CONTACT:
Karen Turni Bazile, Executive Assistant to the President
St. Bernard Parish
504-278-4280 or 504-874-0980
Appeals
Hearings for Condemned Structures
Complete policy posted on the St. Bernard Parish
website: www.sbpg.net
Since February of 2008, the St. Bernard Parish
Council has condemned a number of structures which failed to
meet the Minimum Housing Standards mandated by the St. Bernard
Parish Code of Ordinances. Structures included on the recent
condemnation lists range from those which have not been gutted
and/or secured to those which have undergone substantial
renovation and are nearly complete.
The purpose of the mass condemnation was to ensure that St.
Bernard Parish Government would not overlook any structure which
poses or could pose a threat to the health and safety of the
residents who have returned to St. Bernard Parish. Furthermore,
the timeframe for Federal Emergency Management Agency funded
demolition is rapidly nearing its end, making immediate action
absolutely necessary for the financial well-being and complete
recovery of the community.
The process and policy, which is attached as a link on
www.sbpg.net, allows for property owners to appeal.
Appeals hearings are ongoing since June 2 and will continue
through the end of the year. The hearings are conducted on
Mondays through Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that the location has been moved
from Trailer J-6 to Trailer K-6 behind the St. Bernard Parish
Government Complex at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.
If an owner cannot make the hearing, they must
notify the Office of Safety and Permits at 504-278-4310 that
they will be sending a designee.
Each hearing will last no more than fifteen (15)
minutes. Panelists will be asked to submit their recommendations
in writing at the close of each hearing and will not be required
to publicly state their position. Recommendations will be taken
into consideration by the Department of Community Development,
Office of Safety and Permits, which will moderate all hearings
and notify property owners of all decisions regarding their
structure.
It is not the intention of St. Bernard Parish
Government to demolish all condemned structures. Rather, the
parish intends to prompt the rehabilitation of as many
structures as possible while removing those structures which are
unlikely to be rehabilitated and are most likely to pose threats
to returning residents. The Condemnation and Demolition Policy
document has been devised as an outline of how the condemnation
and demolition process is going to be implemented by SBPG over
the course of the next several months.
Property owners should try to meet the requirements to get the
necessary permits or bring to their appeals hearings proof of
progress on the structure, such as photographs or receipts for
expenses, in order to be granted a 90-day extension. When
bringing documentation of work or sales of property, do not
bring only original documents. Bring copies that you can leave
with the panel for review.
Also homeowners who have received a Road Home Award letter but
have not yet received their Road Home grant prior to their
appeal hearing should bring a copy of the letter with them.
The Appeal
policy can be found here:
http://www.sbpg.net/20080605appeal.pdf
