Elevator breakdown a pain for Modesto seniors

Getting around has been harder for some residents of Modesto's Marple Manor, a low-income senior complex that consists of two five-story buildings.

The only elevator in the 80-unit east building has been working intermittently for the past week, despite frequent attempts to repair it.

Marple Manor staff members have been using the elevator's override feature to operate the lift for residents. But that failed Monday, and the elevator does not work at all. An Otis Elevator Co. crew was on its way Monday evening to repair the elevator.

One resident who lives on the east building's fifth floor said it's been frustrating because Marple Manor staff keeps saying the elevator will be fixed.

"The thing is they keep saying, 'It will be fixed tomorrow. It will be fixed tomorrow. It will be fixed tomorrow,' " said the resident, who asked that her name not be used. "A lot of people here have respiratory problems, bad backs."

An official with the company that manages Marple Manor said she understands residents are frustrated and said staff is doing everything it can to solve the problem. She said the repairmen ordered the wrong part, which compounded the problem. The correct part is expected to arrive today.

"Of course it is a hardship for the seniors," said Wilma Wilson, northwest regional manager for Foundation Property Management Inc., which manages Marple Manor on Coffee Road near Scenic Drive, as well as the Ralston Tower senior complex near downtown.

Wilson said the two buildings' elevators are about 30 years old, and Marple Manor is getting bids to modernize them.

She said this is the worst problem Marple Manor has had with the east building elevator. She said there never have been serious problems with the west building elevator.

Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at kvaline@modbee.com or (209) 578-2316.