Watch above: Residents in NDG are trapped in their homes after the elevators in their building were shut down due to an oil leak. Reporter Billy Shields has more.
MONTREAL – Harry Morrison is an 81-year-old man living in the Benny Farm complex.
His girlfriend lives in an adjacent building, 3510, but though she’s been home all along, Morrison hasn’t seen her for almost a week because both the elevators in her building became inoperable.
“She can’t get out, she can’t go up and down,” he said.
“They can’t get parts, they can’t do this, they can’t do that. They can’t manage buildings is what it is.”
It’s a problem Morrison knows of firsthand – one elevator in his own building has been out of commission for months.
According to officials who run the complex, which is managed by the city of Montreal, an oil leak developed in some of its machinery that has seeped down the shaft.
Technicians are scheduled to be back at work on the problem on Monday, but a date has yet to be set to determine when they’ll be up and running again.
In the meantime, many of the 40 households inside feel like they’re being held hostage.
“My boy has lost his leg,” said 86-year-old Sheila Gearey, who walks with a cane.
“We’re fortunate we’re on the first floor. He doesn’t have to go down stairs, but he couldn’t go out in a car because he has no way to reach the garage,” she said.
Security has offered to ferry up groceries and other necessities for residents, and officials have offered hotel stays for others deemed the most in need.
“I understand that it’s very hard for them,” said Cynthia Frascarelli, the director of the complex.
“We really understand that it’s something that happens and we don’t really have a choice.”
There are about 200 households in the five-building complex, which occupies five buildings in NDG.
Those buildings are a mix of condos, apartments and subsidized housing and many residents are elderly, meaning they depend on working elevators.
“Without elevators, they’re really up against it,” said resident Andy Murphy.
“There’s no way to get to the top floors.”
Officials are hoping to find out more about a repair timetable Monday.
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