A Youngstown special council meeting Wednesday evening featured some special guests who say residents are being forced to move from Park Vista Independent Living because management has failed to provide safe living conditions.
 
The folks who live at Park Vista North tell Youngstown city council members that repairs and maintenance have been treated poorly and the facility is falling into disrepair.
 
They want help from the city before Youngstown loses another business and the place the residents call home.
 
 First, the parking deck at Park Vista partially collapsed, and then a storm on March 25th caused major damage as rainwater flooded some apartments at that high rise on Wick Avenue.
 
It's been almost five months and people say nothing's fixed.
 
"They have not done anything except put some temporary plastic up on the roof. A number of apartments are totally destroyed, the water coming through from the ceiling," Barbara Brothers, Park Vista North Secretary of the Residents Association said.
 
They had insurance people here. We thought this would be taken care of and nothing has been done. ... Park Vista North and South used to have 20 maintenance and security people. That is now down to two," Brothers added.
 
Many folks who packed this city council meeting are in their 70's and 80's and use a cane, walker, or wheelchair. 
 
Councilwoman Samantha Turner says a working elevator is a must for their health and safety.
 
"The elevator maintenance has failed, and continues to fail, which has sometimes left residents in the lobby for hours, or stuck in their apartments, and has also had family members come to move people from the lobby up to their apartments as far as the sixth floor," Councilwoman Turner emphasized.
 
 A few years ago Fran Doyle gave up her home to move here because of the security and maintenance promised in the contract. She wants the owner to fix the elevator and provide security that residents pay for.
 
"I love the North side. There's no place else on the North side. I'm afraid I'll have to leave Youngstown again, and I don't want to do that. ... My heart is here," Fran Doyle said.
 
"People there were wonderful, then all at once the garage fell in, and people started moving out," Doyle added. We need elevators and security to depend on. Somebody has got to do something," Doyle added.
 
 Councilwoman Samantha Turner is asking the council to do all they can now to help these folks in her ward.
 
Councilwoman Anita Davis who took care of her mom at home until she passed on this year choked up hearing their stories.
 
"I lost my mom recently so, I really need us to do whatever we can to address... ok. We can't sit down on this," Councilwoman Davis emphasized. 
 
"Maybe our code enforcement can do a sweep of all buildings in our city. People on a fixed income expect to get what they're paying for and that's just not happening in multiple areas right now so if we can assist in any way I would appreciate that," Councilman Julius Oliver said.
 
"If the owner or owners are receiving HUD or other funding, that funding could be in jeopardy and we need to make sure that is explored and enforced," Councilman Mike Ray said.
 
"This is a security and health measure. Some residents who needed to move to Park Vista South have found that conditions there have also gone down. Help us take action so we do not just lose Park Vista North, but also Park Vista South," Barbara Brothers, Secretary of the Park Vista Residents Association asked. 
 
When we called Park Vista North and pressed corresponding numbers to reach the executive director and other offices for Park Vista North and South a recording stated, "Please wait a moment,  incorrect entry." 
 
21 News will continue reaching out to the management and owners to find out when the repairs will be made to the North facility. At 11:15 p.m. 21 News finally reached a person in nursing who said she will pass on our message for a comment about when repairs will be made to managers in the morning. 
 
Check back for updates on this ongoing news story.