| Monday, Feb. 29, 2016 | Read the full article here.
Kevin Acklin, who doubles as Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff and the city’s economic development officer, lauded a group made up of a tenant council at Penn Plaza Apartments, nonprofit Neighborhood Allies and building owner Pennley Park South, a subsidiary of Downtown-based LG Realty Advisors Inc., for working to find homes for occupants of the Penn Avenue complex.
Pennley Park South agreed to extend the deadline for the last two residents — a man with serious health issues and another man who has a history of defaulting on rent — until they find new quarters, officials said.
“We got the first phase done,” said Bob Jamison, a member of the tenant council. “It was like everybody just pulled together. The owners even went outside of the agreement to help tenants.”
Pennley Park South intends to demolish the two-building complex and replace it with a mixed residential and retail development. The new development is displacing more than 200 people. The company agreed to pay each resident relocation assistance, and the city is paying Neighborhood Allies to manage the relocation and help residents find new housing.
The first building — 5704 Penn Ave. — is slated for demolition this year, and residents had until month’s end to move. Residents of the second building must move out in 2017.
Acklin said 115 people were living in 5704 Penn Ave. as of Sept. 20. Sixty-eight found apartments in the city, 23 moved out of Pittsburgh, 21 have not confirmed their new address and one resident died, he said.
Bob Bauder is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.