The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) is taking a number of proactive steps to address an elevator outage at Asheville Terrace, a five-story affordable housing community for seniors located on Tunnel Road.
While multiple elevators remain operational within the building, the outage of the main elevator has created challenges for residents navigating certain areas of the property. The current repair timeline is estimated at three months due to a nationwide shortage of specialized technicians.
In the interim, HACA staff are gathering resident feedback and coordinating accessibility accommodations. A commercial stairlift system for the central stairwell has already been ordered and is expected to be installed within the coming weeks.
“Many of our residents have mobility challenges, so an elevator outage has a real impact on everyday life,” says HACA CEO Ella Santos. “For some seniors, something as simple as getting to appointments, visiting neighbors, or leaving their apartment becomes much more difficult when access through the building is disrupted. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to make sure they feel supported while repairs move forward.”
Supporting residents through their challenges is part of the broader work HACA staff do every day at Asheville Terrace. Ongoing services include coordinating weekly grocery trips for seniors, helping residents access community resources, and providing transportation for social and cultural outings throughout Asheville.
As an example of this approach, Santos recently coordinated a special outing for Asheville Terrace residents to attend an Asheville Symphony Masterworks performance featuring renowned pianist Adam Golka. From securing tickets to arranging transportation and helping organize the experience, Santos says the goal was to create an opportunity for residents to enjoy an evening of music and connection in the broader Asheville community.
“Taking residents to the symphony was a really special opportunity,” Santos says. “I felt honored to help our seniors stay connected to the broader Asheville community and experience joy. It reminded me a lot of spending time with my own grandmother and how meaningful those moments of connection can be.”
HACA staff say they will continue meeting with residents, gathering feedback, and adjusting accommodations as elevator repair work continues.
“At the end of the day, these are our residents and our neighbors,” Santos says. “We care deeply about them, and we’re going to keep showing up and doing everything we can to help them through this.”
