Since Wednesday, August 5th, there has been only one working elevator in 11-story South building of 3003 Van Ness. One of the other two elevators is being replaced, and the other is out of service. .

The residents of more than 275 apartments count on those elevators to reach their units. They have been forced to endure long waits for an open space in the one remaining elevator, or they have trudged up and down stairs to enter or exit the building. Some older residents and those with physical disabilities have been virtually confined to their units.

Tenants have complained repeatedly to Equity Residential management about the situation. In fact, they have been trying for years to get the company to replace the elevators — which Equity finally began this year. However, progress has been glacially slow, and Equity has made little effort to keep the remaining elevators in service, or to minimize the impact of other uses of the remaining elevators.

Some previous residents became so unhappy about the elevator situation at 3003 Van Ness that they moved out of the building.