Photo provided to the Times Observer Rouse staff are highlighting a completed elevator project that opens up 12 second floor apartments. In the photo are, from left, Mark King, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Warren County; Sarah Paden, Suites resident; Dee Lee, Suites resident; Susan Teconchuk, Rouse Estate CEO and Jessica Benjamin, Suite of Rouse Administrator.

It’s easy to take elevators for granted when they are fully operational.

Just ask the staff and residents at the Suites at Rouse, where an elevator rehabilitation project has been underway.

The project is now complete and Rouse officials are highlighting the 12 apartments that are now available.

“While residents temporarily relocated and salon services found interim accommodations, we focused on maximizing the transformation,” Jessica Benjamin, administrator of The Suites at Rouse, said.

“We envisioned a complete second floor experience, fostering resident connections and daily convenience. That’s why we revamped the community kitchen, adding a coffee and juice station and creating a modern, inviting space for neighbors to gather.”

The project was funded in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of Warren County.

“Since the elevator project announcement, we paused welcoming new residents on the 2nd floor,” Susan Teconchuk, CEO at The Rouse Estate, said.

“This allowed us to prioritize the existing residents’ experience. Now, with (the) elevator project complete, we’re thrilled to welcome new neighbors to join our community.”

The elevator has been fully modernized including a new control system, motor, and machinery along with enhanced safety features.

According to a statement, the Community Foundation’s grant “played a crucial role, and the residents’ patience and understanding throughout the project exemplify the spirit of the Suites at Rouse.”

To highlight the improvements, an open house with tours is scheduled for today, Feb. 7, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.