A woman living with a disability in Sudbury expressed concerns over the prolonged closure of the elevator in her apartment building, impacting the daily lives of residents who are now forced to navigate the stairs. Andrea Gustafson, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and resides on the fifth floor of a five-storey building at 285 Lourdes Street, highlighted the difficulties faced by elderly and disabled tenants due to the elevator’s year-long shutdown.
The building’s only elevator was taken out of service for repairs in November 2024, leading to significant challenges for residents like Gustafson. She emphasized the ongoing struggles faced by disabled individuals in the building, noting the prolonged pain and hardship resulting from the lack of elevator access.
Gustafson mentioned that despite raising concerns with building management, communication has been inconsistent, exacerbating the situation for tenants.
Safety concerns and regulatory hurdles
The property is owned by Centreville Non-Profit Housing and managed by Luxor Property Management. Cory Vaillancourt, a representative from Luxor, explained that the elevator’s delay is attributed to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) not yet approving the newly installed elevator by KONE Canada.
Vaillancourt stated that the approval from TSSA is crucial for resolving the situation. Following an inspection in September, the TSSA identified various issues that must be addressed before the elevator can resume operations safely, according to Gary Chan, a TSSA spokesperson. The responsibility lies with KONE Canada to schedule a re-inspection, but no action has been taken so far.
Chan emphasized that the elevator will remain out of service until all outstanding issues are resolved to ensure its safety for public use. Despite inquiries, KONE Canada did not respond to requests for comments before the publication.
Tenants have also sought assistance from Greater Sudbury’s By-law Services to address the ongoing situation.
Impact on daily life and financial strain
Gustafson shared the impact of the elevator outage on her daily tasks, revealing the physical toll of using the stairs on painful days. She expressed the financial burden resulting from having to outsource tasks like laundry and grocery shopping due to the lack of elevator access.
Describing the challenges faced, she mentioned resorting to services like Instacart for grocery deliveries, as it is the only feasible option for bringing groceries upstairs. The additional expenses incurred due to the elevator closure have put financial strain on residents, particularly those relying on assistance or disability benefits.
Gustafson reiterated her desire for the elevator to be reinstated, emphasizing the importance of restoring accessibility for all residents in the building.