[StBernard] St. Bernard officials move to phase out of trailer parks

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard officials move to phase out of trailer parks

Posted by staff reports May 14, 2007 1:16PM

The St. Bernard Parish Council tonight will discuss a plan to begin phasing
out the government storm-victim trailer parks that dot the parish. 

One proposal before the council is to close three of the parks by July 15,
and shutter the rest by year's end. 

There are more than 600 trailers in group sites across the parish, a St.
Bernard government news release said. 

The phasing-out plan recommended by the council's Executive/Finance
Committee would only affect Federal Emergency Management Agency group sites.
It will not affect FEMA trailers on residents' property or commercial
trailer parks. 

The plan would target group trailer sites at Chalmette's Torres Park, the
government complex and the Lynn Dean Park near Poydras for closure by July
15. 

Parish officials said FEMA could consolidate the residents from these parks
at other government or private trailer parks or offer them rental assistance
for area houses and apartments. They have encouraged group site residents to
contact FEMA at 1 (800) 621-FEMA to inquire about rental assistance. 

Some parish officials hope that closing the group sites and steering
residents into more permanent housing will alleviate potential safety issues
with the trailers during the upcoming hurricane season, as well as stimulate
the parish's rental housing market. 

Under the recommendations of the Executive/Finance Committee, the nine other
group sites in the parish would be shut down in staggered closings between
July 30 and Dec. 30, the parish news release said. 

The council's meeting is set for 7 p.m. tonight in the council trailer at
the government complex off West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.