Seniors Stranded In High-Rise Fighting To Get Elevators Fixed

WESTWOOD (KDKA) - It hasn't been a good weekend for Bill Chew. He's on oxygen and lives in the nine-story Noble Towers apartment building in Westwood.

When both of the elevators broke down Chew was stranded in his apartment.

"I carry this buggy with me everyday I can't make the steps," he said.

Crews came Sunday and got one of the elevators up and running after it broke down again Saturday. That was good news for Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith.

"It has been a hardship, we're hearing some very sad stories of people who cant get up and down, they're on oxygen tanks, they're on medication, they're on wheelchairs," she said.

Councilwoman Smith was pleased with the owners' quick response. She plans to make the fire chief and Public Safety Director aware of the situation at Noble Towers.

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"Given the fact that this is a situation of nine floors with senior citizens, there has to be a plan in place in the interim of what's going to occur when those residents are put in the position of not being able to access elevators,' Smith said.

Meanwhile, the owners announced a plan to assist 132 residents, who are most senior citizens if the elevator problems continue.

"If we have a problem we cant get it fixed, we have a room block already set aside at a hotel, we would be more than happy to put people in a hotel if we have to," building owner Johnathan Plesset said.

Plesset said the company has money in the budget to modernize the elevators this year.

Longtime resident Peggy Blume says it's still a great place to live.

"I'm hoping, I'm praying that things will get better," she said.