Last September, Penn Hills officials condemned the 64-unit apartment complex on Robinson Boulevard. They had discovered an inadequate fire alarm system and other code violations. Tenants didn’t have running water, garbage collection or common area electricity.
On short notice, most tenants followed the municipality’s order to leave, though some tenants filed a legal suit to allow residents to remain; the future of about 20 remaining households remains uncertain.
A review of court documents by PublicSource found that the owner, Prasad Margabandhu, has a history of failed buildings, unpaid taxes and bankruptcies associated with properties he owns throughout the region.
Urban design expert Alan Mallach believes Margabandhu was trying to “milk” the failed property by attempting to eke out rent revenue while spending as little as possible on repairs or taxes.
“Basically, it’s all about economics. A landlord wants to get a return on his or her investment,” said Mallach, who has studied Pittsburgh extensively as a senior fellow at the Center for Community Progress in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, tenants must deal with potentially unsafe living conditions and potential displacement.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE:
About Post Author
