After 6 months without an elevator in their building, these seniors are angry

From seniors with mobility issues trying to haul groceries upstairs to new moms lugging strollers and kids, residents of a condo in west London say they're angry and fed up after more than six months without an elevator in their building — even as monthly condo fees continue to rise. 

"I see the struggle. The worry. People with wheelchairs and canes and walkers, it kind of breaks our hearts," said Janet Clancy, who has lived in a condo at 200 Everglade Cres. for three years. "It's hard for these older people to be struggling like that. They have doctor's appointments, they have groceries." 

The building is three storeys and doesn't legally have to have an elevator, but the fact that it does is why many of the retirees moved there for independent living as they age, added Lee Anderson, 82.  He moved into the building 11 years ago in part because it has an elevator — or it did until October. 

"When we bought the condo, that was a plus because we know that we would be aging and walking up stairs would be more difficult." 

About three-quarters of the residents in 200 Everglade Cres. are seniors, said Heather Dickenson, the property manager who oversees the building, as well as one next door, for Dickenson Condo Management. 

"This is a project to modernize the mechanical components of the elevators because they're about 46 years old, so it's time," Dickenson said. "We know that everyone is extremely frustrated and quite unhappy. Understandably so." 

Condo fees have jumped 27 per cent since last year, from an average of $647 per month to $802 per month, partly because of the elevator work, but also because the parking garage, balconies and windows all need to be replaced, Dickenson said. 

'A really crappy deal'

"I know it's a really crappy deal for the people that live there," she added. Residents say they are frustrated that there are no details about when the work will finally be complete. 

The elevator work was initially supposed to start in July 2022, but a strike by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) which inspects and certifies elevators, delayed it. 

The official start date — and the last time the elevator worked — was Oct. 3. "The condo owners were told at that point it would be four to six weeks." 

Six weeks came and went, and so did the Christmas holidays. It turned out the motor ordered for the hydraulic elevator was not big enough for the design, so new motors were ordered and wiring had to be retrofitted, Dickenson said. 

That brought things to Feb. 23, when the re-sized parts were ordered by Schindler Elevators, the company doing the work. On March 30, the suppliers told Schindler that their revised starting date was April 10. That date has passed — and still no elevator. 

Phone calls and emails to Schindler Elevators from CBC News were not returned on Monday. 

On Everglade Crescent, residents say they're fed up with the excuse that the pandemic has delayed things. For half a year, Bob Clancy, 66, has been helping people who need to climb stairs with groceries. 

"I'd hate to see somebody fall with a handful of groceries and plus a cane," he said. "They're terribly frustrated. It was only supposed to take six weeks, and it's gone on for over six months." 

Residents are told to park in the underground lot, but can't use the elevator to get to their apartments. It seems that no one has a clear answer about what is going on and when the elevator is going to be fixed, he added. Pam Murison, who lives on the first floor, agreed. 

"I'm concerned for those people who live on the second and third floor," said Murison.

"We've waited long enough for the elevator to be fixed. We need our voices to be heard. It's important to have an elevator for emergency services moving in and out, for older people with disabilities or anyone that has a problem going up and down stairs."