Jenny Lind closer to repairs as frustrations continue to grow

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — "We need an elevator like now. Not next week. Not next month. Now," Amy Moreau says outside the Jenny Lind Apartments.

Moreau has lived there for several years, and on the sixth floor.

Since early 2024, she's had to walk up and down from the sixth floor, and not by choice.

"We have two elevators. One's been broke for five years, and the big one's been broke for a year and a half," Moreau said. "I have to walk down to get my mail. I have to walk down to get picked up for my medical trips to my doctor. You know, I have to walk down to visit with my friends. It just hurts me. My lower back, my hips, my arms, my neck starting to hurt because of this (pointing to a cane she now uses to walk)."

Ozarks First reached out to the city for an update on the repairs.

Building Development Services Martin Gugel spoke to Ozarks First over the phone about a meeting between the City of Springfield and Millenia Housing, the owners of the apartment complex, a place that is home to elderly and/or disabled tenants.

Gugel says during that meeting, they learned the parts needed to fix the elevators have reached the distribution center ran by the contractor tasked with fixing the elevator, but doesn't know exactly where that center is, just that the parts next stop is Springfield.

There's still no ETA on the delivery, but the contractor is ready to begin repairs immediately but it could take several weeks before repairs are complete and there's still no official start time.

Gugel added that the owners are working with the city, a stark contrast from February 2025, when city leaders made moves to remove Millenia Housing as the owner of the property for not addressing the concerns of tenants.

Moreau says despite the hurdle of taking so many stairs every day, she feels she has to get out of her apartment sometimes.

"I don't want to sit in my apartment all the time. I'll get depressed," Moreau said.

She also holds no animosity to the managers of the property, just the owners.

"The managers and or the maintenance, they have nothing to do with it. They help people take up groceries and stuff," Moreau said.

Despite the daily hassle, she doesn't want to move because she likes where she lives, but just wishes the elevator worked.

"I like it here. There's a park behind us. I like it here," Moreau said. "Just because I'm on the sixth floor, you know, I don't want to move. I have two cats. I have a family. You know, they'd be devastated."