An Oakland landlord lost his appeal Tuesday to throw out over-occupancy and other city code violations against him but won a significant victory when the judge reduced his fine by $255,000.
Allegheny County Senior Judge Robert C. Gallo said Charles Eckenrode rented a single-family home on Lawn Street to six students, knowingly violating the city's housing code, but the judge lowered the $270,000 fine assessed by a magistrate in August to $15,000.
Neighbors and assistant city solicitor C.J. Liss, who prosecuted the case, had hoped for a fine large enough to deter Eckenrode and other landlords from flouting a housing code rule that allows no more than three unrelated people to live in a single-family home.
“It's ridiculous,” said Joan Dickerson, who lives near the Lawn Street home and spoke at Tuesday's hearing about the negative effect over-occupancy has on the neighborhood. “This won't stop him. This won't stop others.”
Eckenrode and his attorney, Ken Yarsky, declined to comment after the hearing. Yarsky had told Gallo he disagreed with his ruling and asked for a minimum fine.
“I think this is fair under the circumstances, and I believe this is a substantial fine,” Gallo said, adding that Eckenrode likely spent more than $15,000 on Yarsky's fees.
Eckenrode bought the Lawn Street home in 2004 for $31,500, according to county property records. The 2,000-square-foot house has seven rooms, one bathroom and is assessed at $102,600. Eckenrode rented it to the six students for $2,550 a month. When three moved out, he cut the rent in half, the students said.
Eckenrode lives in a Cecil housing development near the Lindenwood Golf Club in Washington County.
His 3,000-square-foot home was built in 2003. Its sale price was $280,000. It has four bedrooms, 2 1⁄2 bathrooms and a 500-square-foot garage, according to online county property records.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and city Solicitor Lourdes Sánchez-Ridge have said they intend to crack down on landlords who sometimes illegally cram as many as eight students into homes in Oakland.
The city hired an attorney to focus on landlords who violate the housing code, and inspectors are receiving more training and technology to help them do their jobs, Peduto has said. City Council members are weighing legislation to require landlords to register with the city.
Geof Becker, who lives near the Lawn Street home, said over-occupied homes distort property values, drive out homeowners, contribute to parking and litter problems, and endanger the safety of students.
“Over-occupancy is a cancer that is destroying our neighborhood,” Becker said during the hearing.
Yarsky disputed Becker's claims. He said no one presented evidence the students were in danger. The students, in an interview last year, said they did not feel unsafe in the home.
Liss told Gallo the fine in Eckenrode's case should serve as a signal to landlords that the city won't tolerate over-occupancy. She said the fines should be more than just a “cost of doing business.”
Liss deferred comments after the hearing to Sánchez-Ridge, who could not be reached.
Aaron Aupperlee is a Trib Total Media staff writer. He can be reached at 412-320-7986 or aaupperlee@tribweb.com.
