[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish signs first two Lot Next Door purchase agreements

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish signs first two Lot Next Door purchase agreements 

Property owners should only contact GRS if they do not receive their initial
LND contact letter by early March

 

St. Bernard Parish President and Chairman of the St. Bernard Redevelopment
Commission Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. signed the first two Lot Next Door purchase
agreements with residents in Arabi and Meraux on Friday, March 5. 

 

The first Acts of Sale are anticipated to close within the next two weeks.
Over 1,000 residents have shown interest in purchasing the next door lots
and most have placed a deposit. After slabs are removed, those who have
placed a deposit will be called to sign a purchase agreement.

 

"It's exciting to actually be at the point that we have been working to get
to for over two years," President Taffaro said. "I am just happy that we
have reached this point, and we look forward to the numbers increasing over
the next several months. This should go a long way to the redevelopment of
our community."

 

Global Risk Solutions, a contractor working with St. Bernard Parish
Government, is administering the Lot Next Door Program. The program allows
residents to buy properties owned by the Louisiana Land Trust, the
non-profit holding company for Road Home properties. Those LLT properties
are turned over to St. Bernard Parish Housing, Redevelopment and Quality of
Life Commission so they can be dispensed to residents. 

 

As of March 1, 2010, about 5,000 letters have been mailed to all eligible
property owners. If you have not received your initial contact letter and
you own a property next to the LLT property, please call GRS at 569-1905.
Under the LND program, the domiciled homestead exempt property owner has
first right of refusal to purchase the LLT property.  Adjacent property
owners who do not have a homestead exemption would have second right of
refusal.

 

All lots will be appraised before the purchase and the average appraisal
value continues to decrease - currently is $4,865.

 

The LRA approved the St. Bernard Parish plan for dispensing of Road Home
properties in 2008. Like neighboring parishes, St. Bernard presented the LRA
with its plan for utilizing the Road Home properties, including drainage,
public entity use, creation of public recreation areas and "green space."

Right now the priority is focusing on lots of neighbors who want to buy the
lots next door. Once the properties are cleared for disposition, the parish
will mail information to the interested adjacent property owners. If they
opt not to purchase the property, it will be bundled for potential
redevelopment in different lot sizes.

Rear adjoining properties will be handled on a case by case basis with
plenty of notification before the parish begins taking information.



The cost for removing the slabs is being picked up by Louisiana Land Trust.
Shortly after the slabs are removed, the contract calls for workers to
return, cut pilings to 2 feet below the grade, backfill the lot and sprinkle
it with Bermuda Grass seeds. Once slabs are removed, the process of selling
the properties can be completed. 


For more information about Global Risk Solutions, Inc., visit
www.globalrisksolutions.com <http://www.globalrisksolutions.com/> . Address:
Gulf Coast Bank Building, 1801 East Judge Perez Dr., 2nd Floor, Chalmette,
LA 70043. PO Box 1099, Chalmette, LA 70044.

 

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