Embattled landlord William McMichael III has bought his last piece of property in Lancaster city.

A local judge on Friday ordered that McMichael is not allowed to purchase or acquire any new city property — by any means.

McMichael owns several city properties — so many that neither city officials nor McMichael himself have an exact number.

City officials, including Mayor Rick Gray, claim McMichael is a "problem property owner" who has failed in the upkeep of his holdings.

"This is step one in stopping the continuous problems with him," Gray said Friday from a conference in Washington, D.C. "It also sends a message to other predatory landlords who want to come here and just make money."

At the conclusion of Friday's hearing, Judge Margaret Miller read an order barring McMichael from new buys.

Outside the courtroom, McMichael shrugged it off.

"I really don't care. It's no heartache," he said. "I have no further interest in any city real estate. … I will be slowly liquidating what I do have over a period of years.

"I desire to be out of business."

The city recently began cleaning out one of McMichael's properties, on East Mifflin Street.

McMichael owns a large building at 451 E. Mifflin St. that was filled — literally — with old newspapers, rusty car parts and other trash.

However, Gray recently signed a contract to have the property cleaned out. A group this week removed nearly all contents from the building.

The estimated cost of that cleanup is $13,000, the mayor said. The city intends to put a lien on the property to recoup its costs.

A small office that McMichael used there is the last remaining detail in that cleanup project.

McMichael asked city officials at Friday's hearing if he could get his belongings from the office before they are taken to the dump.

Officials refused, saying McMichael had months to do that.

Friday's hearing was expected to include lengthy testimony about McMichael's actions regarding his properties, along with arguments from both sides.

However, after a 15-minute discussion with Miller, McMichael — under his lawyer's advice — agreed to consent to the order without objection.

As for what happens with McMichael's current holdings, that battle continues, officials said.

First up is the East Mifflin Street property, they said.

The city Redevelopment Authority is in the process of taking over the property.

"My name is still on the deed," McMichael said Friday.

However, officials have said it's only a matter of time until the property is under city ownership.

It will then be put on the market for a buyer willing to repair the building and bring it into compliance with city code.

Gray said his main concern was having the building cleaned out to spare neighbors from further safety concerns. There are several rowhomes in that small city block.

"For the people living next door to that, I was starting to feel very uneasy," the mayor said.

When asked exactly how many city properties he owns, McMichael didn't provide an exact number.

He often buys under aliases, making it hard for officials to keep track, Gray said.

"I don't have a lot of houses. I own a lot of land," McMichael said. "Up until last Monday, I had no tenants. When they call me a slumlord, that's not true."

bhambright@lnpnews.com