A Greensburg board revoked a student housing permit Wednesday because neighbors complained about loud parties, frequent police visits, cursing tenants, downed rain gutters and other problems at the College Avenue property.
In a 4-0 vote, the city's zoning hearing board backed a decision by the zoning officer to revoke Joseph and Susan Wertz's permit for their rental at 509 College Ave.
The couple has 30 days to appeal the ruling to Westmoreland County Court, although Joseph Wertz said, as he was leaving council chambers yesterday, that no appeal is planned.
"Anybody who wants to buy it for what's owed, I'll sell it," he said as he walked away with his wife.
Joseph Wertz explained to the hearing board that he has been unable to take care of the property the way he wanted because of financial constraints. He said he was forced to rent the home to college students because he could get more money from them than he would if he rented it to a family.
"If you force the issue, you're going to have a foreclosed property there," Wertz told the hearing board.
The complaints date back more than three years, including notices of violation filed against the property that were later rescinded as efforts were made to correct problems, City Planner Barb Ciampini explained.
Among the students who have lived at the home over the years are Seton Hill University football players who claimed the city wouldn't do anything against them because they were athletes, according to testimony.
Five neighbors complained to the hearing board.
"It's a blight to the neighborhood, and it has been since the kids moved in," Richard Plundo said. "Frankly, I'd rather it foreclosed than go on."
Veronica Miller said she believed there were up to 13 people living in the home at one point.
"They had mattresses everywhere," she said.
Neighbors said some of the people living at the home were sitting on lawn chairs yesterday, partying.
Ciampini said city officials "bent over backward" to try to get the property in line with requirements.
"In all due respect to the neighborhood, I apologize," she added.
Board Solicitor Lou DeRose explained that if an appeal is filed, a county judge can be asked to delay enactment of the revocation until the appeal is heard.
He said city officials can remove the student tenants from the property, if necessary.
