Broken Elevators at Elkhorn Towers Threaten Resident Safety in Welch

Elevators at Elkhorn Towers, a nine-story apartment building in Welch, were repeatedly breaking down and leaving residents — including people with disabilities — stranded on upper floors, city leaders said. The building is owned by Elkhorn Financial, a limited liability company with offices listed in New York City, according to state records. City officials and building management reported that a repair contract had been signed but the contractor had not arrived to begin work.

Mayor Harold McBride described the situation as a serious public-safety and access problem and voiced concern that failures could have life-or-death consequences for residents unable to evacuate quickly. “I just, I’m afraid someone’s going to get seriously hurt or die, not being able to get them down out of the building when something’s wrong with them,” McBride said. He said he intended to speak with the state fire marshal about the elevator issues to seek enforcement and a faster resolution.

Beyond emergency risk, the elevator outages created daily hardships for residents who live on upper floors. McBride recounted a recent plea for help from a resident who could not carry groceries up stairs, underlining how basic needs become difficult when building services fail. “I had one of the ladies text me the other day. As simple as she said, ‘I have to go out and get groceries. Can you get somebody to help me get them back up here?’ She can’t get her groceries up to the top floor. So, you know, it’s just crazy, unnecessary,” McBride said.

A woman identifying herself as the building manager confirmed a repair contract had been signed but told reporters the contractor had not yet arrived. She acknowledged the importance of operational elevators but declined a formal interview. McBride acknowledged the technical complexity of elevator work while emphasizing the need for timely action. “An elevator is a big issue. I’ve worked on them. It’s hard. I do know that. And I realize that. And there’s not, you have to call someone in and work on them also. And they come at their convenience. I understand that. But, still, you have to work through it and get them fixed,” he said.

The situation raises questions about enforcement of building maintenance standards when properties are owned by out-of-state entities. For McDowell County residents who rely on Elkhorn Towers for affordable housing, prolonged outages mean reduced mobility, greater isolation for seniors and disabled tenants, and increased strain on local emergency services. City leaders have signaled they will pursue state-level intervention to push for repairs, and residents are watching for a resolution that restores safe, reliable access to all floors.