Pittsburgh City Council
The city looks at taking over a blighted apartment building.
Written by Amy Whipple
The city may condemn a 100-unit apartment building in Homewood in order to save the homes of the people who live there.
The residents of Homewood House on Frankstown Avenue have been living in squalor, with broken heating units, missing floorboards, bedbugs and rats for more than five years. The current owner filed for bankruptcy in Oct. 2025. Doing so puts the building at risk of foreclosure, which would displace its low-income, primarily senior, residents.
The city will use eminent domain (the takeover of private property for public use) to secure the complex located in Homewood North. Once the county’s court of common pleas finalizes the process, the Housing Authority of Pittsburgh will assume building management.
The current owner’s parent company, NB Affordable Properties, has been accused for years of keeping its properties in deplorable condition.
Council held a post agenda meeting on NB in Jan. 2025. Members of council, other city officials, housing advocates and Representative Summer Lee discussed barriers to intervention. Use of eminent domain on any of the company’s local properties did not get brought up as a potential solution.
Council Member Khari Mosley of Point Breeze North told the Trib that it could cost the city around $5 million to settle with the current mortgage lender. The price was not included in the text of the legislation, nor did council discuss the takeover prior to its vote.
Connections to this story
- Elected officials:
- Khari Mosley
- Topics:
- Housing & Land Use
- Governments:
- Pittsburgh City Council
- Public meetings:
- City Council · December 29, 2025
More surveys
Have your say on more of the stories we’re covering.
Allegheny County Council
County Council weighs whether to jump into jail fight.
Allegheny County Council is weighing whether to step into a fight over whether disciplinary actions at the Allegheny County Jail can be determined by a referendum.
Allegheny County Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh inks $100,000 contract to teach residents to recycle.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) wants residents to stop trashing recyclable packaging.
Pittsburgh City Council
Land bank looks to spend millions to return properties to the tax rolls.
The Pittsburgh Land Bank (PLB) has estimated it could cost $168.5 million to put 11,311 abandoned parcels back on the city’s tax rolls.
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
City property taxes slated to go up 20%.
Pittsburgh homeowners may soon see a 20% increase on their property tax bill.
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
City council passes a budget that is $15 million more than the mayor’s.
After over 40 hours of public meetings, hearings, discussions, and seemingly endless votes, council passed the 2026 budget.
Pittsburgh City Council
Anchor organizations named to “Stop the Violence.”
Council approved the first five anchor organizations for the Stop the Violence Fund.
Pittsburgh City Council
Stop the Violence money may be used for city trucks.
A proposed reduction in this year's Stop the Violence funding had community members speaking out for the program.
Pittsburgh City Council
Council, mayor dispute ability to terminate the comprehensive plan contracts.
Now that the city has already spent $4 million of a $6 million contract to create a comprehensive plan, city council has given preliminary approval to terminate “ineffective and ineffectual”…
Pittsburgh City Council
City property sales to out-of-state buyers rejected.
City council is looking for a mechanism to stop out-of-state limited liability companies (LLCs) purchasing property at auction.
Pittsburgh City CouncilCity of Pittsburgh
Allegheny County Council
Walnut Capital to get a $1.2 million tax break from the county.
Despite expressing misgivings during discussion, council authorized $1.2 million in tax relief for a prominent local developer.
Allegheny County Council
Medical examiner expected to investigate all jail inmate deaths.
Allegheny County Council wants increased transparency regarding the deaths of incarcerated individuals.
Allegheny County Council
Allegheny County Council
Some businesses to get help on permits for asbestos abatement, others to get hit with the cost of removing lead.
New legislation will help the Allegheny County Health Department mitigate lead and asbestos that was used in local construction.
Pittsburgh City Council
Cultural Trust wants to take city street for its venue.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust hopes to paint Downtown with a wider brush.
Pittsburgh City Council
Four startups partner with city government.
In 2026, four local new businesses will receive stipends of $25,000 from the city that they will use to search rivers, find heat loss, expand AI use, and create 3D maps for the city.
Pittsburgh City CouncilCity of Pittsburgh
Transferring 8th Street, winter salt storage and supporting local startups—Tell Council What you Think.
• Cultural Trust wants to take city street for its venue • City plans to rebuild salt storage next to Saw Mill Run • Four startups partner with city government