger an inspection from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) or Department of Buildings (DOB).
Under city housing rules, some conditions are considered immediately hazardous and must be corrected within tight deadlines, with penalties for noncompliance, according to the NYC Housing Maintenance Code. At the federal level, accessibility guidance says that features such as elevators, once provided, must be kept in working order, per the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA guidance.
Tenant advocates note that lengthy outages can, in some cases, support requests for reasonable accommodations, rent reductions, or assistance from tenant‑rights organizations, especially where vulnerable tenants are effectively trapped in their homes.
Where Things Stand
For now, KONE and building management have told residents that the elevators require significant parts and repair work before they can move again, and there is still no firm date for when service will be restored. Tenants say they plan to keep pressing both management and city agencies while they juggle the daily strain of living in a high‑rise building where the only way out is up and down the stairs.
