THUNDER BAY - A broken elevator is the latest in a series of problems that continue to plague residents of the Roy building on East Victoria Avenue.
The elevator hasn’t been working since May 27. Chris Abbey and Sherry-Lynn Prieston are two seniors who live on the building's second floor and are bound to wheelchairs.
For the past 14 days, a non-functioning elevator has kept Abbey and Prieston stuck in their rooms.
“I feel like I’m in prison, just without the bars,” said Prieston, who lost her right leg four years ago.
Abbey, a former Lakehead University microbiology professor, moved into the building in December and said his medical condition has worsened in the time since the elevator stopped working.
“I’ve had to cancel so many appointments. I can’t even do physiotherapy. I can’t do my walking in here.”
Abbey had a stroke in 2012, and needs to perform physiotherapy exercises in order to avoid swelling in his legs.
Abbey claimed that he contacted the Social Services Board and the fire marshal, but neither could help address the issue.
Prieston, meanwhile, has been unable to get groceries.
“I can’t even order something from Westfort Foods because my buzzer doesn’t work,” Prieston said.
According to the two tenants, the broken elevator is just the latest in an ongoing list of problems.
Both described problems of security, cleanliness, and inadequate management during their time at the Roy building, which is owned and operated by Ahsanul Habib of Habib Enterprises.
“It should have been fixed right away.... It’s the only elevator we have. They shouldn’t have moved us in here if they can’t take care of the place. You have to take care of us,” Prieston said.
Habib owns various residential and retirement buildings, and has made an effort to purchase and revitalize old buildings across the city.
But according to Prieston, these attempts have come at the cost of the basic human needs of the tenants.
On Thursday, a spokesperson from Habib’s office told tbnewswatch.com that an elevator repair company was at the Roy building on the day it broke down, however an oil leak delayed the process.
Although the elevator technician crew was at the building “at least 10 times” since the problem arose, the crew is still waiting for an elevator part to arrive before it begins an “extensive repair job.”
For Abbey, Prieston, and the rest of the handicapped tenants of the Roy building the issue may stretch further than two weeks.
“They should have the personnel to come visit and ask how I’m doing. Nobody has even come to knock on my door and ask ‘Christopher, how are you doing? Do you have any bread?’ That shocks me,” Abbey said.
“They don’t show empathy at all.”
