Volume 78 | September 2025 | | | ELEVATOR WORLD New York is EW's free monthly newsletter focusing on vertical-transportation news in the Greater New York Region. Contact the EW Editorial Department to submit news or the EW Advertising Department to advertise and reach more than 5,000 subscribers in the New York area. | | | | CHAMPION ELEVATOR ACCOUNCES EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGES | | | On September 5, NYC-based Champion Elevator announced executive leadership changes designed to honor its entrepreneurial roots and strengthen its foundation for future growth. After 10 years, founder Don Gelestino has transitioned from CEO to chairman of the board, Dave Harper has transitioned from chief financial officer (CFO) to CEO and Alex McFarlane has joined the company as chief operating officer (COO). Gelestino's entrepreneurial spirit helped shape Champion into an industry leader that now services approximately 6,000 elevators across the East Coast. Under his leadership, Champion also grew into a strong community partner. An elevator industry leader, Gelestino is past president of the National Association of Elevator Contractors and recipient of the William C. Sturgeon Distinguished Service Award. He also guided Champion to multiple ELLIES Awards. Harper has served as Champion's CFO since April 2024 and held multiple CEO and CFO positions over his 40-year career. As Champion's new COO, McFarlane brings extensive industry experience from senior leadership roles at Otis, Schindler and TK Elevator. | (l-r) Dave Harpern, Alex McFarlane and Don Gelestino | | | | 50TH ANNUAL POP/JOE SUPPORTING EESF A GREAT SUCCESS | | | The 50th annual Pop Frohlinger/Joe Marchese Memorial Invitational Golf Outing, known affectionately as the POP/JOE, was another sold-out success at the Brookville Country Club in Old Brookville, NY, on September 8, with PTL Equipment National Sales Manager Jonathan Latham describing it as "happy times with good friends." The event is the major fundraiser of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF), and is projected to raise more than US$30,000 this year for the Foundation. PTL was proud to be one of many sponsors at this year's event, which recognized all past honorees. Another sponsor, Master Elevator Parts, gave special thanks to POP/JOE organizers Vinnie Moscato and Joel Frohlinger for carrying the tradition forward, while Latham gave a "special shoutout to Joel's wonderful granddaughter, Pepper, who worked tirelessly beside Joel the entire day." Numerous attendees thanked EESF Executive Director Amber Catlin-Kolodziej, Operations Director Laurie Dueitt and Program and Development Director Kelsey Nay for their hard work, as well as the EESF founders who "continue to guide and shape the mission of elevator and escalator safety": National Elevator Industry Inc., represented by Amy Blankenbiller; NAESA International, represented by Emerald Kuhns; National Association of Elevator Contractors, represented by Rená Cozart; and ELEVATOR WORLD, represented by T. Bruce MacKinnon. | | | (l-r) Jonathan Latham and Vinnie Moscato | | The event included dinner; image courtesy of Master Elevator Parts | | Elevator industry and safety supporters were celebrated; image courtesy of Master Elevator Parts. | | | | ECNY TO PRESENT CONTROLLER MANUFACTURER ROUNDTABLE | | | The Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) will present its Controller Manufacturer Roundtable on October 16 at Villa Barone Manor, 737 Throgs Neck Expressway in the Bronx. A buffet dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the roundtable starting promptly at 6:30. Confirmed presenters include Claddagh Electronics, Motion Control Engineering and Smartrise Engineering. Each presenter will host their own station, providing focused presentations on current features, available options and upcoming products. Open to ECNY members only, the roundtable is "an exclusive opportunity to connect directly with leading controller manufacturers." Space is limited, so register to secure a spot. | | | | SCHINDLER TIMES SQUARE ELEVATOR SYSTEM INCLUDES GLASS SHAFT | | | Schindler tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided the 14-unit elevator system serving 1 Times Square, a 26-story commercial tower at 1475 Broadway in Times Square that New York YIMBY said is set to open in the fall. Designed by S9 Architecture and developed by Jamestown, the US$500-million project involved re-cladding and full gutting (including removal of the previous elevator system) of the structure, as well as the addition of LED displays and viewing platforms overlooking Times Square. The new Schindler elevator system includes eight 7000 passenger units with capacities ranging from 3000-6500 lb that travel from 350 ft/min to 500 ft/min, and six hydraulic units with capacities ranging from 2500-3000 lb that travel at 100 ft/min to 150 ft/min. YIMBY reported in August that the all-glass external elevator shaft was complete. | A rendering shows the viewing platforms and glass elevator shaft; image via New York YIMBY. | | | | G-TECH ELEVATORS FOR NEW HARLEM RESIDENTIAL TOWER | | | G-Tech Elevators tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided a six-elevator system for 1440 Amsterdam Avenue, a new 28-story residential building in Harlem, Manhattan, designed by Gluck+ and developed by Grid Group and Artimus. The system includes four overhead traction elevators that travel at 500 ft/min and have capacities ranging from 2500 lb to 3500 lb. There are also two hydraulic elevators: a 2000-lb capacity dual-jack roped unit that