For the first time in about two years, tenants at Jenny Lind Hall — an affordable housing complex for seniors and residents with disabilities — could have a working elevator.
With repairs completed, contractor TK Elevator (TKE) told the News-Leader in an email Wednesday, Feb. 11, that the company had received payment from Jenny Lind Hall owner Millennia Housing Management and planned to send a crew to turn the elevator on once the check cleared.
Home health worker Jordan Hensley shows Mayor Jeff Schrag the elevator access on the sixth floor of Jenny Lind Hall during a tour Feb. 10, 2026.
Home health worker Jordan Hensley shows Mayor Jeff Schrag the elevator access on the sixth floor of Jenny Lind Hall during a tour Feb. 10, 2026.
Martin Gugel, director of Building Development Services (BDS) for the city of Springfield, said in an email the same day that he expected the elevator to be turned on Thursday but was waiting for confirmation from TK Elevator. Gugel confirmed that the city plans to inspect the elevator immediately so it can be put into service as quickly as possible.
Millennia also confirmed that it expected TKE to turn on the repaired unit before the week was over.
Jenny Lind residents met with Springfield Mayor Jeff Schrag Tuesday night, Feb. 10, and told him that while the elevator was their top priority, it was only the tip of the iceberg as far as issues in the building.
In his discussion with residents, Schrag confirmed that their first priority was getting an elevator back up and running. Then, tenants wanted to address the building’s faulty heating and cooling systems, water leakage, pest control issues and cracked sidewalks on the exterior.