[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish stops housing fight: An editorial

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish stops housing fight: An editorial

Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 6:17 AM

 By Editorial page staff, The Times-Picayune 

St. Bernard Parish has finally issued permits for four mixed-income
apartment complexes, ending a long and costly legal battle to block
construction of the 288 apartment units in Chalmette.

Even more significantly, St. Bernard officials say they'll work to change
zoning laws to allow more low-income rental housing into the parish.

Those changes need to happen. St. Bernard's determination to fight such
development has resulted in lawsuits that have cost the parish $1.5 million
in attorney and settlement fees. It's also put $91 million in federal money
committed to parish projects in jeopardy.

Five contempt of court rulings have been filed against the parish over the
apartments, and U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan ruled against the parish
in three cases. Then, late last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development filed a complaint accusing St. Bernard of widespread
discrimination against African-Americans. That has triggered a broad
investigation of parish zoning practices, threatening federal money.

Clearly, the parish is changing its ways under duress. "My constituents
wanted me to defy this until the end, but the end is here,'' Councilman
Wayne Landry said.

Indeed, St. Bernard has spent two years fighting Provident Realty Advisors'
plans to build the apartments. But broader efforts to restrict affordable
and multi-family housing have been going on since Hurricane Katrina,
including zoning changes that limit such development to one zoning
classification and planned unit developments that require special approval.

It's a shame that St. Bernard officials took so long to back down. But now
that construction on the apartments is going forward, Provident should make
sure the apartments are kept up and well managed. Doing so is the best way
to assuage residents' concerns and answer the objections raised against
them.

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