Latrobe officials have taken action to condemn two renter-occupied houses on Ligonier Street, citing concerns over health and safety hazards. The occupants of 1207 Ligonier Street, which consists of two apartments, and the three-story home at 1522 Ligonier Street, have made arrangements to relocate by May 3rd. The condemnation notices issued on April 16th highlight exterior and interior issues at both properties that necessitate repairs before they can be deemed habitable. The city has requested that property owner Donald Paxton restore sanitation facilities, eliminate unsanitary conditions, and address any vermin infestation. At 1522 Ligonier Street, dog feces were found in the backyard during the inspection. Additionally, natural gas and water services had been disconnected at 1207 Ligonier Street due to an interior water leak that occurred several months ago, leaving tenants reliant on bottled water. Paxton, who also owns a chiropractic office adjacent to the condemned house at 1207 Ligonier Street, has indicated his intention to restore utilities and explore the possibility of selling both properties. The condemnation notices provide a 14-day window for Paxton to file an appeal, but it remains unclear if he intends to do so. Meanwhile, Streame Chrest, a resident at 1522 Ligonier Street, shared that her household of at least five members and several pets are in the process of relocating to a new home. Her mother, Patricia Brungardt, echoed concerns that threats of condemnation had persisted for years regarding the property. During a recent council meeting, Latrobe appointed Craig McVicker as an additional building code official to focus on violations within the six-story apartment building at 333 Main Street. McVicker will assist TKL Code Inspection Services, receiving payment of $125 per hour for his services. The tenants of the 333 Main Street building were relocated with the aid of local human service organizations following the city’s condemnation of the property on March 8th. The city had identified bug and vermin infestations and directed the property owner, Jay Pan LLC, to address the issue with an exterminator and upgrade security measures. While Jay Pan intended to cooperate with a real estate agent to resolve the problems, the company also filed an appeal against the condemnation on March 20th. A hearing scheduled for April 4th was postponed indefinitely. Subsequent inspections uncovered additional issues at the Main Street building, which the city plans to communicate to the property owner through a separate notice of condemnation. Details of these additional problems have not been disclosed by city officials to date.
Latrobe Condemns Two Ligonier Street Properties as Health Hazards
