Months of elevator trouble at an 11-story Clinton Township high-rise have some seniors so worried about getting stuck that they are sleeping in the lobby instead of risking a ride home. Residents say they wait for ages when only one elevator is limping along, pack in shoulder to shoulder when it finally arrives, and watch neighbors with walkers, canes, or oxygen tanks give up on leaving their floors at all.
As reported by ClickOnDetroit, tenants at St. George Tower say both elevators are often out of service and that the lone working car frequently turns into a cramped, tense ride. The management company told Local 4 that one elevator has been down since November 2025 and that it is trying to speed up parts and repairs while also meeting with local emergency crews to talk through safety issues. Residents told the station they do not think that response matches how serious the situation feels inside the building.
“They should fix the elevator,” one tenant told Local 4, describing neighbors who cannot manage stairs because they rely on walkers or canes. Residents recounted a recent emergency when EMS workers had to tilt a gurney and haul it up the stairwell to reach a woman on the fifth floor who was struggling to breathe. Long lines and short tempers outside the elevator doors, they said, have become part of daily life, with arguments and shouting breaking out as people try to squeeze in.
Building details and who lives there
St. George Tower is listed as a high-rise senior complex with about 200 units that serves older adults, according to property listings. AffordableHousingHub notes the development, and federal housing records indicate the building participates in affordable-housing programs. Tenants say that the concentration of mobility-limited residents is exactly what makes repeated elevator downtime feel so hazardous.
Who enforces elevator safety and what residents can do
State elevator rules are enforced by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' Bureau of Construction Codes, specifically its Elevator Safety Division, which is responsible for inspections, contractor licensing, and complaint investigations. University of Michigan design guidelines describe that division's role in elevator oversight, and families or advocates often reach out there, along with local officials, when repeated outages raise safety alarms.
Management says it is trying to move repairs along faster and is coordinating with emergency services, but tenants say the delays have dragged on so long that many are scared to stay alone in their own apartments. For now, residents say they are keeping the pressure on building managers and local authorities, hoping for consistent, working elevators before the next emergency is worse.
