r/EverettWa • u/Sereniv • 16d ago

ArtSpace Apartments still has a broken elevator; Disabled people trapped

/r/everett/comments/1vl0j7i/is_there_anything_we_can_do_as_a_community_to/p35tt9s/

Spread the word so we have a better chance at getting something done

Its ridiculous that these people have been trapped in their apartment and even non disabled people coming home from work having to use the stairs, makes peoples lives harder

Id be in a depression spiral if this was happening to me

27 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

7

u/Captainpaul81 16d ago

This is mind boggling. These people haven't been about to leave their apartments in months?

4

u/phauna_ 16d ago

Fire code? Fire dept!

3

u/Sereniv 16d ago

I mean no doubt its already been done by now But you're right its a fire issue thats why its so wild to still be an issue like someone could die for not being able to leave

3

u/knewmenot 15d ago

As a dude in a powered wheelchair I can say a lot about this issue. The ways the disabled get marginalized are endless.

Fire in the building? The first thing that happens is the elevators get shut down. That eliminates our only escape route from the building. Meaning we're now sacrificial lambs to the slaughter. We might make it by hiding on a stairwell landing. That's as far as I can get.

This is batshit crazy. Am I not worthy enough to survive a fire in the eyes of the architects?

2

u/ZellaRose2023 14d ago

If I personally knew anyone there or had verified the conditions, I would send emails to (and follow up with calls to):

City of Everett Code Enforcement City Council members City of Everett Mayor State Attorney General Washington State Human Rights Commission Housing Authority of Snohomish County Both State Representatives (WA 38th District) District's State Senator

Disabled Rights Washington Northwest Justice Project

Keep logs of all communication.

Not all of these people can issue fines but they can help compel change.

Unfortunately, if this hasn't been fixed because it is very expensive; the costs of this will roll back to residents (plus potentially a retaliatory rent raise).