City of Pittsburgh, Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections issues Condemnation and Evacuation Order for Oakland Apartment Building

This action follows an urgent evaluation of the building’s elevators after emergency responders were called to assist a resident in need of medical attention. 

On Thursday, December 19th, emergency personnel were required to evacuate a resident by carrying them down several flights of stairs due to all four elevators in the 13-story high-rise being inoperable. 

Given requirements in state and local building and fire codes, high-rise buildings are required to have an appropriate number of operable elevators to ensure that residents can safely move throughout the building. PLI inspectors determined today that the elevators are currently inoperable, requiring the condemnation and evacuation order for floors 5 and higher. 

As a result, all residents are required to evacuate floors 5 and higher no later than 7:00 p.m. TODAY. The building will remain closed until at least one of the elevators have been repaired and a full inspection by the PA Department of Labor and Industry confirms that the elevator system is functioning safely. 

Skyvue Apartments management team has made PLI aware that they’re working to repair at least one elevator.  

PLI urges any resident of Skyvue Apartments who hasn’t already contacted building management to make alternative living arrangements do so immediately. The safety and well-being of residents is the City’s top priority.