THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Tenants in a Bronx apartment building call for better living conditions, saying the building’s only elevator is often out of service.

Many of the tenants have mobility and health issues. Some are essentially prisoners in their own homes without an elevator. Residents said the building’s management company either gives them the runaround or doesn’t respond to service calls. 

Resident Jeff Holloway uses a wheelchair and is awaiting back surgery for a compound fracture. He says he can’t get to his doctor’s appointments because the building’s elevator is routinely broken, so his surgery is in limbo. 

“I’ve already had to reschedule three times because of that elevator,” said Holloway. “Until I know what’s going on with this elevator, I can’t really confirm my appointments.” 

As of Wednesday night, the elevator is out of service. The FDNY confirms it responded Wednesday morning to the building on Clarke Place in the Bronx for a stuck elevator.

A source for Wavecrest Management, which oversees the building, denied any involvement from the FDNY.

Holloway said he’d repeatedly called Wavecrest and didn’t get a response until someone called while PIX11 News was in his apartment. When we asked the employee for an update on when the elevator would return to service, the employee hung up the phone. Other tenants report similar experiences.

“The phone rings, rings, rings, then they hang up,” said Bernadette Gladden, who lives on the building’s fifth floor.

Gladden has issues with her back and knee and lives with asthma and chronic bronchitis.  

“I usually stay upstairs, but I’ve gotta go get some food now,” said Gladden.

Tenant Denise Wray navigated down ten flights of stairs with a cane. She says the elevator has even landed her in the ER.

“I got stuck in the elevator, and I had this panic attack, and I passed out right here,” said Wray. “I’m very, very sad. I’m very sad that I’m in this situation.”

In a statement to PIX11 News, Wavecrest Management said:

Earlier today, once alerted that the elevator wasn't working, on-site staff immediately contacted our certified third-party elevator service contractor. Repairs are scheduled for [Thursday] morning at 8:00 a.m., and we are optimistic that elevator service will be restored.