The fate of a manual elevator in Kentucky — thought to be the state’s last — was recently put to a vote. Residents at the 95-year-old, 11-story Commodore Condominiums in Louisville, Kentucky, voted to replace the vintage unit with new equipment.
Various factors may have contributed to the decision (36 of the building’s 59 owners voted for a new lift) including the cost of paying a company to operate the elevator 24/7, the difficulty of finding obsolete parts and fear of a lawsuit if there were to be an accident.
Several Louisville Courier Journal readers wrote in to express sadness and disappointment about the choice to replace the elevator. One said his elderly mother had lived in the building, and he loved having the elevator operators around in case something happened to her in the middle of the night. Another shared fond memories of visiting his grandmother at the Commodore and taking the lift. Not all recollections were positive; one couple who lived in the building 40 years ago commented that they hated the elevator because it took a long time to arrive.
According to the Commodore’s homeowners’ association (HOA), upkeep and staffing for the elevator is its largest expense. Condo owners’ HOA fees are based on the square footage of each unit, and the average owner pays US$3,220 a year for the valet company to operate the elevator and provide other services. A timeline for the elevator replacement has not been announced.
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