Swissvale Apartment Condemned, Residents Given 30 Days To Move Out

SWISSVALE (KDKA) -- Tenants in a local apartment have been given a month to move out after the building was declared unfit to live in.

The water is about to be shut off and residents don't know where they'll go. Some have lived there more than 20 years.

People live in all 18 apartments in the building, which has been condemned by Swissvale Borough as unsafe and unfit for habitation because of asbestos and mercury problems among other things.

Residents have been told they have 30 days to get out.

"We're talking about the children that live in this building, pregnant women that live in this building, people that just moved into this building two and three days ago that have already paid this man money, has no money to move anywhere," Charlotte Booker said.

"It's not enough time at all. It should at least be 60 to 90 days. You've got people in here that are 85-years-old that have to pick up and move," James Hicks said.

The residents say they are most upset that the landlord, a man named Michael Sturdivant, has let the building deteriorate for years.

In a brief phone conversation, Sturidvant told KDKA-TV that he thought the borough had it out for him personally, and that he would try to do something, but has since not responded to phone calls to say what that something might be.

Residents have been told by borough inspectors that there's no hope to halt the eviction.

"It's going to be a big problem. I'll be 84-years-old. I can barely stand up," Sarah Kandor said.

The only thing that may be halted is the water shut off. The Allegheny County Health Department could step in and order it be left on.

Residents say they'll be calling Monday morning to try to make that happen.

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