My client is building a 44 unit mid-rise 4 story building. The architect said he doesn’t need 2 elevators. I disagree. Who’s right?

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1 year 5 months ago #640174 by Laura Renaldo
My client is building a 44 unit mid-rise 4 story building. The architect said he doesn’t need 2 elevators. I disagree. Who’s right? They are 150k each.
1 year 5 months ago #640174 by Laura Renaldo
Topic Author
Judy Lin Shaw
1 year 5 months ago #640175 by Judy Lin Shaw
This piqued my interest so I googled. Several articles recommend 1 elevator for every 50 to 60 units.
1 year 5 months ago #640175 by Judy Lin Shaw
Topic Author
Judy Lin Shaw
1 year 5 months ago #640176 by Judy Lin Shaw
PS: if you trust the architect to design your property, I'd trust him on this decision as well.
1 year 5 months ago #640176 by Judy Lin Shaw
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1 year 5 months ago #640177 by Laura Renaldo
Judy Lin Shaw I do but he’s not the one doing management after ha! I’m worried about move in/outs
1 year 5 months ago #640177 by Laura Renaldo
Topic Author
Judy Lin Shaw
1 year 5 months ago #640178 by Judy Lin Shaw
Laura Renaldo I've managed several lease ups so I totally understand. The cost to purchase and maintain may not outweigh the benefit of scheduling move ins and move outs, though. I'm curious what the ADA requirements are when there's only one elevator and you're waiting on parts.
1 year 5 months ago #640178 by Judy Lin Shaw
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1 year 5 months ago #640179 by Laura Renaldo
1 year 5 months ago #640179 by Laura Renaldo
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1 year 5 months ago #640180 by Mike Powers
Judy Lin Shaw how about a leak that disables and 9th floor heart attack has to wait for emt go carry gurney up down 9 flights stairs...ADA allows for temporary outages.
1 year 5 months ago #640180 by Mike Powers
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1 year 5 months ago #640181 by Tina Cavaco
When the elevator breaks its a horror! I have a 7 story historical bldg with 1 elevator that was down weeks waiting for a part. Lawsuit due to a resident needed to move out...no elevator. 1 resident rented a RV due to not being able to get up and down. Nightmare!
1 year 5 months ago #640181 by Tina Cavaco
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1 year 5 months ago #640182 by Laura Renaldo
1 year 5 months ago #640182 by Laura Renaldo
Topic Author
Brenda Summers Borino
1 year 5 months ago #640183 by Brenda Summers Borino
Totally agree!!! The person thinking they only need one has no idea of the maintenance issues that come with each one of them!
1 year 5 months ago #640183 by Brenda Summers Borino
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1 year 5 months ago #640184 by Mike Powers
It isn't about right or wrong other than building code minimums.It is about resident experience and convenience.Is this a young professionals community and commuting to work is common ? 3rd and 4th might wait for elevator. 10 or 15 people per floor 6am to 730am ? 4 people every 15 minutes ?2nd floor will take steps in morning if elevator is full each time.And, lastly, trust the architect. They actually know what they are doing for space and systems utilizations.
1 year 5 months ago #640184 by Mike Powers
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1 year 5 months ago #640185 by Maria Johnson
Get TWO elevators! One breaks down, then one is still usable. Think about furniture movers and having to wait for the lift when it’s at the top floor and you need it on the ground floor.
1 year 5 months ago #640185 by Maria Johnson
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1 year 5 months ago #640186 by Karen Mallinger
1 year 5 months ago #640186 by Karen Mallinger
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1 year 5 months ago #640187 by Amanda Gunn
Karen I agree with this. We have a 92 unit 3 story building with one elevator and it's plenty for both move-in/out traffic and commuter use.
1 year 5 months ago #640187 by Amanda Gunn
1 year 5 months ago #640188 by Denise Weems
Financially I understand where he’s coming from however, when the single elevator breaks down (which it will at some point) and you can’t get the parts immediately or the elevator repair people can’t get there fast enough OR he has to pay the after hours price for them to come out at night or on a weekend, he’ll wish he had chosen two.
