Green is pressing the apartment manager for solutions to the problem that KHOU 11 has been reporting on for weeks.
MISSOURI CITY, Texas — Residents of a senior apartment complex in Missouri City say they’ve been stuck with a non-working elevator for months, forcing some to miss critical medical appointments and leaving them with nowhere to turn for help.
KHOU 11 has been reporting on broken elevators across the Houston area for weeks. The situation at the Jubilee at Texas Parkway has drawn the attention of Congressman Al Green and other local officials, who visited the complex Friday to see the complex for themselves.
The tenants invited Rep. Green and KHOU 11 into the complex, but Green and reporter Matt Dougherty were met by security guards, who tried to prevent them from getting inside. It led to a standoff that lasted more than half an hour before Missouri City police arrived and confirmed that the guards could not legally block KHOU 11 access.
Once inside, KHOU 11 talked to 85-year-old Miss Hennie, who lives on the fourth floor and said she’s been unable to leave her apartment for two months. She recently had to cancel a doctor’s appointment due to her inability to navigate the stairs.
“I just missed my appointment on last Tuesday, and I told them why I would have to cancel because I can’t get up and down the stairs,” Miss Hennie said during the visit. Rep. Green climbed 80 steps to reach the fourth floor and speak with her.
The property management company operating the Jubilee at Texas Parkway has claimed in a letter to Congressman Green’s office that it has been checking on residents and offered temporary accommodations while waiting for elevator repairs. However, several residents disputed this claim when questioned Friday.
Management says they’re still waiting on a part and don’t know when it’ll arrive.
The ongoing elevator breakdown has left disabled residents essentially trapped in their homes, unable to access essential services or maintain their independence. Congressman Green is expected to make demands of the apartment’s owners regarding the situation.
Local leaders say they’re now reviewing the property’s tax credits and what action to take next.