Uplands Manor. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

“We’re working as fast as we can” – north side condo building without elevator for almost one month

Jun 1, 2021 | 2:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Residents of the Uplands Manor building in Lethbridge have been without a functioning elevator for almost a full month.

On May 3, the complex on 85 Foxbend Crescent North was hit by a storm that wiped out their power for a couple of days.

While that issue has since been resolved, Daniel Krooshoop is worried about how the remaining matter of the elevator is affecting his fellow residents.

“I’m a young guy, right, I’m in my 30s. I live on the third floor and it’s fine, I can use the stairs, but the main concern is that we have, in this apartment building, we have a lot of elderly and older people that cannot use the stairs.”

Uplands Manor is home to 71 units on four floors.

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“We have a guy, Jeff, in his 30s that’s in a wheelchair so [he needs his] friends to bring him downstairs and up the stairs every day. There is also Margaret, who’s in her 80’s on the fourth floor, so every time she wants to go down, she has to use her hands and legs because of her back… there’s Eileen, she’s in her 90s and the only thing she kind of has going for her in these COVID times is that, when it’s nice out, she can use the elevator and go for a little stroll,” says Krooshoop.

“It’s just, as a neighbour, I’m a little worried about my neighbours who cannot use it right now.”

Tim Stuart, Condo Manager for Uplands Manor, says he and his team have been hard at work trying to resolve the issues at the building since the initial flood. While that got fixed relatively quickly, the elevator is a bit more complicated.

He told LNN that the company involved with the elevator is currently sourcing parts and pricing, working with Stuart’s insurance company to see if they can simply repair it or if it will require a full replacement.

“We’re working as fast as we can to get the elevator back up and running. It’s not like changing a light bulb, there’s a few more things involved, especially with insurance kind of giving the final OK with what’s covered and what isn’t.”

Krooshoop does not doubt Stuart’s sincerity in wanting to fix the elevator as soon as possible, but says, the longer it takes, the more the building’s tenants will suffer.

Stuart was not provided with an estimated timeline for when the elevator would be back in operation.