travels at 150 ft/min and a 6000-lb capacity twin-jack, two-stage holeless unit that travels at 125 ft min. All traction elevators have BTS Elevator Package packages including Elsco roller guides, Hollister-Whitney governors and safeties, GAL door equipment, Imperial machines, HM Elevator fixtures and Elevator Controls controllers. New York YIMBY reported in August that the affordable housing lottery had launched for 1440 Amsterdam Avenue, which includes nearly 500 units and an array of amenities. | 1440 Amsterdam Avenue joins the Harlem neighborhood; image courtesy of Cyclomedia. | | | SKYLINE PROVIDES ELEVATOR FOR NEW BROOKLYN BUILDING | | | Brooklyn-based Skyline Elevators tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided a duplex, passenger, machine-room-less (MRL) elevator for 1 Wythe Avenue, a seven-story commercial building nearing completion in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Industrial Business Zone in Brooklyn. Serving nine floors, including the roof, the elevator has a capacity of 3500 lb and travels 109 ft at a speed of 350 ft/min. Suppliers for this job included Hollister-Whitney (safeties), GAL (door equipment), Fundamental Elevator Solutions (steel, rails and brackets), Imperial Electric (machine) and Elevator Systems, Inc. (controller). "We are fortunate to collaborate with some of the very best in the elevator industry," Skyline observed. "Their commitment to quality and excellence has been instrumental in our success." New York YIMBY reported in August that the building was nearly fully clad in its red brick façade and grid of floor-to-ceiling windows ahead of expected completion by the end of the year. | | | 1 Wythe Avenue will be served by an MRL with a capacity of 3500 lb; photo by Michael Young for New York YIMBY. | | | | MONTANARI NORTH AMERICA LAUNCHES BELT GEARLESS SERIES | | | Montanari North America, the U.S. subsidiary of Montanari Group, proudly announces the launch of its new MBA series, high performing belted gearless for elevator modernizations and new installations across the U.S. and Canada. The MBA series features belted-driven gearless technology, a proven solution that has been part of Montanari Group's global product portfolio for several years, with thousands of successful installations worldwide. The new MBA gearless range offers industry professionals a wide application range, flexible configuration options, compatibility with most belt types available on the market, CSA certification and smooth and quiet operation. The MBA gearless series was premiered at the National Association of Elevator Contractors Expo in Houston on September 15–18 at Booth 601 and is available through Montanari North America and its official distributor, Triumph Electrical Supply. | | | | FIRST EMPLOYEES MOVE INTO JPMORGAN CHASE SUPERTALL HQ | | | The first employees have begun moving into the 1,289-ft-tall supertall JPMorgan Chase headquarters (HQ) at 270 Park Avenue in Midtown East, Manhattan, New York YIMBY was among outlets to report in August. Designed by Sir Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and developed by Tishman Speyer, the 60-story office tower is served by Otis elevators, with Jaros, Baum and Bolles among vertical-transportation consultants. The structure's 2.5 million ft2 will be able to house approximately 14,000 employees, and occupies a full city block. The supertall is the largest structure in NYC powered entirely by hydroelectric energy. Work on the main eastern entrance along Park Avenue has been completed, as has a lobby with soaring ceilings and exposed columns. By the end of construction, anticipated by the end of summer, the development is expected to generate more than 8,000 jobs spanning 40 local unions, including the International Union of Elevator Constructors, and produce US$2.6 billion in economic activity for NYC. | The soaring lobby; photo by Michael Young for New York YIMBY | | | | ACTION ELEVATOR EXPANDS MID-ATLANTIC PORTFOLIO WITH ACQUISITION | | | Action Elevator, based in Baltimore and providing elevator services throughout the Mid-Atlantic, announced on August 26 the acquisition of Gen-L Elevator LLC, a leading elevator services provider in the Washington, D.C., area. Maven Group served as financial advisor to Gen-L Elevator, which is led by founders Jaclyn and Justin Linehan. The Linehans and their team will continue their work with Action Elevator "to ensure a seamless transition for both customers and employees," Maven stated. Action Elevator CEO John Marshall Sr. described the acquisition as "yet another step in our newly invigorated M&A strategy since we joined forces with H.I.G. Capital in 2024." Marshall said Gen-L's goals and values align with those of Action, and that the Gen-L team has "established a first-rate reputation in the marketplace, not only by their unique skillset but also with their transparent customer communication and employee satisfaction." | | | | MTA OPENS TWO ELEVATORS AT BRONX SUBWAY STATION | | | The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on September 3 the completion of two Otis elevators at the Mosholu Parkway subway station. The elevators make the station Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, with one unit bringing customers from street-level to the mezzanine and downtown platform and the other connecting the mezzanine to the uptown platform. The accessibility work is part of a larger project, including the renovation and construction of stairwells, upgrades to the station agent booth, new lighting and refurbished sidewalks at the station entrance. EAE served