Broken elevator traps senior residents inside Highbridge building with multiple violations
An 86-year-old resident tells News 12 he’s been forced to climb five flights of stairs every day for months because the elevator in his building has been out of service since November.
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Broken elevators inside a Highbridge building is making life difficult for residents.
An 86-year-old resident tells News 12 he’s been forced to climb five flights of stairs every day for months because the elevator in his building has been out of service since November.
“I take my time coming up ‘cause I ain’t gonna have no heart attack,” Joe Middleton said, describing the 15-minute trip up roughly 75 steps to his apartment at 1350 Shakespeare Ave.
Middleton said what should take seconds by elevator has become a daily physical challenge — one he fears could turn dangerous.
A Department of Buildings permit posted at the site shows the elevator requires a door sensor upgrade to meet code. That permit expired in March, and tenants say the issue has not been addressed since.
Residents say their landlord, JITA Reality Corp., has stopped responding to calls about the ongoing problem.
“I’m sick of this. I pay this man rent every month — why is the elevator not fixed?” said 83-year-old tenant Ethel Stukes. “He stopped answering his phone.”
City records show the building has 16 active violations, including issues related to the elevator, totaling about $27,000 in penalties.
News 12 attempted to contact building management alongside tenants, but calls went straight to voicemail.
For some residents, the broken elevator is more than an inconvenience — it’s a barrier to basic needs. A home health aide for 79-year-old Ana Ravelo, who has Alzheimer’s disease, said the situation has effectively confined her client indoors.
“The only thing I can do is just take her to the hallway and come back,” the aide said.
Despite the hardship, Middleton said he continues to push through the pain to maintain his routine.
“You got to do something to stay young,” he said.
News 12 has reached out to the Department of Buildings and is continuing to seek answers from management.
