Dozens of drivers say vehicles have been stuck at Bronx parking garage for 5 months due to broken car lift

NEW YORK — Dozens of drivers say their autos are getting held hostage by a Bronx parking garage with a damaged vehicle elevate.

As CBS2’s Ali Bauman studies from the Fordham area, it is really costing the car house owners countless numbers of dollars in transportation.

The gates are shut at the parking garage on East 187th Street, and five flooring of vehicles are trapped guiding a broken elevator.

“They instructed me, effectively, the parking lot’s elevator’s not operating, so we won’t be able to convey your automobile down today. So I am like, Ok, when will this be preset? They were like, oh no, by the stop of the working day,” automobile operator Julianny Almonte mentioned.

That was in February, extra than five months back. As in, the last time Almonte, and about 50 other motorists, were being in a position to acquire their cars out of the garage, it was 28 degrees exterior.

“One thirty day period is great, two months is Ok, but three months? 4 months? Now 5 months? And it truly is nevertheless the exact same. They say they are repairing it, but I don’t see almost nothing,” auto proprietor Yosly Morales said.

Morales had to end performing as an Uber driver.

“A lot more of my revenue is misplaced simply because my motor vehicle is over there. Not only this, I have to pay back insurance, I have to pay back every thing the similar, and they you should not care,” she reported.

Cherenis Rodriguez experienced to get a whole new work.

“I had to acquire Metro-North, and then by the time I picked them up, it was very late,” she claimed.

“My car or truck is trapped listed here, me is stuck below far too,” auto owner Denise Espinal claimed.

Almonte has missing do the job as an celebration planner for the reason that she won’t be able to transport all the tables and chairs.

On prime of the missing wages, motorists have also invested countless numbers of bucks on Ubers and taxis.

The Department of Structures told CBS2 the repairs have been delayed several moments, in element for the reason that of offer chain troubles as very well as the owner’s means to secure funding for the fix perform.

CBS2 asked the DOB if they’re setting up to good the garage operator simply because of how lengthy this has absent on for, but significantly to the drivers’ dismay, the city claimed given that the owner is seeking to repair the elevator, the metropolis is not heading to challenge any penalties.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson unveiled a assertion stating, “We are actively in conversation with the Department of Buildings pertaining to this scenario and how we can assist the people that have been impacted by this predicament. This has absent on for considerably as well extensive and has caused undue money hardship to numerous.”

The operator, Hasan Biberaj, would not go on camera, but about the cellular phone told CBS2 he expects the elevator to be fixed by mid-August.

“Glance, each individual time you appear, they explain to you it can be gonna be set subsequent month, it’s gonna be set following month. It truly is been considering that February. July is nearly carried out. August is correct there. They will not likely correct it,” Rodriguez mentioned.

Any time they do get their autos again, these drivers say they are going to make positive the following garage has a ramp instead of a vehicle lift.

The motorists also claimed they are making an attempt to sue the garage, but are battling to obtain a law firm who will get on their situation. Due to the fact CBS2’s story first aired Thursday evening, some viewers have reached out seeking to join the motorists with a law firm.