DENVER — A broken elevator system at a Denver apartment complex has led to a unique situation that has residents concerned about safety.
For the past few weeks, tenants at Hirschfeld Towers, located near South Cherokee Street and East Ellsworth Avenue, said someone has been standing on top of the elevator, manually moving it from floor to floor.
“So, we have to knock on the elevator, he asks us what floor are we on, we have to tell him the floor we’re on, and then we have to tell him what floor we’re going to,” said Torsan Mitchell.
Mitchell says the ride is far from smooth, and often ends up out of alignment when entering or exiting the elevator.
“It’s very scary to be on the elevator,” said Mitchell. “Sometimes when you come down, you have to look down and make sure it’s even so you don’t step off and fall.”
The Denver Fire Department told 9NEWS they are aware of the situation.
A spokesperson said it’s far from ideal but has been approved to allow the elevator to function while repairs are made. Fire code allows for a certified technician to manually operate the elevator in situations like this, according to the spokesperson.
Renee Smith lives on the 9th floor and said she is worried about what happens to the elevator if something happens to the technician standing on top.
“What if he gets overheated in the shaft? Or what if he should have a heart attack or stroke while he’s manually lowering the elevator?” Smith asked. “Then, it’s out of control, and the elevator could fall and drop with passengers on there. That’s my biggest concern about that.”
The Denver Housing Authority, which operates the apartment complex said "the elevator is run by a certified technician in accordance with applicable requirements."
That spokesperson said no timeline for repairs has been determined.
“It’s hurtful that we pay our rent every month and we have to live like this,” said Mitchell. “They feel like as long as we can get on the elevator and go where we need to go, it's okay, and it's not okay."
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