TAMPA — Dozens in
Harbour Island are coming together and starting their own
tenant's association after broken elevators leave them with
issues.
People living at 500
Harbour Island said they have safety concerns with two out
of three elevators broken.
"The elevators have been down for about 11 weeks," a
resident at 500 Harbour Island, Steven Gildin, said.
Gildin lives on the 19th floor and there are 21 floors in
the building.
"We have hundreds and hundreds of residents trying to work
with one elevator," Gildin explained.
He says throughout the week, people spend hours just waiting
on one elevator because, for many people, there are too many
stairs to climb. |
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"It’s a terrible
safety risk, not to mention, the inconvenience of it all,"
Gildin said.
Gilden is a part of the newly formed tenant’s association at
500 Harbour Island. He said about 100 people are on their
mailing list. Dozens came out to their meeting Monday night.
Residents said the owners of the building and the management
provided no clarity as to when both elevators will be fixed.
10 Tampa Bay called and emailed the management company, ZRS.
On its website, it lists 500 Harbour Island as one of its
properties. We are still waiting to hear back from them
after contacting them Monday afternoon.
As for the owners, residents said it is Northwestern Mutual.
10 Tampa Bay called and emailed the company Monday afternoon
and we are waiting to hear their response.
"We’ve been told time again that it’s going to be fixed,
they don’t have the parts, they’re servicing it, it’s just
one excuse after the other," Gildin explained.
One resident sent us multiple emails they received from 500
Harbour Island with many of them apologizing for the
inconvenience.
Monday night, dozens organized outside their homes as a part
of the tenants union.
"The tenants came together and we rallied as a tenant’s
association and now we’re fighting back," Gildin said.
One woman at the meeting Monday night said last year she was
trapped in what’s now the only operational elevator. People
worried that one will break too and they won't have any
operational elevators.
"This is not safe. We have elderly folks and upper floors
who can’t get down," Jennifer Powers, who lives at 500
Harbour Island, said.
Residents want an independent inspection of the elevator to
ensure its safety and it's operating correctly.
Powers has been asking when the elevators will be fixed and
said the owners told her they’re waiting on a part. She said
they gave no timeline. She explained residents are
considering legal action.
"As a real estate attorney, I understand that tenants have a
lot of rights under the tenant-landlord statute," Powers
explained.
Powers explained one legal option is a breach of contract,
but understands going up against landlords isn’t easy.
"When it comes to withholding rent, I do think the laws are
landlords-favored."
She says the owners and management are breaking the rules.
"They are in violation of local and state building codes.
It’s creating a fire hazard."
As a mother with a young child, she worries about safety.
She isn't alone as dozens expressed their concerns and
joined the tenants association.
"We had to take a stand because this puts lives in
jeopardy," Gildin said.
Gildin said for anyone else dealing with tenant issues
should form a tenant’s association.
"Come together. Assert your rights. There’s strength in
numbers. Fight back and stand up for what is right," Gildin
said.
Once 10 Tampa Bay hears back from the management company and
owner, we will update this story with their response.