Develop PGH Bulletins: Landlord-Tenant Cases Inch Up As Eviction Curbs End

Pittsburgh PA

04 November, 2021

6:22 PM

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By Rich Lord, Public Source November 1, 2021 Develop PGH Bulletins updates you on the Pittsburgh region's economy. Check back frequently, sign up for the Develop PGH newsletter and email [email protected] with questions, tips or story ideas. Update (11/1/21): The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark's petition to extend eviction curbs through November. Landlord-tenant cases in the county are proceeding under pre-pandemic timelines. 11/1/21: District judge predicts "no mass eviction tidal wave" despite rule changeLandlords in Allegheny County filed 542 cases seeking the evictions of tenants in October, which is the second-highest total in the last year but still only around half of pre-pandemic norms. The filings come as district judges – who rule on eviction requests – wait to learn definitively whether there will be an extension of an emergency order that had slowed many landlord-tenant cases. Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark on Thursday asked the state Supreme Court to allow an extension, through Nov. 30, of pandemic-driven eviction curbs. The judge had allowed district judges to postpone decisions on eviction requests in cases in which the tenant was awaiting aid from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The temporary procedures, which expired Oct. 31, had not barred the eviction of tenants who did not apply for rental assistance, or whose lease terms had expired or who were accused of other violations of their leases. The Supreme Court has not posted a decision on Clark's request for an extension. District Judge Richard King, president of the Allegheny County Special Court Judges, confirmed that his colleagues in the minor judiciary were processing evictions under pre-pandemic rules, pending word from the Supreme Court. But he said he saw no signs of mass displacement. "Are there going to be some evictions? Yes. But it's not a tidal wave," he said. The reason? Most landlords, he said, seem to be content to wait until the Emergency Rental Assistance Program payments come through. 11/1/21: Oakland's two registered community organizations appear split on rezoning bidA plan to dramatically redo parts of Central Oakland and South Oakland got a tentative nod from one of the neighborhood's two main development organizations, ahead of pending consideration by the City Planning Commission. The Oakland Business Improvement District [OBID] issued a press release in support of commission consideration of proposed zoning changes that would clear the way for Oakland Crossings, which is developer Walnut Capital's proposal for an 18-acre area including parts of McKee Place and Halket Street, plus an area south of the Boulevard of the Allies. "Holistically, we believe Walnut Capital's vision for Oakland Crossings is in line with the Oakland Plan's community goals and that their high standards of place-making will advance our mission to enhance Oakland as one of Pennsylvania's top global centers," OBID board Chair Kelly McBroom said in the release. That could pit OBID against the Oakland Planning and Development Corp. [OPDC], which has taken the position that the rezoning effort has so far circumvented traditional processes. Typically, zoning changes are first vetted by the Department of City Planning. That department is also leading an ongoing effort to plan Oakland's future. Map of proposed Oakland Crossings district, from legislation introduced to Pittsburgh City Council.Both OBID and OPDC are registered community organizations for parts of Oakland. That means that when new development proposals emerge, they have the right to conduct development activities meetings, which the Planning Commission would consider prior to its vote. The zoning legislation would allow taller and denser buildings, and a greater variety of potential uses, along McKee and Halket, which are currently dominated by rental housing. Walnut has said it wants to build some 1,000 units of housing for people who work in Oakland, a grocery store and greenspace, and the zoning would also allow for offices, labs and classrooms. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto submitted the rezoning legislation to Pittsburgh City Council, which referred it to the commission. The commission, which next meets Nov. 9, has not yet said when it will be briefed by Walnut on the plan. The briefing could be followed two weeks later by a hearing and vote. The legislation would then return to council for its vote. October recap:News from the City Planning Commission, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and more Takeoff imminent, destination debatable: It's decision time on Pittsburgh's 'next frontier' for redevelopment Rubber, meet road: Will Avenues of Hope's millions of dollars intersect with neighborhood needs? 'Kind of empowering': How the American Rescue Plan changed the course of the URA 'Everybody deserves a second chance': Even with a labor shortage, workers with criminal records face barriers to jobs Develop PGH archivesWhere the sausage is made: A nine-member panel privately plots a course for the Hill Expect the inspector: Unlike Pittsburgh, the state's No. 3 city examines every rental home — eventually Hundreds of violations, few penalties: Allegheny County's health enforcers frequently inspected — but rarely fined — two McKeesport properties September development coverage Rich Lord is PublicSource's economic development reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @richelord. Develop PGH has been made possible with funding from The Heinz Endowments. This article was produced by PublicSource.org, a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. PublicSource tells stories for a better Pittsburgh. Sign up for their free email newsletters at publicsource.org/newsletters.