HYDE PARK – In early June, residents of Stone Ledge Senior Apartments began complaining that the one elevator in the three-story building in Hyde Park was out of order. After several weeks of pressure from various levels of government, the elevator was restored on Tuesday, July 12.
Dutchess County Legislator Ben Geller was the first politician to address the issue and spent weeks putting pressure on the building’s owner, Conifer Real Estate Development in Rochester, NY.
Several of the building’s 300 tenants told Geller and State Senator Sue Serino that the on-site property manager had threatened them with evictions when they began complaining about the elevator.
Geller worked with the property manager to determine a solution. He said Conifer was blaming the elevator company for not getting the necessary parts to fix the 15-year-old elevator.
“It took pressure from county, state, and federal officials to expedite the delayed repairs,” said Geller. When the elevator went back into service on Tuesday, the county lawmaker said ,”As a result of the officials working on behalf of the residents, I am happy to say that it is now operational.” Geller noted that NYS Senator Sue Serino’s office fielded several complaints from tenants and was instrumental in getting government agencies involved.
Geller expressed his frustration with the building’s owner. “I will not sit idly and allow a vulnerable population in our community be taken advantage of or suffer. Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to live without worry.”
