[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish issues permits for mixed-income apartments

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish issues permits for mixed-income apartments
By Chris Kirkham 
October 01, 2009, 8:38PM
After a months-long legal dispute between a fair housing group and St.
Bernard Parish officials over attempts to block four mixed-income apartment
complexes in Chalmette, the parish has issued the building permits necessary
to begin construction.



U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan ruled last month that St. Bernard Parish
government officials were in contempt of court and in violation of the
federal Fair Housing Act by continuing to oppose a developer's bid to get a
routine resubdivision of the four properties, a procedural step needed to
begin construction.

In the Sept. 11 ruling, Berrigan laid out specific deadlines for parish
officials and the developers, Provident Realty Advisors of Dallas, to
resolve outstanding building permit details including a drainage plan, a
fire department review and a parking plan.

The last detail, the drainage plan, was completed Thursday. The St. Bernard
Parish Council held a special meeting Thursday with attorneys behind closed
doors during which the council, lawyers and administration agreed to issue
the permits.

St. Bernard's attorneys have appealed Berrigan's ruling to the 5th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorneys had asked the 5th Circuit for a quicker
review of their case, but were denied that request last week.

Morgan Williams, an attorney with the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing
Action Center, which brought the case against St. Bernard, said, "This is an
important step forward for open housing in the metro area, and we hope that
St. Bernard Parish officials will continue down this path in regards to
other matters in the future."

Efforts to reach parish officials for comment Thursday afternoon were not
successful.