ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg Tenants Union is calling on the city to take over The Morgan Apartments. That’s the property that was in danger of having its water shut off last summer because the city said the property owner wasn’t paying its bills. 

At Thursday’s council meeting, SPTU Organizer William Kilgore told members the concern is that foreclosure proceedings could lead to the building being sold at auction.

Rather than have another corporate landlord come in, he said a city acquisition could offer residents of the troubled complex some stability.

What You Need To Know

 The St. Petersburg Tenants Union told city council members Thursday that residents want the city to take over The Morgan Apartments

 The city warned tenants last summer that a water shut-off was possible to The Morgan and another complex owned by Lurin Real Estate Holdings because the company was thousands of dollars behind on its water bill

 A tenants union organizer says the concern is that the foreclosure process could lead to the building being sold at auction to another corporate landlord

The city says there are no plans to acquire The Morgan, and a Lurin spokesperson says the company doesn’t believe that step is justified

“The city has a responsibility to step in,” Kilgore told council.

“The city needs to take care of its residents,” said another speaker. “The out-of-state landlords do not care about us.”

Nat Pudlak didn’t attend the meeting. She said she’s lived at The Morgan for three years and describes her time there as not the worst, but also not the best.

“I had a pipe bust on me,” she said. “Then, my ceiling caved in because of a pest problem that we had. So, they had a rat infestation.”

From shuttered pools to mold, Pudlak said The Morgan has its share of issues. So, when she heard about the push to get the city to take over the property, she wasn’t against it.

“We are fixed income. So, being owned by the city at least has that security for a lot of us,” said Pudlak. “Originally, when the water was going to get shut off, I didn’t have a back-up plan.“

St. Petersburg Public Information Officer Samantha Bequer said in a statement, “At this time, the city does not have plans to acquire the Morgan property. Right now, our focus is on collecting the remainder of the outstanding water services balance and providing assistance and information to residents wanting to relocate from the property.”

“They do have the money. They do have the ability. It’s a matter of political will, is what it is, and they don’t have the will to do it,” said Kilgore.

Kilgore praised city staff for the help provided to residents so far, but he said more needs to be done for tenants.

“I agree with exactly where they’re coming from,” said Councilmember Richie Floyd. “I think when the private sector fails, the public sector needs to step in.”

According to Floyd, codes staff visited The Morgan frequently to address issues. He said he’s supported a possible city takeover at past council meetings.

“I think we definitely need to be involved in this process, even if the administration’s not interested in going the direction I am,” he said. “But I would love to continue the conversation any way I can.”

As for Pudlak, she said of the residents who lived at the complex when she moved in, she’s one of the few who remain – but not for long.

“Nope. No. Instant no,” she said when asked if she planned to stay. “As soon as my lease is up in October, I’m personally moving over to Bradenton.”

Lurin spokesperson Ed Cafasso said in a statement that The Morgan is operating normally, and the company is working to strengthen its longterm financial stability. It reads in part, “While we understand the demand by some residents for the city to seize the property, we do not believe such an unusual step is justified or in the community’s best interest.”

Bequer said the city is monitoring the potential foreclosure of the property and is working through the litigation process related to unpaid water bills.