Residents of Perrysville Plaza, a high-rise for senior citizens in Perry South, have been nettled for years by children who, while waiting for the school bus in the morning, punch apartment numbers, play drums on the walls, curse and clog the vestibule so residents cannot pass.

On Monday, about 25 residents met with Harry Johnson, aide to Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle.

"This is a senior building," said Vivian Gandy. "We should not have to step over children to get in and out of the doors. I stepped on one child's foot and was called everything but my name."

"They don't move for people in wheelchairs," said Bessie Robinson-Ford.

"They have no respect for us residents," said Mamie Rush, a resident of 11 years.

Buses pick up about 50 children in front of the high-rise, at 2403 Perrysville Ave., en route to various schools on the North Side, said Ted Vasser, the school system's director of student transportation. He said Monday that his staff is looking at alternatives to the bus stop -- "the best location for the students and somewhere where they would not bother or be in contact with the seniors."

Ms. Robinson-Ford said she has been vocal on behalf of residents because complaints from managers and residents over the years have not been resolved. Last month, she sent to several public officials a letter and a petition with 46 signatures to get the bus stop moved.

Mr. Vasser said he got the letter almost three weeks ago. "That was the first I was made aware of" a problem.

Residents say they do not suffer the nuisance behavior when the bus lets children off in the afternoon.

During the meeting with Mr. Johnson, several residents said "there's nothing you can do" about children who ride bikes in the parking lot, play on walls around flower beds and play football in the yard.

But Ms. Robinson-Ford, "an old new resident" who moved back to the plaza two years ago after having lived in East Liberty, disagreed. "I don't know whether people have been afraid or what.

"I don't like kids who talk back to you," she said. "I didn't raise my kids that way. You don't talk back to adults and you have respect for your seniors."

"We were all raised that way," said Shirley Hughes.

Almost 30 years old, the building of 100 one-bedroom units is privately owned. Rents are subsidized under the federal Section 8 program.

"The people who live at this address have raised their children and some grandchildren," said Ms. Robinson-Ford. "We are here in Perrysville Plaza for peace and quiet. We would like to have a little peace for the rest of our lives."

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