1 year 5 months ago #640188 by Denise Weems
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1 year 5 months ago #640189 by Lori Segura
My building has 32 units total with 4 floors and 1 elevator is more than enough
1 year 5 months ago #640189 by Lori Segura
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1 year 5 months ago #640190 by Miles Scruggs
Outside of ADA requirements you don’t “need” any. Will you get better rents on your upper floors if you have one? Yes. Will you get better rents on your upper floors if you have 2? Little harder to find any objective data to support that purchase….
1 year 5 months ago #640190 by Miles Scruggs
Topic Author
Annetta Hinds Kashon
1 year 5 months ago #640191 by Annetta Hinds Kashon
No 2 I have one used all the time but when it go's down helping resident up the third floor. Is hard for them
1 year 5 months ago #640191 by Annetta Hinds Kashon
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1 year 5 months ago #640192 by Aleisha Parongao
Trust me, with 11 units per floor and 4 floors, you want one for each end of the building for maximum living experience. I am speaking from experience on both sides. Now, what I'd really be concerned about though, is parking space ratio Are architects still using the outdated 1.5 spaces per apartment??
1 year 5 months ago #640192 by Aleisha Parongao
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1 year 5 months ago #640196 by Ann Carey
I have 103 unit 4 story building with 2 wings 1 elevator on each side and you can't cross over. I wish i had 2 elevators on each side. Elevator is down and you're out of luck.
1 year 5 months ago #640196 by Ann Carey
Topic Author
Kimberly Siler
1 year 5 months ago #640197 by Kimberly Siler
What does city code say? How does the expense affect NOI?
1 year 5 months ago #640197 by Kimberly Siler
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1 year 5 months ago #640198 by Amanda Meyer
I have a building of 50 units, 5 stories and we only have 1 elevator. Another building is 110 units, 7 stories and we have 2When it goes down it’s a nightmare but it’s very doable for 44 units
1 year 5 months ago #640198 by Amanda Meyer
Topic Author
Donna Schatz Pinney
1 year 5 months ago #640199 by Donna Schatz Pinney
1 year 5 months ago #640199 by Donna Schatz Pinney
Topic Author
Jake Denker
1 year 5 months ago #640200 by Jake Denker
1 year 5 months ago #640200 by Jake Denker
Topic Author
CJ Gallagher
1 year 5 months ago #640201 by CJ Gallagher
I agree with that ratio. I have many new builds and 1 is enough.
1 year 5 months ago #640201 by CJ Gallagher
Topic Author
Katrina Encarnacion
1 year 5 months ago #640202 by Katrina Encarnacion
1 year 5 months ago #640202 by Katrina Encarnacion
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1 year 5 months ago #640203 by Michelle Wood
Having lived in a building fully occupied with only two elevators for 250 units for the last 5 years - I wonder how often one elevator would break. We have had two occurrences in 5 years. I’m not sure adding a second elevator out of concern of one breaking down makes sense from an investment standpoint.
1 year 5 months ago #640203 by Michelle Wood
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1 year 5 months ago #640204 by Michelle Wood
I think it can depend. I live in a 7 story 250 unit side of a building with only 2 elevators. It’s fine.
1 year 5 months ago #640204 by Michelle Wood
Topic Author
John Jeff
1 year 5 months ago #640205 by John Jeff
I had a 45 unit 7 story building and 1 elevator was more than enough. No one had to wait more than 2-3 minutes and that was only during rush hour. The wait was 30 seconds 95% of the day. That being said, if your friend is willing to spend the money to provide a more “luxurious” feel then go for it.
1 year 5 months ago #640205 by John Jeff
Topic Author
Brian Lauro
1 year 5 months ago #640206 by Brian Lauro
1 year 5 months ago #640206 by Brian Lauro
Topic Author
Paris Topazi
1 year 5 months ago #640207 by Paris Topazi
I agree that a 44 unit building doesn’t need 2 elevators. We’re also a 4-story mid-rise and our one elevator suffices plenty for 96 units.
1 year 5 months ago #640207 by Paris Topazi
Topic Author
Jessica Willard
1 year 5 months ago #640208 by Jessica Willard
It will break down and residents will complain they can’t get down the steps- disabled people won’t be able to get down steps when it breaks.. I’d suggest two just to be safe and avoid issues
1 year 5 months ago #640208 by Jessica Willard
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1 year 5 months ago #640209 by John Ridgway
1 year 5 months ago #640209 by John Ridgway