By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Save your money on your gym membership because getting up the Vesey Street staircase is going to be a free workout for a few more months while the broken escalator awaits a part being flown in all the way from Germany.
The escalator, which has been broken since September, will be out for at least three more months while officials wait for the part.
During a recent World Trade Center redevelopment meeting, community members were told a chain that pulls the escalator is broken and replacements are currently out of stock. A new one needs to be made from scratch.
The repairs will cost $200,000 to according to the Downtown Express.
For Community Board 1 member Barry Skolnick the delay is unacceptable.
“On Sunday the Liberty Street elevator was broken as well as some issues with the Vesey Street bridge," he said. "With no handicapped access on either, it’s just disgraceful.”
Skolnick has been on the community board for 10 years, but he's finally had enough of the delays and construction throughout the neighborhood. He's heading back to Minnesota.
“I’m tired of the fight," he said. "The Port Authority is good on promises and poor on accomplishments.”
Back at the broken escalator, people were frustrated with the steep steps and the slowness of the elevator.
”It sucks," said Joanna Laurel, from Brooklyn. "I hate it.”
Lin Brown was in town for the Marathon, and was taking in the sights with her family.
“It’s going to put the elderly at a disadvantage,” Brown said, accompanied by her husband and her 93-year-old mother, Caye Cordell
“I don’t like it," Cordell said. "But it does keep you healthy."
