[StBernard] North of East Liberaux St. -- Tires & Green Space

[Westley Annis]

Randy,
 
no proposal ever said that anything was a done deal and I personally offered
the disclaimer to every proposal that there was no money in hand that made
anything a mandatory project verses a proposal.  Those who willed to move
ahead did so without any penalty- those who willed to wait for a potential
financial compensation package will still be waiting for some time.  There
were literally dozens of proposals discussed and some sent to LRA, but none
have received specific funding.
 
We also proposed to extend the Florida Ave project at one point but informed
people that there was no money in place to do so at this point so rebuilding
was a personal decision.  When you blame the parish for killing the recovery
be sure that you have seen the whole picture- people not rebuilding their
investment properties is a business decision which are mostly made with the
individual business person's financial position at the center.  When
proposals about redevelopment are made, the entire well being of the parish
was being considered which often partially matches the needs of the
individual interest and partially does not.
 
As far as the competing plans for Village Square, there are private
developers who continue to look into the area for redevelopment.  I take
interested parties to many areas, including the area that you have spoken
about and I know that other council members have shown areas that may fit an
overall development strategy for the investor.
 
The bottom line is that the very situation that we wished to avoid is
happening and that is scattered redevelopment.  Without funding to actually
deny people the right to redevelop their property we will be faced with
having to provide the same services to the same basic geographical area with
less resources- this will eventually catch up with us.
 
Randy, any suggestion to rectify the parish killing the recovery that you
may have is welcomed.  The more input the better.
 
God Bless,
Craig
 
 
-----Original Message-----
I would also like to know the status of the tire issue.  In the area North 
of Liberaux it is awful, you can spend hundreds of dollars cleaning your 
property and within days you will have another pile of tires with rusty rims

laying around.  Then other people dump stuff in the pile, it's discouraging.

The area was improving early in the recovery until the parish made the green

space proposal for the area.  The green space proposal has practically 
killed the recovery.  Since then almost nobody with property in the area 
does anymore than comply with the minimum ordinances and some do a lot less.

What is the status of this green space proposal?  I am hearing there are two

competing plans for village square including the area owned by the hospital 
and yet I hear nothing about the area north of East Liberaux.  Will there be

any money left for this area or is it going to remain the proposal that 
killed the recovery of the area with no compensation to the property owner?

It has already stalled the recovery of the area for at least a year without 
compensation so any information is welcome.

I haven't had time to see all of the e-mails lately so if this issue has 
been discussed please let me know and I will search the archives.

Randy