In July, a PublicSource and 90.5 WESA investigation revealed significant health and safety problems at two McKeesport housing complexes. PNC in 2018 bought two limited liability companies that own the 11-story Midtown Plaza and the five-building Hi View Gardens.

Reporters found that in 2019 PNC and development partners applied for $11.4 million in low-income housing tax credits in a bid to improve Hi View, but the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency declined the application. Subsequently, myriad problems developed, including significant increases in 911 calls and health code violations.

Reporters Rich Lord from PublicSource and Kate Giammarise from 90.5 WESA broke this important story through months of work in the McKeesport community.

Join the reporters for more information on these stories including:

Why have the reporters spent nearly a year focused on issues of housing and tenants in Pittsburgh? Why is the series called “Tenant Cities”?

How did data, documents and dialogue contribute to breaking this story?

What is the role of the government in oversight of rental housing?

What are the broader lessons here? What solutions should be considered?

Bring your questions for Rich and Kate at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2021

Story Behind the Story: Tenant Cities McKeesport