[StBernard] DEMO SLATED PROPERTY IN CHALMETTE SAVED BY NEW INVESTOR

[Westley Annis]

DEMO SLATED PROPERTY IN CHALMETTE SAVED BY NEW INVESTOR

Modernized mall on Judge Perez Drive to open in early 2012

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro announced today that St. Bernard
Parish has taken another step forward in rebuilding the parish's business
climate. 

 

“Partnering with our business leaders has produced incredible investment
activity since Katrina,” Taffaro said. “I applaud Mr. Hammy Halum for
responding to our call to partner, even during such a challenging national
economy."

 

Halum, a New Orleans businessman, said he is well on his way to start
putting the hammer to the wall on the old Schwegmann’s mall at 8400 W. Judge
Perez Drive in Chalmette that has sat unrepaired since Hurricane Katrina’s
waters ravaged the building.

 

The 51,000-square foot shopping mall that Halum purchased two months ago was
once a thriving commercial strip full of tenants with good traffic flow.
Since Hurricane Katrina, it has sat in disrepair.

 

“I tried to buy it before, and it never worked out,” said Halum. “I am glad
we were able to finally acquire the property.”

 

Halum said he thinks opening retail in St. Bernard is a good move because of
how strong the parish’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina has been over the
last four years.

 

“I think the parish has come back very strong from a very devastating
event,” Halum said. “We feel confident based on what we have seen in this
area that Chalmette is coming back and coming back even stronger, and we
feel the people are very resilient.” Halum's excitement to be part of the
parish's growth is evident in his investment.

 

He said his confidence is bolstered by what he sees happening in St.
Bernard.  Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr., has reached out to him to
assist in any way possible.

 

“This is absolutely a home run for us in terms of economic development,”
Taffaro said. “These kinds of major commercial investments improve the
quality of our lives for our residents, increase our tax base and help all
of our businesses by increasing our customer traffic. We have assured Mr.
Halum that St. Bernard Parish Government is here to help speed this process
along.”

 

Halum said he plans to restore and renovate the property to put it back into
commerce with soft goods retailers. He said he has been in negotiations with
several national retailers in the two months since purchasing the building.

 

The construction will include creating a new façade with new store fronts,
removing the arches and replacing them with attractive towers. Construction
should be completed by early 2012. Halum said he is in the process of
bidding the construction and making final amendments to the drawings.

 

Duff Friend of Latter & Blum is handling the property and has several
Letters of Intent from interested national and regional retailers.
Interested tenants should contact him at 504-569-9351 or
dfriend at latterblum.com <mailto:dfriend at latterblum.com> .

 

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