LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 1, 2021) — Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) have issued a letter to the owner of Detroit’s Jeffersonian building, calling on them to immediately remedy hazardous conditions in the 30-story building, including — most immediately — fixing the elevator so vulnerable residents on the highest floors can more reasonably access their homes.
“Residents of the Jeffersonian have endured abysmal conditions, as there are no working elevators in the 30-story building, forcing the elderly, those with disabilities, those recovering from surgery, and residents with small children to take the stairs and putting them in harm’s way,” Sen. Chang said. “This is inhumane and unacceptable. Management companies have a responsibility to ensure their tenants’ safety and security, not just to collect the rent. I implore the property owner to listen to residents and immediately remedy and install the safety and security measures they deserve.”
In addition to fixing the elevator, residents have also requested:
- Installation of trash chutes so vulnerable residents are not forced to venture to the back of the building to dumpsters.
- Maintenance of the parking garage, common spaces, and laundry rooms which are often unkept and difficult to navigate.
- Revision of the towing policy and increasing loading spaces for everyday uses, such as unloading groceries, small children, bulk items, and more.
A copy of the letter sent to the owner of the Jeffersonian building can be found here.
“The residents need resolution on this issue,” said Rep. Tate. “It is an issue of safety and well-being. We look forward to hearing from the management company soon about our letter.”
“Residents’ voices largely go unheard,” said Eboni Taylor, a Jeffersonian resident. “My family had to switch apartments due to deep plumbing and infrastructure issues that continue to prevail against band-aid fixes. It’s the same with the elevators — root causes not being addressed and residents suffering in the end; my breaking points were meeting an almost 80-year-old resident in the stairwell as she trekked to the lobby from the 23rd floor. Another is the aggressive and expensive towing policy that causes further distress to residents when there are no adequate alternatives for temporary parking. What made all this even more egregious were the lackluster and snide responses from the regional director at Hayman Company, who dismissed me with no alternatives or solutions for the issues that we’re facing.”
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