UPDATED: First of Two Lexington-Riverside Elevators Reopen

Editor's Note: This article has been revised to correct inaccurate information. The state-government shutdown did not extend the length of time elevators at Lexington-Riverside have been closed, as originally reported, and the date of completion reported was incorrect. Patch editors put great effort into providing reliable information, and when mistakes occur, we’re committed to correcting errors in a transparent manner.

An elevator modernization project at the 1077 building of Lexington-Riverside concluded Tuesday after a state inspector gave the work a stamp of approval.

Residents have been living without elevator service in the six-story building since June 13, when the only elevator was closed to bring it up to the most recent code standards.

The project was expected to take six to eight weeks. One working finish date projected during construction was as early as July 18. Ultimately the job was completed a week ahead of schedule on July 25, according to building manager Lisa Smith.

The 1101 building’s elevator started its own upgrade Monday, July 18.

Residents and management had expressed concern during the state shutdown, which ended July 19, that the layoff of state workers would result in a delay if a state elevator inspector were nowhere to be found once repairs were finished.

The civil attorney of the city of Lilydale went so far as to contact the chief elevator inspector in the state to see what options would be available.

According to the city’s building inspector, David Neameyer, elevator inspectors are an exclusive group of state employees who are specifically trained and certified to approve work on elevators.

Neameyer cannot simply step in to the specialized field to complete inspections. “That would be like me holding up your x-ray,” he said.

Smith said that the shutdown proved to not be a factor. An inspection could not be scheduled until after the work was completed.

The elevator upgrades, a response to code updates passed by the Legislature in 2007, have been a big problem for residents like Jeanne Ruppenthal, who lives on the sixth floor. Access to the ground floor is on the third floor of her building, and access to her car is on the fourth floor.

“I have to tell you, it’s a real drag for me. I’ll be 94 in September and I just cannot climb the stairs like I used to,” said Ruppenthal. “I can go down, but it’s very difficult going up, and I cannot carry anything up.”

Ruppenthal has relied on family and friends to help.

Marilyn Lundberg and her husband, Don, who uses a wheelchair, decided to rent out a vacant unit on the third (ground) floor rather than be stuck on the fifth floor. Time for them beyond the repair period meant more time living in a temporary situation surrounded by boxes.

For residents Bill Klett and his wife Marlene, the repairs meant relocating even farther away. Marlene is not able to navigate the stair from their sixth floor condo, so Klett signed them up for a five-week “Summer Camp for Seniors” program at the University of Duluth.

“When the 5 weeks expired, I extended for another week, and now that week has expired,” said Klett in an email to Patch last Monday, “I will have to sign on for another because my wife cannot climb 3 to 6 flights of stairs without pain & difficulty.  So, here we sit at UMD, exploring the area, going to lectures, & playing bingo.”

While the cool lake breezes are nice, Klett said that the “exile” has been too long away from family and friends.

If the shutdown had lasted much longer, the couple likely would have had to vacate the campus to make room for incoming students.