[StBernard] Parish Begins to Notify Owners of Structures in Need of Demolition

[Westley Annis]

Parish Begins to Notify Owners of Structures in Need of Demolition

November 8, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Anxious to show that recovery is underway, the St. Bernard Parish Council 
voted Tuesday to initiate the process of reaching owners of an initial batch

of 279 homes that have been deemed 100 percent damaged and therefore should 
be demolished.

But supporters of the move were quick to point out it doesn't mean anyone's 
home is about to be torn down. The demolition process would involve 
notifying owners of the structures that inspectors have determined are so 
structurally unsound they need to be demolished. Property owners can appeal 
such a designation.

Demolition will be done without a charge to property owners, Council members

have said.

Inspectors have filed reports with parish government on some 18,000 
structures out of about 40,000 in St. Bernard Parish.

Results of the inspections, done by inspectors from outside Louisiana, won't

be released to the public until all inspections are completed, which will be

several more weeks, parish officials have said.

But Parish Council members were told in a meeting Tuesday that results of 
about 12,000 inspections have been computerized. Of those, about 1,200 are 
listed as unsafe, of which 279 are identified as having 100 percent damage.

Mike Hunnicutt, director of community development, defined 100 percent 
damaged as meaning they are in imminent danger of collapse.

Hunnicutt also showed a list of the properties to Council members, 
acknowledging there were many inconsistencies on the list. Council member 
Mark Madary complained that many addresses are obviously wrong because there

are no such street numbers. "A fundamental part of the process is getting 
the address right,'' he said.
But Hunnicutt said corrections will be made on the list.

A form to be developed for property owners to sign to allow demolition of 
heavily damaged homes will ask if there is a mortgage on the structure and 
if, so, who is the mortgage-holder.

Council member Craig Taffaro Jr. moved to initiate the process of notifying 
owners of the 279 buildings considered 100 percent damaged. "Nobody is 
tearing down property before a notice is made'' and the owner an appeal it, 
Taffaro said.

Council Chairman Joseph DiFatta Jr. said, "This shows the recovery effort is

moving ahead.''

Council members voted 5-2 to start the process, with Madary and Council 
member Lynn Dean voting against.

Council members also acknowledged that some people have been asking how to 
get on a list to have the parish demolish their heavily damaged homes so 
they can start re-building. No list has been started but there will soon be 
a process for residents to ask for demolition, officials said.