Residents of a Southeast D.C. apartment complex finally see elevator repairs after years of issues, improving safety and accessibility.
Residents were really struggling with the elevators, and one guy, Darryl Smith, even ended up in the hospital after falling down the stairs. He’s been living on the fifth floor and relies on a wheelchair, so you can imagine how tough it’s been for him.
Darryl mentioned that he often had to wait ages for the service elevator, which was the only one working sometimes. Just two days after some neighbors raised concerns, he fell and was found unconscious.
According to D.C. law, apartment buildings with elevators must keep them in good shape. The Department of Buildings issued a notice of infraction and promised to look into the situation.
After WUSA9 aired their story, they confirmed that a second elevator is now working. The third elevator still needs repairs, but the property owner has 60 days to fix it since it’s not classified as an emergency.
In the meantime, there’s a program called “Lift Assist” where residents can call 311 for help getting up and down the building. Darryl said he might use it if he needs to. It’s great to see some progress for the residents!
