The rooms are small and the stairway to the second level is treacherous.

My contractor built a wood stairway entrance to the top unit and I'm concerned my tenant will be trapped if there is a fire. can I put metal stairs near a window as an emergency fire escape?

Since then they stated using dampners and you swing the lever twice a year to send MOST of the cool to top level (and let it drop down stairways) in summer and most of heat to lower level and let it rise in winter.I think they call it balancing,,works better than old too hot, too cold of old days.With smaller square footage houses tho, some claim the numerous short stairways take up too much space and cut up floor layouts.I do notice those multilevel s take longer to sell,,,and sell for some less than ranches or splits even.

I have been leaning on possibly utilizing the wood looking tile plank, but haven't yet.What are your opinions on flooring for stairways?

Hallways and the stairway down to the bottom floor waste a LOT of space in most houses that aren't huge. 

Chicago is notoriously strict on decks and rear stairways and the city can cause you a whole heap of trouble in regards to this.

The stairway was closed off at the top so  was just stairs to nowhere that  was used as a closet.

One side will be an outer wall and the other side would be partially against a stairway railing. 

3rd party security given the right to "Trespass" with assistance of local PD.3rd party security advised to warn first, then "Trespass" only as allowed by owner/manager.3rd party security armed costs more, may or may not be a post they will take unarmed.Trespassers like to sleep in pool deck chairs, inside and behind fenced trash areas, inside laundry rooms, and in the stairways of certain buildings, as well as bushes.They are your neighbors now, pesky ones but neighbors.Security must be wary of criminal element among them, re getting shot or beaten by a group.Often they come inside places to get warm as it gets cold out.You are lucky to not have vehicle break ins, or vacant unit break ins with them.Good Luck!

The house was in rougher shape than it appeared on Zoom and the stairway carpet smelt like money, dog urine.