During the holiday season, Jeanie Chase found herself crying often in December and January. As a resident of the Avondale Apartments in Denver, a housing complex for disabled and elderly individuals, Chase faced two weeks of elevator outages that left her stranded on the fifth floor. Being in a wheelchair since 2009 due to a nerve condition, Chase relies on the elevators for her daily activities. Missing vet appointments, physical therapy sessions, and outings with her son, Chase felt isolated and depressed.
Denver law requires annual inspections of elevators by third-party services to renew certificates of operation. However, a Denver Post investigation revealed that many elevators across the city are malfunctioning or inoperable, putting residents at risk. Despite occasional orders to comply from fire officials, elevator failures persist in many residential buildings.
Residents like Freda Lysaker at the Avondale Apartments have been significantly impacted by the broken elevators. Lysaker, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, faced difficulties accessing her fifth-floor unit when both elevators were out of service. Forced to crawl up the stairs with the help of firefighters, she experienced panic attacks and feelings of helplessness.
The lack of oversight and enforcement regarding elevator maintenance in Denver has raised concerns among residents and officials. City Councilwoman Sarah Parady expressed worries about the fragmented and weak regulatory structure, while private investigator Therese Kerr called for more stringent measures to hold landlords accountable for elevator safety.
Chase and Lysaker recently joined a lawsuit against the owners of the Avondale Apartments, alleging violations of Colorado’s warranty of habitability statute and the Colorado Fair Housing Act. Both women feel let down by the property management and the city’s inadequate response to the elevator issues.
As residents continue to face challenges with malfunctioning elevators, the need for improved oversight and enforcement measures becomes increasingly urgent to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals living in residential buildings.
