Thank You National Apartment Association. I will do my best to get this very important information out ASAP to numerous owners, investors, huge property management companies (e.g., Riverstone Residential), attorneys, and judges, AND, of course, to the MANY people who are currently living in MOLD-INFESTED APARTMENT COMPLEXES right now! katy
“All of the changes seem to be really positive,” McCoy said. “Everyone I’ve talked to is happy about it and a little amazed that the DA noticed and cared enough and bothered enough to actually do something about it.”
By Marie Wilson
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, June 28, 2010
Anne McCoy loves the layout of her apartment in the Leland Point complex in Baldwin Borough.
But when inspectors visited her Wednesday, she showed them everything she doesn’t love: a leaking kitchen faucet, damage to wooden cabinets and the mold, mildew and leaking pipes in the basement laundry and storage areas.
“Most of the lights in the parking lot had burned out, which is not good from a crime standpoint,” said McCoy, 49, who has lived in the 1,076-unit complex since August 2008.
Apartment inspections, increased police presence and a traffic study began after the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on June 3 charged Leland Point Acquisitions, Leland Point Holdings and Karam Managed Properties, the three Ohio-based companies that own the complex, with creating a public nuisance. On June 16, a judge appointed Brandywine Agency in North Versailles to oversee the complex.
Three teams of inspectors from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and Brandywine began touring each apartment last week to determine how many repairs must be made to ensure sanitary and safe living conditions.
“It’s a criminal case, so we’re trying to gather evidence,” said Mike Manko, spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office. “That’s why we’re out there.”
Officials said the highest priorities are fixing clogged drains, broken hot water tanks and leaking sanitary pipes along with restoring natural-gas service to all tenants who were shut off because the companies failed to pay for it as part of the tenants’ rent.
“I have noticed more maintenance people here,” said Jody Grayson, 36, whose three-bedroom apartment was inspected Thursday.
Baldwin Police Chief Michael Scott said his department is working with Brandywine and the DA’s office to foster a safer atmosphere at the complex, where he said about 80 percent of the crimes in Baldwin occur.
“We’ve already started to see some improvements up there as far as the criminal element knowing it’s not a safe haven,” Scott said.
A plan to install two security cameras at each of the complex’s three main entrances and make some streets one-way could deter criminal activity, Scott said. The cameras are expected to cost about $21,000. Manko said the three ownership companies should pay for them as part of court proceedings to clean up the public nuisance.
Residents can learn more about the proposed cameras and traffic changes at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in the Leland Point community room.
“All of the changes seem to be really positive,” McCoy said. “Everyone I’ve talked to is happy about it and a little amazed that the DA noticed and cared enough and bothered enough to actually do something about it.”
Rent payments that could have supported maintenance instead went to the property’s mortgage holder, Manko said, causing problems such as leaking pipes and broken screens to go unfixed. Other companies then refused to maintain the grass and landscaping because they were not being paid. The ownership companies owe the borough $575,325 for sewer service as of June 1, borough Manager Tim Little said.
Brandywine is the only company involved in renovations and safety improvements, said John Eddy, a Downtown lawyer representing Leland Point’s owners. Brandywine representatives did not return calls for comment.
The ownership companies might regain involvement after the court rules the nuisance is fixed, Eddy said.
“My client is most concerned about making sure the court is satisfied that the improvements are being made,” he said.
TRUTH OUT Sharon Kramer Letter To Andrew Saxon MOLD ISSUE
New Action Committee – ACHEMMIC- Urges Transparency in EPA Policy Over Mold & Microbial Contaminants
Truth About Mold – the most up to date, accurate, and reliable information on Toxic Mold
Sociological Issues Relating to Mold: The Mold Wars
“Changes in construction methods have caused US buildings to become perfect petri dishes for mold and bacteria to flourish when water is added. Instead of warning the public and teaching physicians that the buildings were causing illness; in 2003 the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, a think-tank, and a workers comp physician trade organization mass marketed an unscientific nonsequitor to the courts to disclaim the adverse health effects to stave off liability for financial stakeholders of moldy buildings. Although publicly exposed many times over the years, the deceit lingers in US courts to this very day.” Sharon Noonan Kramer
Katy's Exposure 