A resident of Sudbury with a disability expressed concerns over the prolonged closure of the elevator in her apartment building, affecting the daily routines of many occupants who are now compelled to use the stairs. Andrea Gustafson, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, has resided on the fifth floor of a five-storey building at 285 Lourdes Street for the past ten years. The lone elevator in the building was taken out of service for maintenance in November 2024, causing difficulties for elderly and disabled tenants trying to navigate the building.
Gustafson highlighted the challenges faced by disabled individuals in the building due to the extended elevator shutdown, emphasizing the physical strain and discomfort they endure. Despite raising concerns with the building management multiple times, tenants have faced inconsistent communication on the matter.
The ownership of the building lies with Centreville Non-Profit Housing, managed by Luxor Property Management. Cory Vaillancourt, a Luxor property manager, attributed the delay in elevator reinstatement to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) not granting approval for the newly installed elevator by KONE Canada. The TSSA identified several issues during an inspection in September that must be rectified before the elevator can resume operations. KONE Canada has yet to schedule a re-inspection, leaving the elevator out of service until all outstanding issues are resolved to ensure safety.
In response to the situation, tenants have also reached out to Greater Sudbury’s By-law Services for assistance. While the property is not city-owned, the City of Greater Sudbury’s By-law Services is collaborating with the property owners to address compliance issues.
Gustafson lamented the impact of the elevator outage on her daily activities, forcing her to forego certain tasks on days when using the stairs becomes unbearable. The situation has also led to financial strain for her, as she has had to pay for laundry services and utilize grocery delivery options due to the lack of elevator access.
Expressing her desire for a resolution, Gustafson emphasized the need for the elevator to be reinstated to alleviate the difficulties faced by residents in the building.