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Chester officials say repairs underway at Benjamin Banneker building as court action remains pending
Summary
City officials described recent inspections and partial repairs at the Benjamin Banneker building, said they have sought a preliminary injunction and coordinated with HUD and other agencies, but said the ultimate outcome rests with the courts.
City of Chester officials told council on Sept. 22 that inspectors have documented progress on required life‑safety repairs at the Benjamin Banneker apartment building but that a court petition and further oversight remain in place.
Officials said the Department of Licenses and Inspections inspected the building on Sept. 15 and that “there have been significant improvements to most of the life safety issues that were enumerated in our petition for preliminary injunction,” the city solicitor said. The solicitor added that a backup final hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30 if repairs or an acceptable agreement with the landlord are not in place.
The matter is the subject of a pending court petition seeking a preliminary injunction to require the landlord to make repairs. The solicitor said the city has prepared a resident‑relocation procedure — prepared by Kristen Mobley and included in the court filing — and that a few residents have been relocated voluntarily by the landlord but not to the degree the city considers necessary given outstanding safety systems such as a working elevator, an operational sprinkler system and a functioning fire alarm.
The solicitor said the city has “involved the county, the state, HUD, just about any organization you could dream of to address that issue.” He noted HUD reinspected the property after an earlier housing score of 8 out of 100 and that the city expects additional inspection results later in the week. He said a sprinkler‑system part had been ordered and that an elevator inspection was scheduled.
Council members and staff described repeated coordination among the mayor’s office, the solicitor’s office, Licenses and Inspections, the fire department and outside agencies. “We’ve involved legal aid for the residents, because they have their own private cause of action,” the solicitor said. He and other officials described the effort as a multiagency response and said a receiver has also participated in the remediation work.
Officials cautioned that while progress has been made, the ultimate outcome depends on either an agreement the court will incorporate into an order or a court ruling following a hearing. “If they make the repairs that we’ve requested, or substantial progress, or there’s an agreement acceptable to the city, then there won’t be a hearing,” the solicitor said. “If we can’t [reach agreement], then it’s the judge that will rule.”
Council members thanked staff for the ongoing effort and asked for continued updates ahead of court dates. The solicitor said the city will share coordinated documentation with council before any enforcement hearing or final agreement is presented.
The discussion followed residential complaints about water leaks and other alleged hazards; the solicitor said a water leak noted during inspection had been fixed but that the presence of prior deficiencies prompted the legal filing and heightened oversight.
