[StBernard] St. Bernard begins process to condemn more than 7, 800 properties

[Westley Annis]

The St. Bernard Parish Council on Thursday designated more than 7,800
properties damaged by Hurricane Katrina as blighted, beginning a process
that will give owners only a few weeks to avoid having their properties
condemned and set for demolition, officials said. 

The council approved the move saying it wanted to push owners of the
properties, spread all over St. Bernard, to indicate whether they intend to
repair or demolish the buildings. Owners of most of the parish 45,000
structures, including commercial and residential, have already stated an
intention regarding their properties, officials said. 

The list of blighted homes will be officially posted in the Parish
Courthouse in Chalmette in the near future, the council said. After that,
property owners will have 10 days to personally contest the designation at
the parish government complex. Owners who do not protest the designation
will have their properties condemned and placed in a list of buildings to be
demolished. 

 
http://www.nola.com/katrina/stbernard.html