PENN HILLS, Pa. — On July 26 around 6:15 p.m. a Penn Hills parking lot collapsed, dropping several feet, leaving a woman trapped in her car and tenants fleeing out the back exit of the apartment. Now nearly two months later, those same residents say they have nowhere to go.
“It makes me feel so sad. Lord, I got nowhere to go after 30 years,” said Marlene Lewis.
Marlene Lewis had lived at 11670 Frankstown Road for 30 years — but that all changed on July 26 when the lot crumbled right in front of her.
“I stopped right there, and it was nothing but the Lord that stopped me, no matter what anybody thinks. And I looked and there was no parking lot,” Lewis said.
Marlene says her apartment was everything — not just a home, but also in her late 60s, it was a sign of independence.
“Being a strong Black woman, do you think I want to live with anybody? I want to have my own,” Lewis said.
For almost two months Lewis has been forced to stay in a hotel, using her renter’s insurance to cover the cost.
“Everywhere I go there are 200 people ahead of me, 100 people, there is nowhere to go,” Lewis said.
With no financial assistance from the property owners and unable to get her deposit back, Lewis wants answers now on when or if she can move back in.
“I would like to talk to the owner, ‘Why are you doing the people like this?,” Lewis questioned.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2022 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
