St. Luke’s Elevator Crisis: Seniors Stranded

0:00It's April 21st. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Tampa Bay News today, your AI-powered local news. Residents at St. Luke's Life Center apartments in Lakeland, Florida are stud dealing with elevators that keep breaking down. This four-story senior affordable housing spot has left folks stranded on upper floors for days at a time. Many residents depend on wheelchairs or walkers, so stairs just aren't an option. The problems go back years, but they've ramped up in recent weeks. One time resident Robert James, who's lived there nearly two decades, says it's happening two or three times lately. He figures they might need new parts to sort it out for good. People are fed up, especially after tough spots like Hurricane Irma in 2017. That's when a power outage killed the elevators completely. Former leasing agent Michael Joseph has been hitting up city leaders for eight or nine years, baking for a real fix. Joseph has seen residents trapped up there seven or eight days straight. Even on the fourth floor, some can't get down without help. Right now, the elevators are running, but everyone's on edge waiting for the next failure.

1:03Until management steps up with a solid plan, these seniors are just praying it holds.