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A resident of a 10-story Upper West Side building contacted ILTUWS about an impending elevator shutdown that will impact several elderly and disabled tenants—without any rent concessions.
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The Grace Church and Apartments is located at 123 West 104th Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues) and is owned by The United Methodist City Society. The 68-unit building provides affordable housing as well as units for clergy. The tipster expressed concern about the closure’s impact on many residents who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, canes — even oxygen. If an emergency like a fire were to occur, there is serious concern about how residents would safely evacuate the building. Phipps, the property manager, posted a notice to tenants on July 27 stating that the shutdown would last until November 14, though that “could change depending on materials needed.”
“I’m afraid of hypothetical emergency scenarios, that something catastrophic will happen,” said our tipster, who lives in a rent-stabilized unit they described as “below market value.” The tipster requested anonymity out of fear of being seen as a “rabble rouser” for reporting a serious matter, worried it could affect their standing to rent units there—or elsewhere—in the future. “What about my dog?” they added, noting that they would also have to carry a heavy bike up and down the building when they need to commute.
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Another tenant, who spoke to us anonymously as well, said, “I have a newborn, and I have to do food shopping, you know?” They expressed serious concern about their ability to safely carry everything up multiple flights of stairs, as they live on one of the highest floors. “I’m wondering where I’m going to put my carriage… so many things.”
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They also informed us that the incinerator is not working, meaning residents now have to bring their garbage down potentially many flights. The water went out without warning “a few weeks ago.” The tenant added, “The super doesn’t do much, and he’s aggressive too—like, he almost attacked me twice. I’ve been in that building since [the early 2000s], so we came across maybe three or four supers. And, you know, he just doesn’t show the effort or care about the building as much as all the other ones did.”
Our tipster also attested, “There are a lot of old people in the building,” confirming that many rely on wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. “Some people are very obese,” they added. “Not because they choose to, but because they have problems… I can’t imagine how they’re gonna do this up and down.” They noted that some residents have respiratory issues and rely on machines or oxygen tanks to breathe.
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The United Methodist City Society describes itself as a “vibrant force for good in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. We’ve been serving the community for over 180 years, ever since our Methodist foremothers saw the need to help children and families beyond the walls of the church.” We reached out to their CEO, Rev. Angela Redman, as well as through their website portal, seeking answers about accommodations for building tenants. We also learned that it’s not uncommon for the building’s only elevator to be out of service for days at a time. “They should really be ashamed,” said our initial tipster.
Our tipster tells us this was taken the last time the elevator was out of service, on July 13
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We also contacted Phipps, which describes itself as “the nation’s oldest and New York City’s largest not-for-profit organization devoted to affordable housing and resident/community-based social services.” We left a voicemail for their CEO, Andre White, and wrote to their press team asking for a response. At the time of writing, no response has been received.
The letter received by tenants, which was shared with ILTUWS, also states: “We are looking to hire a Serpa (someone to carry packages only upstairs to apartments) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.” It adds, “Once the package room is full, we will turn packages away (fire hazard). Please make sure you grab any packages belonging to your apartment on your way home.”
Our tipster informed us that they contacted District 7’s New York City Council member, Shaun Abreu. When we reached out to Council Member Abreu, he said, “We’ve reached out to the constituent and building management to gather more details about this case. Elevators are critical infrastructure, especially for seniors and people who struggle with mobility, and we’re committed to ensuring every resident can get in and out of their home with dignity and safety.”
“There is no plan to provide financial compensation to help people seek other housing or to offer lodging elsewhere,” said our concerned whistleblower, who has been collecting contact information from more tenants interested in speaking with us about issues in the building. “It could become a literal life-or-death situation.”
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