Rockhill Tenants Collective

Residents of the Rockhill apartments in Montreal

Archives

Category: Elevators

12 April 2024

Since the beginning of the year, we have had numerous elevator breakdowns in multiple buildings:

  • 1st August to today - A 1 elevator
  • 31 July to today - B 1 elevator
  • 24 July A -all elevators
  • 28 May A - all elevators
  • 27 May F - all elevators
  • 9 May F - one elevator
  • 30 April B #3
  • 24 April F all elevators
  • 12 April A #2 #3
  • 9 April B #3
  • 5 April B #3
  • 4 April B #2
  • 2 April B #2 et #3
  • 1 April B #2 et #3
  • 28 March B #1 et #2
  • 27 March B #1 et #2
  • 26 March B #2
  • 22 March A #2
  • 19 March B #2
  • 18 March B #1 #2 #3 (voluntary shutdown in broad daylight)
  • 16 March: A #2, B #2, E #2
  • 13 March B #2

This abundance of failures creates some confusion in the information. It's never certain which elevators are operational at any given time, given the frequency of breakdowns. The information about the cause of the breakdowns is not transparent, but it seems that since the connection of the new alarm system, the breakdowns have become more frequent.

There have been failures of elevators in the past, as with any mechanical devices.However, since the beginning of 2023, breakdowns have occurred at a frequency never seen before, which can only be understood as the result of a change in maintenance and management conditions, the visible proof of which is the neglected appearance of the interiors, including the long-standing and never repaired vandalism of panels and buttons.

A 20-story building without an elevator is like an airplane without engines or a grocery store without electricity: it's not a viable business. For people to live here, Minto must urgently restore stability to the elevators!

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08 April 2024

The Rockhill Tenants' Collective (RTC) and representatives of Minto had their monthly meeting on March 18, 2024. The following points were discussed: 1. Rent Increase: The discussion began with rent increases. The RTC used the TAL calculation tool to estimate figures in the absence of data from Minto. Carmelo Contarini admitted to forgetting to provide the necessary information but promised its immediate delivery, which was received shortly after the call by the RTC. The differences in rent increases between April and May/June were clarified, revealing that it involved reusing the figures from 2023 because the billing group in Ottawa was not ready. The need for better preparation and transparency was emphasized. The RTC examined the information provided and discovered numerous deficiencies. 2. Alarm Inspection in Building B: Issues were raised about the work management processes, including legal compliance, coordination, and the impact on tenants. Suggestions for improvement included better planning, communication, and an apology to tenants. Minto acknowledged the need for improved communication, but pleaded that it was impossible to preview the issues, which the RTC immediately challenged, suggesting proactive measures that could have made this project more successful and improve future operations. 3. Elevator Problems: The RTC expressed concerns over the recurring elevator issues and inquired about Minto's plans for modernization. Eric Cao explained the challenges due to the age of the elevators and ongoing efforts to address them, with a project possibly extending into 2025. The discussion highlighted the importance of clear communication and transparency from Minto regarding the nature of the problems and the plans for infrastructure improvements. 4. Billing Issues: Persistent billing problems were discussed, with the CLR highlighting the stress and anger caused by repeated errors. The discussion stressed the need for accurate billing and respectful communications, for both tenant satisfaction and Minto's financial health. Proposed solutions included evaluating current procedures and adopting a proactive approach to correct errors.

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16 March 2024

At the end of friday the 15h of march 2024, the three elevators in Building A were not functionning properly:

Elevator 1: stopped on the 20th floor, reason unknown

Elevator 2: out of service, administration advised they are waiting for parts

Elevator 3: problem with elevator buttons resetting themselves when under way, requiring people to reenter their floors every time this happens

In building B, apart from elevator 2 which is stopped waiting for parts, there have been several incidents where all three elevators were out of service (March 13 and January 15 in 2024, several days in summer 2023).

In building C, one of the two elevators was failing last year, leaving tenants with only one elevator on several occasions.

In building E, one of the elevators is out of service waiting for parts.

Given how critical elevators are, and various problems happening in several buildings, with a history of problems last year, wouldn't it make sense for person overseeing elevator maintenance to explain to us the nature of the problems, the plans and timelines for putting in place the measures that would ensure stability?

Otherwise it may be a case where tenants can claim that the administration isn't meeting its obligation to provide this service and could well decide they have cause for asking for compensation. It's doubtful that a case could be made that this is due to "force majeure" absolving Minto of responsibility, given the ongoing issues and the length of the period. Actions like this week's building B alarm integration test recalling all elevators in a busy period of the day tend to show the lack of sufficient expertise, even when the equipment is not broken.


The customer / supplier relationship is based on trust, but when insufficient information is provided to us and there are repeated ongoing issues, it's hard to believe the people overseeing actually understand just how critical the elevator service is, and what it will take to have something reliable. It's really the whole basis upon which people can live at the Rockhill, considering the size of the buildings.

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05 February 2024

There are braille floor numbers missing for a long time.

Missing braille floor numbers

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04 September 2023

Two out of the three elevators in block B have been out of service for months, and on several occasions, the third one has also broken down.

Read More...
Next meeting

Monday 9th of September 2024 at 7 PM

In the hall of building C

(next to the stores)

Contact

Have a question? An incident, photo or opinion for the website? An exchange with the administration to share? Write to us at:

clr-rtc@googlegroups.com

Register with us here!

The Collective

Affected by the deterioration of the Rockhill Apartments in Montreal, some tenants began meeting in July 2023 to consider ways to address the situation.

From these meetings emerged the Rockhill Tenants Collective, a spontaneous group dedicated to upholding the rights of residents and the heritage value of this once upscale and avant-garde complex.