Inoperable elevators lead to Oakland apartment building condemnation

Residents in living in the upper floors of an apartment building in Oakland were ordered by the city to move out as 7 p.m. Friday because all four elevators in the 13-story building were inoperable, Pittsburgh officials said.

All residents living on the fifth floor and above in the Skyvue Apartments at 3333 Forbes Ave. in the Oakland neighborhood, are required to evacuate, the city’s permits, licenses and inspections department said. Skyvue Apartments management was notified and was working to get the elevators repaired.

WTAE reported that the building owner has made arrangements for the tenants to be housed temporarily at the Residence Inn, which is next door to Skyvue.

The building will remain closed until at least one of the elevators have been repaired and a full inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry confirms that the elevator system is functioning safely.

Any resident of Skyvue Apartments who hasn’t already contacted building management to make alternative living arrangements, should do so immediately, the city said.

The condemnation was ordered after emergency responders on Thursday had to carry a resident in need of urgent medical attention down several flights of stirs because the elevators were not operating, the city said.

State and local building and fire codes require that high-rise buildings to have an appropriate number of operable elevators to ensure residents can safely move throughout the building, the city said.