[StBernard] LRA OKs plans to redevelop sites in Katrina-hit areas

[Westley Annis]

LRA OKs plans to redevelop sites in Katrina-hit areas
By ALLEN M. JOHNSON JR.
Advocate New Orleans bureau
Published: Oct 16, 2008 - Page: 14A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

The Louisiana Recovery Authority on Wednesday approved plans by three
parishes to redevelop thousands of storm-damaged properties assumed by the
state - including almost one-third of all homes in St. Bernard Parish.

During its first meeting since July, the authority also adopted a recovery
plan to help 43 parishes hit by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September.

In addition, officials representing storm-whipped parishes such as Cameron,
Terrebonne and Vermilion attested to the durability of homes built under
post-Katrina building codes and flood elevation requirements, after Ike and
Gustav.

"Homes that are elevated did very well," said Jennifer Gerbasi of Houma, a
Terrebonne Parish planning official - adding that 85 percent of the parish
is wetlands.

But it was the widespread destruction caused by Katrina and Rita in 2005
that awed at least one LRA member during the meeting held at the State
Capitol on Wednesday, more than three years after the back-to-back
hurricanes.

Looking weary, St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro detailed how his
hard-hit coastal parish would redevelop flood-damaged Road Home properties
that had been surrendered to the state's Louisiana Land Trust Corp.

LRA member Patricia S. LeBlanc seemed stunned.

"You estimate you will get back 7,800 properties?" LeBlanc said, blinking.

"Yes, that will not be out of the realm of possibility," Taffaro replied.

A Republican, serving in his first year as parish president, Taffaro added
that the parish government will ultimately take back from the state almost
one-third of the 26,121 housing units that dotted St. Bernard Parish, before
Katrina.

"You will get back 7,800 properties out of (26,121 houses) &hellip" LeBlanc
said, her voice trailing off.

The LRA approved the St. Bernard Parish plan for dispensing of old Road Home
properties, starting with 5,500 demolished housing units.

The board also voted to accept other "dispensation plans" from the
storm-damaged parishes of Cameron and Terrebonne. Plaquemines Parish is
expected to file its plan in November. Cameron anticipates 15,000 properties
will be acquired by the Road Home program.

New Orleans owns 200 trust properties that have been cleared by the state
for re-sale or redevelopment. As of Sept. 11, St. Bernard owned 3,482 trust
properties; Cameron Parish owns 89 of a projected 15,000 properties; and
Terrebonne Parish, 34, according to reports and testimony.

"We don't want to dump too many properties on the real estate market because
of concerns that parishes can't afford to maintain them," LRA spokeswoman
Stephens said. "We also don't want to overburden the market."

Like other parish officials, Taffaro presented the LRA with St. Bernard's
plan for utilizing the old Road Home properties, including creation of
public recreation areas and "green space."

In St. Bernard, a "Lot Next Door" program will allow neighbors first-refusal
rights for the purchase of adjacent trust properties.

Taffaro said the parish has received 1,300 applications for "Next Door"
properties but none has gone to closing; In addition, the parish plans to
set aside 25 percent of trust properties for affordable housing for
residents who earn $52,500 a year - the metro median household income - or
less.

"The idea of having more space returns St. Bernard to the 1960s and '70s,"
Taffaro said of the rural-suburban parish. "Our challenge is to make sure we
don't go back to the tax base of 1970."

In other action, the authority approved a plan to meet with the heads of 43
parish governments impacted by Ike and Gustav. Congress has approved $6.5
billion for all states seeking to recover from disasters that took place
this year, through Nov. 30.

"We don't know how much we can get out of the $6.5 billion for Gustav and
Ike," Stephens said. But the LRA wants to get all 43-storm affected parishes
on the same page.

LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater was absent from Wednesday's meeting
because of his mother's death. 

  
 
  
 

  
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