[StBernard] Saint Bernard Parish to Demolish Hundreds of Homes

[Westley Annis]

Wow, if I didn't know any better I'd swear this was 1946, post World War II
Soviet Union - and I'm not exaggerating to make a point - I'm serious!  Not
long ago the parish asked property owners to dish out big bucks to window
and door their gutted out homes, then spend more money and time making sure
the lawns and grounds were kept up nice.

They could have saved thousands of people a lot of expense by letting
everyone know a year or so back this was going to happen.  As it turns out,
those who were lazy and didn't install windows and doors or cut their lawns
are the ones who will be rewarded by not having WASTED their money.

There are still far too many people who are either still fighting the Road
Home program or their insurance company.  Something needs to be done to
accommodate these folks, not to mention those who are actively trying to
sell their gutted home to someone who desires to restore it.

I realize there are some, even many, who have been more forunate and have
completed the restoration of their home (or purchased new ones) and are
ready for life to start looking the way it did prior to Katrina.  But there
are still the masses that haven't been as fortunate, as told in the article.

I have to shake my head and ask "in this day and age do governments who are
supposedly a democracy still do things like this?"

John Scurich



-----Original Message-----
Saint Bernard Parish to Demolish Hundreds of Homes     
Friday, February 22 2008 @ 12:30 PM PST
Contributed by: Admin
Views: 111
New Orleans - February 19, 2008 - During the early afternoon of Saturday,
February 16th, 2008 residents of Saint Bernard Parish discovered red "X's"
stuck on the doors of their homes. Posted on hundreds of neighborhood homes
that by the Saint Bernard Parish Government, the red "X" or Notice and Order
of Involuntary Demolition gives residents little hope of being able to
reverse the condemnation status of their property.

Saint Bernard Parish to Demolish Hundreds of Homes

Maggie Barr (mfbarr at hotmail.co.uk)
New Orleans Independent Media Center
Common Ground Media - L9th, New Orleans

New Orleans - February 19, 2008 - During the early afternoon of Saturday,
February 16th, 2008 residents of Saint Bernard Parish discovered red "X's"
stuck on the doors of their homes. Posted on hundreds of neighborhood homes
that by the Saint Bernard Parish Government, the red "X" or Notice and Order
of Involuntary Demolition gives residents little hope of being able to
reverse the condemnation status of their property.

The Notice and Order of Involuntary Demolition states that tagged properties
are not in current compliance with Minimum Housing Standards and gives
homeowners 10 days (not business days) to appeal the condemnation status of
their homes. The accompanying Notice of Condemnation also posted on some
doors February 16th states that filing an appeal does not in itself change
the condemnation status, but merely gives the homeowner the right to a
hearing prior to demolition of the structure being officially ordered.

Homes that were recently in compliance with Parish guidelines are now slated
for demolition because they do not meet the 24 Minimum Housing Standards set
forth by St. Bernard Parish Council. The minimum standards amount to a fully
refurbished home and include strict standards for such items as
interior/exterior surfaces, electrical equipment, ventilation/cooling
structures, heating, common areas (such as hallways) and general cleanliness
of the property. For example:

(11) Kitchen: All kitchens shall posses at least one (1) functioning sink
with hot and cold running water; once (1) electrical outlet and one (1)
permanent light fixture; and permanent counterspace for food preparation.

Although the Order gives residents 10 days to file an appeal, because of the
Presidents' Day holiday this past Monday, residents are actually left five
days to file.

According to the Office of Resident Services and Compliance (504) 278-4224,
the Minimum Housing Standards came into effect January 1st, 2008. Prior to
that the Parish required that homes be gutted, boarded and lawns kept tidy.
Residents were only informed of the changes through direct postings on their
property, not by mail, excluding residents with a forwarding address from
the information dissemination process. The Office stated that since the
storm, 10,000 homes in Saint Bernard Parish have been slated for demolition.


One 26 year-old area resident who up until two and a half years ago had been
living the American Dream, was in despair. Wishing to remain un-named, he
spoke to Common Ground Media from outside the FEMA trailer in his front yard
that now houses his wife and their two daughters who have developed asthma:
"My wife is crying and I'm trying to stay strong. I don't know what else to
do. I've applied for my road home money and my insurance money. I gutted my
house and replaced the doors and windows on my own dime. I'm off work today
trying to figure out what to do, but it's President's Day and no one's
picking up the phone. This came out of nowhere. I came home from shopping
and there it was. What am I supposed to do now?"

Common Ground was able to reach a gentleman who is selling his property from
Austin. When asked if he was aware of the Notice and Order, he responded
that he had no idea. "I don't get it. I'm keeping up my lawn and the house
is gutted," he said. "When did all this come into effect?" The windows and
doors of his property are new.

It is interesting to note the proposed Florida Expressway that runs the
length of the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish that figures on the 2006
Universal Map commonly sold within the city of New Orleans. Remembering the
drafts of the enlarged industrial canal flanked by casinos and golf courses,
it's easy to imagine St. Bernard as a bedroom community for affluent urban
professionals in the "new" New Orleans.

If Saint Bernard Parish is taking this action, then what's to stop other
Parishes from taking the same action to condemn and demolish residents'
homes - homes that have already been gutted and are beginning to be rebuilt?
How can this action be taken without ample prior notice given to all
residents? Moreover, how can residents continue to be completely excluded
from the entire rebuilding process?

www.commongroundrelief.org