CUMRU TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Broken elevators are causing problems for seniors at a high-rise apartment building in Cumru Township.
Since Friday, we’re told both of the building’s elevators haven’t been working and for some of people who live there, the stairs aren’t an option.
They’re trapped,” said Debbie Gajewski. “They’re trapped in there and with the shortage of housing, they’re afraid. They’re afraid to speak up, they don’t have any place to go.”
Gajewski says she’s frustrated along with many of the residents of Sencit Towne House Apartments, including her mother, who lives on the 8th floor of the high rise for seniors and disabled people.
“People that are in wheelchairs are going nowhere,” Gajewski said. “They said if there’s a problem, call the fire department.”
She says the building used to have two working elevators; one has been broken for more than a year, the other breaks down regularly.
“Something needs to be resolved,” said Gajewski. “We’ve been reaching out for the last year asking everybody. Nothing is getting done, they keep saying ‘oh, yeah, next month, parts have been ordered, next week.’ It was supposed to be fixed three weeks ago.”
The Cumru Township building inspector says while the complex is in violation, there is nowhere to go with people who live in the 200 apartments. He says the township has been in communication with HUD about the issues and urges them to take action.
He says he was told by the company that manages the property they have a contract with a company to replace the one elevator and says they say they’re waiting on a part to fix the other.
Several lawmakers have also gotten complaints, including state Senator Judy Schwank. Her office says it shared concerns directly with the operators and says it’s critical Sencit resolves the issue in a timely manner.
“This is an elderly high rise,” added Gajewski, “these people, a lot of them are 80 and 90 years old. They can’t walk up and down. I pass women that are literally coming down a few steps and sitting to get down to the bottom.”