{"id":17027,"date":"2023-03-17T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=17027"},"modified":"2023-03-17T15:01:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T19:01:22","slug":"elevators-in-nyc-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/elevators-in-nyc-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Elevators in NYC Housing"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

NYC is known for upward expansion and high-rise buildings, but the city\u2019s iconic skyscrapers are only made possible because of the invention of the elevator. Elevators are so ubiquitous (there are over 70,000 in New York City) but many residents are unfamiliar with the rich history behind them or what to do if they find their elevator in need of repair. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How elevators changed NYC<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The first elevators didn\u2019t carry passengers – steam-powered freight lifts were used in storehouses as early as the 1830s to transport cargo and goods. Passenger elevators were first used in 1852<\/a> when Elisha Otis introduced an elevator safety brake to prevent elevators from falling in the event of device failure. He presented his work at the 1854 Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, <\/em>held in what is known today as Bryant Park. The first elevator installed in a New York City building was three years later in a department store. The elevator was slow, but functional, and allowed the department store to house its warehouse and showrooms all in one place. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Elevators quickly influenced the city\u2019s development. By the 1860s, New York\u2019s Financial\u00a0District was becoming increasingly crowded – so much so that city planners debated moving<\/a> the financial hub uptown. The solution to the city\u2019s rapid expansion began when the Equitable Life Assurance Society (a prominent insurance company) constructed its headquarters in an eight-story building with two elevators. Soon, the top-floor corner office was occupied by the CEO, and the height of one\u2019s office became a status symbol.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Commercial buildings weren\u2019t the only ones paving new ground – residential buildings soon followed suit. Before the invention of the elevator, the highest floor of a residential building was the least desired floor. Top floors were designed for servants and waitstaff, and luxury residents didn\u2019t want to traverse the multitude of stairs to the top floor. The Dakota<\/a> (a residential building at 72nd and Central Park West) was the first residential building to cater top-floor apartments to wealthy residents. While many were initially skeptical, the next four decades would bring more elevators to luxury buildings and move thousands of wealthy residents to the top floor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rules and regulations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Though elevators have deeply influenced NYC\u2019s growth trajectory, they need frequent maintenance and testing to ensure safety. The Department of Buildings (DOB) works to ensure the proper use of all elevators in New York City. Buildings that have five or more stories are required to have an elevator (though some buildings constructed before 1968 are exempt), and at least one of the elevators must be large enough to accommodate a stretcher in case of emergency. The elevator must be accessible<\/a> from a public space (rather than a cramped hallway) and doors must be at least 36 inches wide and remain open for at least three seconds. The push buttons of elevators are also required to be centered 42 inches from the ground so they can be reached by any user.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Building code regulates that elevators must be inspected periodically<\/a> – they need category one tests (inspecting all safety devices, cables, alarms, and general use mechanisms) twice a year, and category five tests (lifting the elevator\u2019s maximum load at maximum speed) once every five years. Residents can file a complaint if an elevator is not working, was installed without a permit, is not inspected, or if it has dirty or unsanitary conditions. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development will investigate complaints and issue tickets to owners who are not in compliance with the law. Residents can look up their apartment building at DOB NOW: Safety<\/a> to search for elevator violations at a property and see any amount due by the owner. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Safety tips<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Though elevators are generally very safe, the New York City DOB recommends some simple elevator safety tips<\/a> when riding in them. You should: <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n