The village of Bel-Ridge stopped issuing occupancy permits at an apartment complex this week and is considering condemning the property in north St. Louis County unless dozens of repairs are completed by its owner.

The Springwood Apartments at 4222 Springdale Avenue is the subject of federal lawsuits filed last week between its owner, Gannon International, and its lender, PNC Bank, over loans for the 272-unit property.

Bel-Ridge Building Inspector Steve Abbington said Creve Coeur-based Gannon failed to make repairs in recent weeks that constituted dozens of health and safety violations, including falling catwalks, broken windows and hanging gutters. The village detailed the necessary repairs in a letter to Gannon in mid-March, and the company's failure to make repairs prompted the village to stop issuing occupancy permits.

Abbington said the village is considering condemnation proceedings. The property's condition has deteriorated in recent months, he said. "It's pretty much run-down."

Bill Schierholz, president of Gannon's real estate group, said Gannon had laborers at Springwood on Monday to assess the repairs listed by Bel-Ridge in its March letter.

"Many of them had been cured or are in the process of being cured now," Schierholz said Tuesday. The Gannon staff planned to meet with Bel-Ridge officials at the property today for another inspection.

"We're trying to resolve this with the bank and the village," Schierholz said. "It is in no one's interest to allow this to continue."

On April 18, PNC Bank filed a federal lawsuit against Gannon Partnership 19 LP, an affiliate of Gannon, alleging Springwood Apartments' owner defaulted on a loan for the property and owes nearly $5.7 million.

PNC filed an emergency motion with the federal court on April 22, seeking the appointment of a receiver to manage Springwood, alleging Gannon failed to properly maintain the apartments. In the emergency motion, PNC said conditions at Springwood "pose risks to the health and safety of its tenants."

District Court of St. Louis Magistrate Judge Thomas Mummert III granted PNC's emergency motion to hold an expedited hearing on whether to appoint a receiver for Springwood. That hearing is set for 1:30 today.

Gannon filed a separate suit last week that alleges PNC Bank failed to timely establish a lock-box system for the collection of rent payments at Springwood. The lock-box system was put in place as part of an August 2010 modification of Gannon's loan for Springwood. In Gannon's lawsuit, Gannon alleges Springwood's occupancy dipped below 80 percent because of PNC's mishandling of rent and vendor payments.

Wendi Alper-Pressman, an attorney for PNC Bank, declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Schierholz said Gannon is current on its payments of principal and interest to PNC Bank and is seeking to settle the suit brought by the bank.