Inside the luxury New York building where residents warn - ‘do not live here’

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A 59-storey skyscraper in the financial district of Manhattan, previously a sought-after residential building that boasted luxury amenities and some rent-stablised units, has become anything but a desired place to call home, as more than a dozen residents complained to the New York Times that the building’s malfunctioning elevators have made it more of a “high-rise hell”. Since late fall, New York City tenants living in the 750 apartment units at 20 Exchange Place have been caught up in an engineering and electrical maelstrom that has led to near daily elevator outages, sometimes lasting for hours, and making it near impossible for residents with mobility issues to easily access above the 15th floor. “To date, we have not been presented with any plausible theory as to why the elevator problems, which have developed since work to install a new elevator system began, are related to Con Edison equipment or service,” the utility company said in a statement to The Times, adding that they’ve also tapped a nonprofit called the Electric Power Research Institute to assist in its investigation. We don’t know in advance when it will be running.” The owners of the apartment complex told The Times they’ve offered some tenants with mobility concerns hotels rooms and furnished apartments on the lower levels, sometimes even outsourcing to entirely different apartment buildings in the neighbourhood.