MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Alice Blueitt struggles to make it up the stairs to her apartment. With both elevators out of service in her building, she has no choice but to push through pain and exhaustion just to reach her home as she goes through cancer treatments.

“It’s very hard for me to get through my cancer treatments and walk up the stairs to my floor,” Blueitt said. “I have to stop in the middle of the stairwell and catch my breath.”

Blueitt, along with other tenants, is demanding accountability from the owners of the Jubilee at Texas Parkway in Missouri City where residents pay up to $1,200 a month despite unsafe and deteriorating living conditions.

“This is awful. This is pitiful for a whole new complex,” she said. “Maybe now they’ll care.”

Jubilee at Texas Parkway has been the center of several KPRC 2 reports. As of this publishing, KPRC 2 has not received a comment from Jubilee at Texas Parkway or property managers, Gardner Capital.

The crisis has drawn the attention of federal, state, and local officials. U.S. Congressman Al Green (D–9th District), toured the complex this past weekend, and confirmed what residents have been saying for months: both elevators are out of service, with one reportedly out since September 2024.

“I don’t believe a property receiving a tax subsidy can allow these conditions to persist,” said Green. “This has to be corrected. And if it’s not corrected in short order, we’re going to make sure you don’t get any more tax subsidies.”

Green announced he will send a certified letter to the property managers and owners, demanding immediate action.

The congressman said they’re sending the noticed certified after Missouri City leaders said they’ve made multiple attempts reaching owners without luck.

Missouri City Council Member Jeffrey Boney and Mayor Robin Elackatt also joined the site visit, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to hold the property owners accountable. The city has already issued multiple code violations, up to $500 daily fines, and struggled to reach the owners, even resorting to mailing notices to five separate addresses.

“We’ve reached out to them on countless occasions,” Boney said. “They’ve been very still non-responsive. Of course, now we’re citing them, we’re sending them constant communication. We had to send a notice of violation to five different addresses to try to figure out exactly how to get in touch with them and get them to respond to no avail.”

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has confirmed it is investigating.

“We’ve received a complaint about the elevators and have opened an enforcement case,” a TDLR spokesperson told KPRC 2. “Beyond that, I have no other information that I can provide at this time about this location or any possible administrative action that could occur as a result of the investigation.”

Property owners are required to ensure all elevator units are inspected annually, that certificates are displayed publicly, and that equipment with reportable conditions is taken out of service until repaired. Failure to comply may result in compounded penalties for each unit.

Jonathan Balderas of the International Union of Elevator Constructors revealed that several contractors have visited the site but say the building’s management has failed to move forward.

“They’re shopping around for contractors after getting a free inspection but they’re not following up for actual repairs,” Balderas explained. “They’re still waiting to finalize invoicing.”

While city officials continue citations and code enforcement, and TDLR proceeds with its investigation, residents like Alice Blueitt are left to wait and climb.

“If I had the money, I would move,” she said quietly. “I would find someplace else.”

For now, elected leaders promise to use every tool available to force action, including blocking future tax incentives for negligent owners.

“You’re not going to get tax breaks if you don’t repair elevators,” Green concluded. “We’re going to make sure of it.”