City Cites Itself For Abandoned Property, While Judge Blocks City's Effort To Withdraw Citations
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh has some 20,000 run-down properties throughout the city, and the city's Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections has been aggressive in citing the owners.
But recently, the city cited itself for owning dilapidated property in Allentown.
"It certainly is a little bit unusual that one branch of the city would be citing another," District Judge Richard King told KDKA political editor Jon Delano on Tuesday.
The city now says it was a mistake and tried to withdraw the citations from district court.
But Judge King would not let them.
"The attorney for the city who comes to the hearings requested a withdrawal. I asked him for the reasons, as we do for all of them, and he says, well because the city of Pittsburgh owns them. And I said, I don't think that's a good enough reason."
The city owns nearly 7,000 run-down properties, and Judge King says he hears from neighbors about it all the time.
"People will come in and often complain about city-owned property that is on their street or in their neighborhood."
King would not comment on pending cases, but said the city would be treated just like any property owner.
"We'll have a hearing, and we'll treat the city of Pittsburgh as we treat anyone else, no better, no worse."
KDKA went to some of the properties cited, including one that had an abandoned car there for months.
You can see where this abandoned car was left. It was removed just a couple hours before KDKA arrived, but it's not the only problem with this city-owned property.
Over there there's a tree that's collapsed into the next door neighbor's house.
The neighbor, who would not go on camera, says he can't get the city to remove the tree or repair his damaged siding.
Judge King has scheduled a hearing on that property in January with the three others slated for this Thursday.
For the city to avoid any penalties, it should do as any property owner should do: just fix up the property.
"I would hope that they would come in and say that all the properties have been abated," says the judge.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
