D.C. Attorney General Sues Delta Pearl Owner as Tenants Endure Heat, Rats, Broken Elevators and Unsecured Building

September 2, 2026

The D.C. Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of Delta Pearl, a 166-unit affordable housing building that has severely deteriorated despite being newly renovated just three years ago. Tenants have faced dangerous living conditions including broken elevators forcing residents to climb up to 10 floors, non-functional air conditioning during extreme heat, rat and roach infestations, and stairwells contaminated with human waste and garbage. The building has accumulated nearly 200 unresolved housing code violations over 15 months, with the owner allegedly telling officials he lacks resources to fix the problems and plans to shut down the building.

Who is affected

**Tenants of Delta Pearl**: 166 apartment units of residents, including families, seniors, and children who endure uninhabitable conditions
**Starr Lindsey**: Tenant dealing with pest infestations who purchased extensive extermination products
**Tiara Humphrey**: Tenant with two young children concerned about roach infestation since January 2025
**Low-income residents**: 51% of units designated for residents earning below 80% of area median income
**Residents across Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8**: Potentially affected by the 15 affordable housing properties owned by Binitie
**Delta 2 Owner LLC, DP Management LLC/Faria Management, and developer Buwa Binitie**: Named defendants facing legal action
**Ward 5 community**: Losing critical affordable housing in the H Street corridor

What action is being taken

**D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing** Delta 2 Owner LLC, DP Management LLC, and developer Buwa Binitie
**The District is asking the court** for temporary, preliminary, and permanent orders compelling housing law compliance, restitution and damages for tenants, civil penalties, and appointment of a receiver
**Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker's staff has been taking** residents' complaints to District agencies for months
**The Attorney General's office is seeking** immediate court intervention rather than waiting for further deterioration

Why it matters

This case represents a shocking failure of affordable housing stewardship involving a property built with tens of millions in public financing and tax credits. The severity and rapid deterioration—from ribbon-cutting celebration to nearly 200 code violations in under three years—raises critical questions about oversight of publicly subsidized housing developments. The implications extend beyond Delta Pearl's 166 units, as the developer owns 15 affordable housing properties across D.C., all receiving public subsidies, creating concerns about conditions at other buildings. The case highlights the vulnerability of low-income residents who have limited housing alternatives and demonstrates the potentially life-threatening consequences when property owners abandon maintenance responsibilities, especially in a city facing affordable housing shortages.

What's next

The court will consider the District's requests for temporary, preliminary, and permanent orders
The court may appoint a receiver with authority to develop and oversee a rehabilitation plan
The defendants may be required to contribute money beyond collected rents to eliminate dangerous conditions
Developer Binitie has indicated intentions to relocate some tenants, remove "bad actors," and shut down the building

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer