[StBernard] Council Extends Free Demolition Deadline

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Sat Apr 1 00:11:19 EST 2006


Council Extends Free Demolition Deadline

March 31 , 2006

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Council extends to May 31 the deadline for property owners to sign up for
free demolition of storm-damaged buildings but urged people to quickly call
to declare their situation.


A committee of the St. Bernard Parish Council unanimously agreed 5-0 Friday
to extend to May 31 the deadline for property owners to sign up for a free
demolition of storm-damaged buildings but urged residents to quickly call
the Department of Community Development and declare their situation.

No demolition work has started in St. Bernard but more than 2,000 people
have signed up at the parish government building to demolish their homes or
online at the parish website at www.sbpg.net.

Several months ago the council said homeowners had to decide by March 31
whether they wanted their properties demolished at government expense,
gutted by volunteer groups or repaired at their own expense.

But many property owners, waiting for federal flood elevation advisories,
insurance settlements or other information, have not decided and have been
flooding council members' offices with phone calls seeking an extension of
the deadline.

Council Chairman Lynn Dean, Vice Chairman Joseph DiFatta Jr. and members
Judy Hoffmeister, and Kenny Henderson supported delaying the deadline to May
31 so people wouldn't feel pressured into making a decision they weren't
prepared to make, especially if they haven't been able to settle with
insurance companies.

When the item came up Thursday for discussion at a separate committee
meeting, council member Craig Taffaro Jr. was opposed to extending a
deadline to May 31 because he felt people could simply call the Department
of Community Development, at (504) 278-4310, or visit the office on the
second floor of the government complex to say they had extenuating
circumstances that didn't allow they to make a decision by March 31.

The March 31 date, Taffaro said, was simply a way of trying to get people
who have left the parish and won't come back to go on the record as to what
they will do with their buildings so that, if necessary, the parish can take
action against the property as being blighted.

Taffaro said postponing the deadline means it will be two more months longer
before the parish can do anything with property where the owner has
abandoned it and will force the parish to tear it down.

Council member Mark Madary also said he was concerned about delays that
conceivably could force people to have to pay for a portion of a demolition
themselves if it goes past a point where FEMA will fully remimburse
demolition costs. Madary suggested an April 30 deadline as a compromise but
no one else was interested in that idea.

On Friday, when the vote was 5-0 in favor of postponing the deadline to May
31 with the provision that people be urged to call Community Development as
soon as possible and state their situation, Madary and Taffaro voted for the
extension, along with Dean, DiFatta and Hoffmeister.

Henderson wasn't present. Council member Ricly Melerine, who also said he is
worried about delaying because it postpones taking action on blighted
housing, also wasn't present for the vote on the extension.

FEMA will cover demolition costs for properties with damage totaling at
least 50 percent of pre-Katrina value. Parish officials have said no home
will be demolished without the owner's permission up to a point.

So far, owners of 2,500 of the parish's 27,000 homes have asked that the
homes be demolished, Community Development Director Hunnicutt said. Owners
of 1,500 to 2,000 homes and about 50 businesses have indicated they are
renovating, he said.
Officials said it is essential for people to decide because FEMA has said it
will pay 100 percent of the cost for demolitions only through June 30, but
officials are hoping that deadline too will be extended.

Hunnicutt said it will take the parish more than six months to carry out the
demolition program, razing about 30 homes a day, regardless of what choices
homeowners make. Hunnicutt estimated 3,000 to 4,000 homes will have to be
demolished, even if owners protest, because of the extent of damage.

Home inspection results can be obtained through the parish web site,
www.sbpg.net, or by calling the Community Development office at (504)
278-4310.

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