City Condemns Apartment Building to Force Landlord to Comply

PORTLAND, Maine - The city of Portland has condemned an apartment building in order to force the landlord to tighten up management of the property.
 
It is the first time the city has taken such a measure under a disorderly houses ordinance. The property is considered disorderly, meaning police have been called to the property more than three times in a month.
 
Portland's Neighborhood Prosecutor Richard Bianculli says while other apartment buildings have been deemed disorderly, the vast majority of landlords work with the city to address issues.
 
Officials say the landlord of this building has defied complying with the order.
 
Pine Tree Legal Assistance, a nonprofit that provides free legal services, received a temporary restraining order to prevent the evictions of three tenants until a court hearing next month.