One elevator back in use at apartment building for older and disabled residents

After being out of commission for two years, one of two nonfunctioning elevators at six-story Jenny Lind Hall, a federally subsidized apartment building for older adults and people with disabilities, reopened Feb. 13.

The second elevator remains broken at the 711 S. Jefferson Ave. building, which is owned by Cleveland, Ohio-based Millennia Cos.

According to past Springfield Business Journal reporting, the city of Springfield Building Development Services office began investigating complaints in February 2024 that the building was operating without at least one of its two elevators. In September 2024, owner Millennia had ceased responding to BDS officials, SBJ reported at the time. At that time, 67 residents were living in the building and another nine were being put up by Millennia in a hotel.

Subsequently, in October 2024, BDS Director Martin Gugel declared the building a nuisance property, violating City Code Sec. 26-62, the dangerous, blighted and building nuisance code and threatened the owners with receivership.

The building owners were given a year to fix the problem.

“If there is not an approved inspection that justifies closing the case by Oct. 17, 2025, or ongoing and documented reasonable progress is not being made to mitigate the violation, the city reserves the right to pursue all available options, including filing a petition for receivership,” a letter from BDS to Millennia states.

The city did not pursue receivership.

Cora Scott, Springfield director of public information and civic engagement, sent photos of the functioning elevator to SBJ on Feb. 13.

At the most recent Springfield City Council meeting on Feb. 9, City Manager David Cameron reported that the check for the repair was delivered to contractor TK Elevator that day and the restart of the elevators was anticipated. The contractor was owed the payment by Jenny Lind owner Millennia and was awaiting payment in full to restore service.

As Section 8 housing, the property is subsidized through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Members of the public made frequent statements during public comment periods at Springfield City Council meetings throughout the elevator crisis.

On Feb. 12, 2024, multiple members of tenants’ rights organization Springfield Tenants Unite spoke up to raise the alarm about the conditions at Jenny Lind Hall, according to past SBJ reporting.

STUN members pointed out that both elevators in the six-story building had been out of commission for a sustained period of time, leaving residents stranded.

Additionally, home health worker Jordan Hensley spoke up at that meeting to say that her job requires her to report all abuse and neglect she witnesses, and she had reported her findings through what she called countless emails to BDS, Adult Protective Services and the Springfield Fire Department.

At the time, then-City Manager Jason Gage said that the city had passed the concerns along to HUD.

The issue became a springboard for broader STUN activism. Alice Barber, one of the leaders of STUN, urged council to take steps to help tenants, like establishing right to counsel to protect them from eviction and prevent homelessness. Member Sarah Hines urged council to establish a property registry and a landlord licensure system that would require background checks, continuing education and a board to oversee their qualifications.

“Springfield residents have had enough, and we’re not going to take it anymore,” Barber said at the time. “I urge everyone on City Council to listen to the people that you represent and make safe, accessible, truly affordable housing not just a priority, but your top priority. We cannot live without a home.”

Reached today, STUN Board President Rex Ybañez indicated his organization would continue to monitor the Jenny Lind Hall situation and advocate for its residents, and he added that the nonfunctional elevators were not the only problems faced by residents.

“While one working elevator alleviates some stress for the tenants, they still have severe issues with flooding, poor heat quality and pests,” he said. “Our City Council must be more assertive in developing faster, streamlined processes to rectify the list of issues that Jenny Lind tenants continue to face. We also hope this sets a precedent for a city-wide rental inspection program and future landlord accountability.”