FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Ongoing elevator outages at a Fresno apartment complex are creating serious challenges for residents, especially those with disabilities who rely on them for daily mobility.
At “The Link at Blackstone” on Blackstone Avenue, both elevators have been out of service for months.
One has reportedly been down since January, while the other stopped working about a month ago.
Signs posted at each elevator notify residents that the elevator is “out of order.”
For tenants who can use stairs, the inconvenience is manageable.
But for others, like third-floor resident Jimmy Hepner, the situation is far more serious.
Hepner, who uses a wheelchair, says the broken elevators have left him effectively trapped in his apartment.
“I don’t know what it takes, but my God, it’s not good for us,” Hepner said. “There’s a lot of older people up here, it’s not just me.”
Without a working elevator, Hepner has no accessible way to leave his unit.
He says the issue has already forced him to cancel multiple medical appointments.
“I’ve had to cancel three of them already,” he said. “Then I had another doctor’s appointment I had to reschedule.”
Beyond the inconvenience, Hepner says the situation poses a serious safety risk.
After two fires near his apartment earlier this year, he fears what could happen if another emergency occurs.
“I’ll have to lie here if there’s a fire,” he said. “If they don’t come get me, I can’t go anywhere. I’m stuck up here.”
The situation raises concerns about accessibility and tenant safety, particularly for people with mobility challenges.
FOX 26 reached out to city officials for answers, who directed questions to Cal/OSHA regarding regulations and tenant protections in situations where essential accessibility features, like elevators, are not functioning.
For now, Hepner says he has rescheduled his medical appointments for next month, but if the elevators remain broken, he may be forced to delay them yet again.