[StBernard] Housing Development Sits Idle Due To Construction Issues

[Westley Annis]

Housing Development Sits Idle Due To Construction Issues

Parish President Says Delay Due To Drainage, Retention Wall, Elevation
Problems

POSTED: 6:20 pm CST December 5, 2011

UPDATED: 8:35 pm CST December 5, 2011

NEW ORLEANS -- The battle over a mixed-income housing development in St.
Bernard Parish is heating up as future residents prepare to move into their
new homes.

Parish leaders said one of the multimillion dollar mixed-income housing sits
idle off West Judge Perez Drive on Chalmette because of several delays.
Parish President Craig Taffaro said the delay is caused by construction
issues related to drainage, a retention wall and elevation.

"Let's not forget the foundation of much of our position has been the
process that dictates and regulates building permits was never followed
according to local and state law," Taffaro said.

"We know that the parish didn't want this development to go forward for many
years. The judge issued a ruling, saying that (it's) because of racial
animus on the part of the parish," said fair housing advocate James Perry.

In 2006, then Councilman Taffaro put forth the blood relative ordinance,
making it illegal to rent to anyone in the parish a homeowner is not related
to. A judge, however, ruled the ordinance as racially discriminatory and the
parish agreed not to engage in other racially discriminatory activities.

When the developer came forward to build mixed-income housing in the parish,
many residents spoke out in opposition and a judge ruled the parish in
violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. On Monday, both sides agreed
there's still conflict related to the project that scheduled to be complete
by Dec. 31.

"The idea that the developer is trying to spend $60 million is a great
opportunity for the parish, but the issue is that about $30 million of it is
federal subsidized. If it's not completed by Dec. 31, because of the
parish's attempts to stop it, then potentially, the parish could be on the
hook for the $30 million," Perry said.

"If all the work was done and inspected and met guidelines, (but) that
hasn't happened yet. (We) haven't gotten to that crossroads yet," Taffaro
said.

Read more: http://www.wdsu.com/news/29928464/detail.html#ixzz1flBaDXVw