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Elevator problem halts expansion at Amberwood Suites

Since an expansion nine months ago, the Amberwood Suites retirement home has been plagued with problems with its second elevator. The elevator, which was installed during the expansion, has been out of commission since then.
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The south end's Amberwood Suites retirement home has had only one functioning elevator since an expansion nine months ago. A second elevator has been out of commission since then, and there is no date yet as to when it will be repaired. Photo by Jonathan Migneault.

Since an expansion nine months ago, the Amberwood Suites retirement home has been plagued with problems with its second elevator.

The elevator, which was installed during the expansion, has been out of commission since then.

“We're having issues with our contractor,” said Julie Aubé, Amberwood Suites' operations manager. “We're basically in dispute with them over the length of time it's taking.”

Aubé said the retirement home still has not received an estimated date as to when the second elevator in the three-storey building will be operational.

Chris Gartley said the broken elevator has inconvenienced his mother-in-law, who lives in the building and has mobility issues due to a broken hip.

“She has to walk with a walker,” he said.

Up until recently, Gartley said his mother-in-law's apartment was quite far from the building's only functional elevator.

But she has recently upgraded to an apartment closer to the elevator.

“I just find it awfully strange they could let something like that go on that long,” Gartley said.

To help residents who have been inconvenienced by the broken elevator, Aubé said Amberwood Suites has staff and wheelchairs at the ready to help residents with mobility problems reach the functional elevator at no extra cost.

The ongoing repairs have also delayed the building's completed expansion, by closing off full access to the basement.

There are plans, said Aubé, to build a salon, a pub, an exercise room and a common area in the basement.

But those plans are on hold until all residents have easy access to the lower floor.
In the meantime, said Aubé, the building's main floor has served as the centre for activities.

“Our activities co-ordinator is fantastic, and she makes sure this elevator problem that we're having has not been impeding on our activities,” she said.


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Jonathan Migneault

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