[StBernard] St. Bernard neighbors speak out on effort to sell 2, 000 vacant lots

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard neighbors speak out on effort to sell 2,000 vacant lots

by Monica Hernandez / Eyewitness News

wwltv.com

Posted on May 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Updated yesterday at 6:28 PM

ST. BERNARD, La. - Gerald Perry has lived in his St. Bernard home for 35
years. But, since Hurricane Katrina, he hasn't had many neighbors.

"My closest neighbor's a half a block either way you go," said Perry.

That's why Perry is happy the parish is developing a plan to sell empty
lots, like the ones near his property.

"I'd like to see people back, I'd like to see the community full again. like
it was before Katrina," said Perry.

The lots surrounding Perry's house are all Road Home properties, which are
marked by neon orange spray painted addresses on the sidewalk. There are
roughly 2,000 in St. Bernard. Right now, they're maintained by the state,
but the parish is scheduled to take over maintenance June 30th.

Parish officials held two public meetings Saturday as they develop
restrictions on how the lots can be used if they're sold.

Parish officials suggested, if the lots don't sell quickly, there may not be
money to maintain them long term.

"The biggest challenge is the market, the current market conditions. If we
had 3,000 people in line to buy 2,400 lots, we'd probably have an easy
problem to solve, but that is not the situation," said Ross Gonzales,
executive director of Housing and Development for St. Bernard.

Even though they'll be maintaining the state-owned properties, the parish
doesn't necessarily have to take ownership of them. Officials are hoping to
hold that off as long as possible.

"Ideally, we'd like to sell all the properties before we ever take
possession," said Gonzales.

On top of the vacant Road Home lots, parish officials fear another 2,000
properties could be dumped in their laps from delinquent Road Home option
one homeowners.

And some are concerned property values could go down if 2,000 vacant lots go
on the market at the same time.

"You do have many home finished or in unfinished states for sale currently,
and then you're going to be having this influx of other properties brought
on," said Rob Ruffino, a St. Bernard home owner.

Meanwhile, Perry hopes new life comes into the lots on his block soon.

Right now, the lots are held by the Louisiana Land Trust. The non-profit
holds properties acquired by the Road Home program. It's possible the state
may agree to hold them longer than June 30th.