as the project's contractor, and the elevator manufacturer and installer was Otis. The US$55.8 million upgrades were delivered on budget. Mosholu Parkway is the first newly accessible station to open as part of the MTA's US$692 million ADA Package 3. On an average weekday, 4,600 riders use the Mosholu Parkway station. "The new elevators and upgrades at the Mosholu Parkway station represent a meaningful investment in transit equity for Bronx residents," Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said. | | | One of the new units; image courtesy of MTA | | | | NONFUNCTIONAL ELEVATORS IMPEDE RESPONDERS IN FATAL NYC FIRE | | | More than 100 fire and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel responded to a September 3 fire at a 20-story building on East 122nd Street in East Harlem, but one elevator being out of order and the other failing to work properly forced them to lug heavy equipment up the stairs, NBC New York is among outlets to report. A 72-year-old female resident who lived on the 19th floor was seriously injured and pronounced dead after being rescued by firefighters transported by EMS to a hospital. Another wheelchair-bound resident told the source elevators at the high rise had been out of service for two weeks, adding that firefighters and could have reached people faster had the units been working. NYC Fire Department Chief Joseph Abbanmonte said it was "very challenging to get up there carrying all the gear up 19 floors and then having to go to work." | | | | VIOLATIONS TO BE ISSUED FOR FAILURE TO FILE ELEVATOR REPORTS | | | The Department of Buildings (DOB) announced in late August it will issue violations in September and October 2025 for failure to file Category 1 elevator test and periodic inspection reports for the 2024 Elevator Inspection and Test Cycle. Violations will also be issued for failure to file by the due date an affirmation of correction for defects found during the 2024 cycle. Violations will remain on properties until civil penalties are paid or waived, and a current Category 1 test report, periodic inspection report and/or affirmation of correction has been filed. Use a NYC.ID to log in to DOB NOW, and if you need to create an NYC.ID account visit website. | | | | MIDTOWN SOUTH REZONING TO USHER IN HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL | | | The rezoning of 42 blocks in the Midtown South neighborhood of Manhattan from manufacturing to high-density residential has real estate watchers, including The Real Deal (TRD), projecting where housing towers could rise next. Approved this month by the City Council, the rezoning marks several firsts: mandatory inclusionary housing and an increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from a maximum of 12 to up to 18. A FAR of 18 means the total gross floor area of all buildings on a lot is 18 times the area of the lot itself, allowing for a very large, dense structure on a given parcel of land. The FAR increase was fueled by last year's state budget and NYC Mayor Eric Adams' City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative. According to TRD, approximately 2,800 of a potential 9,500 apartments would be set aside as affordable. TRD mapped more than 60 sites that the Department of Planning had identified as likely to be redeveloped as residential. | | | U.S. OPEN ATTENDEES FACED ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES | | | Tennis fans from across the world took transit to this month's U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens — but those who depend on a wheelchair or other mobility might have had trouble getting there: Neither the subway nor Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station have elevators, Streetsblog NYC reported in August. Wheelchair users can exit the subway via a ramp, but only if they take an eastbound train and only on Mets gamedays. The boardwalk — which passes by the LIRR entrance — is a splinter-ridden, bumpy and deteriorating nightmare to traverse on wheels. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) included an accessibility project at the LIRR station in its current capital plan, but not the adjacent subway, and the project does not have funding. Plans do not address the boardwalk. City officials have pledged full ADA accessibility when the project wraps up — likely years from now. | | | FOUR WORKERS RESCUSED FROM BLIND ELEVATOR SHAFT IN YONKERS | | | Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) personnel successfully rescued four workers from a blind elevator shaft at the construction site of a new 27-story building in Yonkers on July 16, outlets including Westchester Journal News reported. Brock Glenn of G-Tech Elevator Services attempted to maneuver the elevator but determined it was immobile. The YFD then devised a system of ladders and ropes to remove the four workers who were approximately 20 ft below the fifth floor from the 35-ft shaft. Emergency Medical Services found that all were good condition. The elevator was last inspected on May 20, according to a Yonkers spokesperson, and deemed authorized for construction use. The source then shared facts and tips from the American National Standards Institute and the NYC Buildings Department about elevator entrapments, including that the odds of getting stuck in an elevator are one in 100,000 and that three steps should be taken in the event of an entrapment: Ring the alarm, relax and wait for help to arrive without prying open the doors. | | | | Wisconsin Elevator Symposium | September 25-26
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