Fresno tenants stranded again as elevator failures persist at The Links
Repairs that lasted only two weeks left elderly and disabled tenants stuck at The Link at Blackstone, where one elevator had already been down since January.
Elevators at The Link at Blackstone broke again within about two weeks of being repaired, leaving elderly and disabled tenants at 1501 North Blackstone Ave. unable to reliably leave their apartments, reach appointments or carry groceries downstairs.
Residents said one elevator had been down since January and the other failed about a month later. After repairs on May 4, the system was back out of service around May 18, turning a basic amenity at the Fresno affordable housing complex into a daily barrier for people who depend on it.
Jimmy Hepner said the outage kept him from attending doctor appointments and safely leaving his unit. Reberta Lopez said several neighbors were effectively stranded because they could not get downstairs without risking their mobility or their ability to manage groceries and other needs.
The property, marketed as a LIHTC affordable housing community, includes 1- to 3-bedroom units with monthly rents listed from roughly $393 to $1,090. It is described as serving family and senior residents and advertises a medical clinic, a dedicated senior center, a resident clubhouse and a business center, amenities that underline how many tenants there are older adults or people with limited mobility.
The elevator failures drew in the Fresno City Attorney’s Office. City Attorney Andrew Janz said his office took the matter seriously and contacted Cal/OSHA, the state agency whose Elevator Unit is charged with inspecting and enforcing code compliance for elevators and other conveyances. Cal/OSHA declined to intervene, so the city said it was taking over the inspection process itself and checking repair progress directly with the property owner and elevator company.
Ed Cafasso, the complex’s spokesperson, said both elevators were out of service because of vandalism and that replacement parts were on the way. That explanation did little to change the immediate reality for tenants who said the outages were not just inconvenient, but isolating.
Fresno Housing says it owns, maintains and manages affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities, and says that senior housing is intended to provide safe, well-maintained homes. At The Link at Blackstone, the repeated elevator breakdowns have raised a harder question, whether residents who are supposed to age and live with dignity in place are instead being trapped in their own units.
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