After Scioto County Commissioner Merit Smith told the public that conditions at Buckeye Towers “aren’t as bad as painted,” residents are firing back, saying the ongoing elevator outage has left many elderly and disabled tenants trapped in their apartments and desperate for help.
Smith’s comments at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting—where he said there were “no complaints” from residents and praised volunteer efforts—were met with a flood of responses from residents and relatives who say life inside the eight-story public housing building is anything but “pleasantly surprising.”
“I Haven’t Been Downstairs in 14 Days”
One longtime resident wrote that she hasn’t been able to leave her sixth-floor apartment since the elevators broke down two weeks ago.
“I choose not to try because of medical issues. Why add insult to injury?” she said.
“My best friend’s husband fell down the steps he was forced to use. He had a four-hour surgery and things don’t look the best.”
She went on to describe another tragedy: when a resident’s family tried to deliver news of a loved one’s death, they were unable to reach her apartment because police refused entry to non-residents and building staff weren’t immediately available.
“It’s already been two weeks, and we aren’t given any new updates. When I order anything online, I get tracking and delivery info—why can’t we have that for the elevator repair? I live here. I’m living this nightmare.”
A Concern That Goes Beyond One Building
Another commenter said the issue reflects a systemic problem with how housing authorities place elderly and disabled tenants in multi-story buildings.
“When do the powers that be change the problem of renting high-rise apartments to this population? To place someone with mobility issues on the eighth floor just because the unit has grab bars isn’t logical. It’s a health and safety issue for individuals, caregivers, and first responders.”
“It’s Scary for Us Too” — Hudson House Resident Speaks Up
The problem isn’t limited to Buckeye Towers. A resident at the Hudson House, another public housing building in the area, said they’ve had repeated elevator malfunctions.
“I joked with the repairman that we were afraid one of these elevators would fall. He said, honestly, this one was about to fall if they hadn’t fixed it that day. We’ve had people stuck between floors and doors not opening. The one elevator big enough for stretchers is down most of the time.”
The resident called the situation “outrageous” and said both properties need new elevators, not just repairs.
Families Say Loved Ones Feel “Trapped”
A concerned relative of a Buckeye Towers tenant said her grandmother can no longer leave her apartment.
“She could walk when she moved in. Now she can’t use the stairs. She feels trapped. We’ve had to cancel doctor appointments. She hasn’t been out since October 17. One elevator’s been down since August—why was it left like that until both broke?”
The family said while volunteers are helping, that doesn’t make up for months of neglect.
“This should never happen in a building for the elderly and handicapped.”
“We’re Not Allowed to Give Family a Key”
Another resident pointed to strict federal housing rules that make emergencies even harder to manage.
“My cousin needs assistance getting out of bed. If someone calls her apartment, she can’t get to the door. We’re not allowed to have a second key to give to family. We depend completely on management to let people in—and that’s wrong.”
Community Stepping Up — But Residents Want Accountability
Residents continue to praise local firefighters, volunteers, and even teenagers delivering food. But they say community kindness doesn’t erase the lack of transparency from building management and officials.
Many are asking for:
Proof of repair timelines — actual invoices and shipping confirmation for replacement parts.
Daily communication updates posted in the lobby and online.
Wellness checks for high-risk residents on upper floors.
A long-term accessibility plan to prevent elderly and disabled residents from being housed in high-rises without guaranteed elevator redundancy.