[StBernard] PARISH UPDATE FOR 12/16/05 - Condemnation/Mitigation Issues

[Westley Annis]

Patty,

I can't answer the "similar in size and locale" question, but I can answer
the second question.

If the La. Recovery Corp., which is the corporation that will be created by
the Baker Plan, asks if you want to sell your house, you can tell them no
and they are required to walk away from you and never contact you again.
You are then free to redevelop your house as you see fit.

Now, if the parish comes to buy out your house using FEMA money, I don't
think you have much of a choice.  You may be able to haggle with them over
the price, but your house will be bought.

Westley

-----Original Message-----


The description of the Baker Plan given here is the first time I have seen
anything saying 
"the exact location of the property purchased will likely be differerent
footprint than the existing property" and that property owners will receive
a voucher for property similar in size and locale.
 
So, what exactly will "similar in size and locale" mean?  And, what happens
to the properties that the homeowners do not want to sell, or those who want
to redevelop their own property?

Patty
 
	-----------------------------------------------------
	
	The other option regarding land being acquired is the Baker Plan or
HB4100
	authored by Congressman Richard Baker from Baton Rouge. This bill
has
	continued to get support in congress and currently is attempting to
be
	attached to the defense appropriations bill which would almost
guarantee its
	passage. A vote on this should take place on 12/16/05. If passed by
the
	committee that will approve its attachment to the defense
appropriations
	bill, the bill could be scheduled and voted on in the very near
future. If
	HB4100 passes, it creates a redevelopment corporation that will in
essence
	act as a conduit for developers to purchase land tracts from the
corporation
	and redevelop it with direct input from the local community. The
	compensation package of the bill will attempt to provide a purchase
of one's
	property in a manner that pays the property owner as close to the
pre-storm
	equity as possible and if there is a mortgage attempts to absorb the
	mortgage and pay off the mortgage at a reduce d payoff.
	
	Property owners will then have an option to buy back into the
corporation
	and receive a voucher for a piece of property similar in size and
locale to
	the property that was sold. The exact location will likely be a
different
	footprint than the existing property. If a property owner does not
buy into
	the redevelopment, the compensation for the property does not
change.
	
	The time frame of HB4100 is still several months away, provided it
is passed
	and signed into law by the president.