A resident of Sudbury, who lives with a disability, has voiced concerns over the year-long closure of the elevator in her apartment building, which has significantly impacted the daily lives of tenants who are now forced to use 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 challenges faced by elderly and disabled individuals due to the elevator being out of service since November 2024.
Despite being aware that repairs would take time, Gustafson emphasized the ongoing struggles faced by disabled residents in the building, causing physical discomfort and hardship. While tenants have raised the issue with building management, communication has been inconsistent.
The building is owned by Centreville Non-Profit Housing and managed by Luxor Property Management. Cory Vaillancourt, a property manager from Luxor, explained that the delay in restoring the elevator is due to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) not yet approving the newly installed elevator by KONE Canada. The TSSA identified multiple issues during an inspection in September that needed rectification before the elevator could be deemed safe for use.
KONE Canada, responsible for the elevator, has not scheduled a re-inspection yet. The elevator will remain out of service until all outstanding safety concerns are addressed. The tenants have also reached out to Greater Sudbury’s By-law Services for assistance in ensuring compliance with regulations.
Gustafson expressed the impact of the elevator outage on her daily tasks, leading to financial strain and reliance on external services for essential activities. She highlighted the necessity of having the elevator reinstated for the convenience and well-being of all residents affected by the prolonged closure.