[StBernard] From SBPG.net

[Westley Annis]

Council votes to start condemnation process on 7,834 structures whose owners
haven't done anything about their damaged properties

 
St. Bernard's Parish Council voted Thursday to post the addresses of more
than 7,834 properties in which the structures are considered blighted and
unsafe, starting the condemnation process for the parish to eventually
demolish them if necessary. 
 
The list includes properties whose owners have not asked the parish to
remove debris, gut or demolish their homes, and haven't applied for building
permits to start repairs, said Mike Hunnicutt, director of the parish
Department of Community Development.
 
 "These are structures we've heard nothing on. Nothing,'' Hunnicutt told the
council.
Also Thursday, Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said FEMA has
given permission to begin demolishing properties in the area involving the
Murphy Oil spill class-action lawsuit. 
 
The council voted 6-1 to start the process of condemnation, involving
posting a notice in the parish legal journal and the parish government
website, but said it would be a lengthy process and owners would have appeal
rights. The Council must approve actual demolitions. Only Council Chairman
Lynn Dean voted against Thursday measure.

It was also noted there may be owners on the list who have cleaned their
property or started repairs without notifying parish government.
 
The council said it wanted owners of the properties to indicate if they
intend to repair or demolish the buildings. Owners of most of the parish's
45,000 structures, including commercial and residential, have already stated
their plans for their properties, officials said. 
 
Though the council's adoption of the list starts the demolition process, it
is unclear when the structures would be razed. The list must still be
published in the parish's legal journal, and homeowners will have a period
in which to appeal before any demolitions would begin. 
 
Property owners on the list will not be able to get off it unless they visit
the parish's Office of Community Development in the Recovery Department
trailer behind the government complex, show proof of ownership and spell out
their plans for conforming with the Aug. 29 deadline the parish has set for
having properties gutted and secured. 
"I want people to know they can't call the office and think it's going to be
solved," Hunnicutt said. 
 
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So according to this, the list will be posted on the parish website and
their will be an appeal process.
 
JLY