Duquesne Amends Landlord-Tenant Ordinance

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
July 04, 2025
Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council has amended its landlord-tenant ordinance to clarify several points — including to exempt publicly owned housing.

At this week’s meeting, council clarified the ordinance to “clearly identify who is applicable under the ordinance, including the exemption of County- and Commonwealth-owned properties.”

Mayor R. Scott Adams said that landlords will be charged a rental fee each year. That fee was not immediately announced.

Council also voted to “clearly identify boats as recreational vehicles and to delineate the proper area for storage.” In recent meetings, the council has discussed changing the law as a way to prevent residents from parking boats on the city’s narrow streets.

In other business,c ouncil denied a variance for Better Choices Transitional Housing to operate a single-room occupancy building at 117 South Seventh St., which is located in a R-1 Single Family Residential Zoning District.

There will be a meeting at 5 p.m. July 9 to review a Conditional Use Request to operate a Commercial Recreation Facility at 24 South First Street. Council will host a public hearing at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 26, then render a decision in 40 days. 

A public hearing on upcoming demolitions will be held on September 2 at 6:15 p.m. at City Hall.

Council approved a temporary closure on North Fifth Street on July 27 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. for Community Bible Church’s annual family and friends’ day. 

In his Police Report, Chief Tom Shaw reported that Sgt. Patrick Vroman has been promoted to detective sergeant. The elevation in title does not come with a raise, Shaw noted.

The Duquesne Police Department had 234 calls of service in June, Shaw added. A recent DUI checkpoint “was a success” he said, with 549 stops. He also thanked the city’s fire department for assisting with the checkpoint.

During the Public Works report, Council Member Elaine Washington said that the city’s crews are patching potholes. She said a excavation machine and will start demolishing properties “shortly.” In addition, the department will be getting new equipment that will clean alleys and other roadways more efficiently and effectively.

Councilman Aaron Adams said that he the city had received some complaints about residents’ garbage not being picked up. “We aren’t sure what the issue is, but we will coordinate,” he said.

Councilwoman Denise Brownfield added that this year’s Community Day Parade, which is scheduled to start Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. at Fourth and Grant and proceed to Polish Hill Park. “We are excited,” she said. “It will be better this year than last year.”

Originally published July 04, 2025.

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