Every time Mark Musselman, a UF engineering senior, huffs and puffs up the 68 steps to his fifth-floor apartment, he can only think of one thing: the elevator.
By now, he doesn't mind his daily workout. He's gotten used to the burn in his calves and the sweat on his brow. By now, it's a matter of principle.
Musselman has been living in College Park Towers, 207 NW 17th St., for five months and said that the five-floor apartment's elevator has been operational for less than half the time.
"I certainly wasn't warned about these kinds of issues before I signed my lease," he said.
Musselman said the elevator's operating certificate has been expired since he moved in.
Sam Farkas, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the department that oversees the state's elevators, said the apartment's elevator has had a delinquent license since Aug. 1.
However, Musselman said the elevator was carrying passengers well after that date.
Farkas said the elevator was installed in 1960, and although it passed last year's inspection, it failed with 12 different code violations when it was inspected most recently on Oct. 4.
One of the violations was due to the lack of an active, emergency phone line - the kind that would be used if someone was trapped inside.
Lynn McDaniel, regional manager at Paradigm Properties, the company that manages the complex, said the company is aware the elevator had operated after the expiration date of the license and is addressing the problem.
The elevator should be back up and running soon, McDaniel said.
But it's too late for Ben Meyer.
Meyer, a SFCC student who lived on the fifth floor of thebuilding, was forced to move out this semester after having knee surgery. The lack of an elevator just wouldn't work with a healing ligament.
"It was absolutely horrible," he said. "They (the complex's managers) drag their feet. They're slower than slow."
Meyer's brother and roommate, Steve, a UF engineering senior who also moved out, recently printed out directions for posting complaints about shoddy elevators on the Florida licensing Web site.
He taped one on every door of his old apartment complex.
Steve Meyer said the hassle wasn't worth the $750-per-month rent for a 500-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment.
"I believe they're not only taking advantage of students who want to be close to campus, but their prices are directed more at kids' families than at students who have to work to pay the rent," he said.
McDaniel, Paradigm Properties manager, said that if she had to reassure a potential fall tenant who had heard negative things about the complex, she would say that Paradigm is focused on keeping the elevator operational.
However, Musselman said he would advise anyone to avoid living at the apartment.
"I haven't seen any progress at all," he said.
"No maintenance crew or anything."
He is still waiting for the day when he'll ascend up to his room with only the exertion of his button-pushing finger.
Until then, he'll keep his legs limber and fingers crossed.
"I ask them about every week or every two weeks, and they always say it's going to get fixed the next day," Musselman said.
"I've almost given up hope."
