Tenants of the Holden House, a nine‑story apartment building in downtown Dayton, have been coping with non‑functioning elevators for several months. Residents say the lack of service forces them to climb multiple flights of stairs, creating hardship for those with mobility challenges and delaying emergency response.

Residents voice frustration

“To go to the store, get groceries and then carry them up four‑plus stairs is hard,” said William Hurley, a Dayton resident who lives in the building. Ben Day, who lives on the third floor, echoed the sentiment, noting that the elevator outage has become a daily obstacle. “The elevator is out of service. It doesn’t work,” Day told WHIO‑TV reporter John Bedell after a walk up the stairs.

City officials outline repair timeline

Steven Gondol, Director of the Dayton Department of Planning, Neighborhood and Development, explained that the building’s owners have begun addressing some issues, but both elevators remain out of service. He warned that a full modernization could require 12 to 24 months, while interim repairs might take four to nine months.

“I would say this is not the norm; this is a more extreme situation,” Gondol said, adding that the city continues to monitor the property and stay in contact with the owners.

HUD involvement and housing stability

The Holden House receives federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help low‑income residents afford rent. While HUD officials were not immediately available for comment, the city indicated it is working with the agency to ensure the building remains habitable while repairs are pending.

Owner’s response and next steps

Reporters reached the building’s management, whose contact number listed a San Diego area code. After leaving a message for the owner, the newsroom awaits a detailed response. City officials say they are seeking a middle ground that keeps residents housed while holding the owner accountable to the service contract once parts and labor are ready.

“We are trying to find a solution that protects tenants and ensures the owner fulfills their obligations,” Gondol said.

Community impact

Beyond inconvenience, residents worry about emergency access. First responders rely on functional elevators to reach upper floors quickly during medical or fire emergencies. The prolonged outage raises safety concerns for the entire building community.

Local leaders encourage tenants to report any further issues and assure the public that the city will continue to oversee the repair process. The newsroom will follow up with HUD and the building’s owners for updates.

Original reporting: WHIO-TV Dayton (local) — read the source article.