Saint Bernard Parish to Demolish Thousands of Homes
By Maggie Barr
New Orleans - February 19, 2008 – During the early afternoon of last Saturday, February 16th, residents of Saint Bernard Parish discovered red “X’s” stuck on the doors of their homes. Posted on hundreds of neighborhood homes by the Saint Bernard Parish government employees, the red “X” or “Notice and Order of Involuntary Demolition”, gives residents little hope of being able to reverse the condemnation status of their property.
Bordering on the north edge of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, St Bernard Parrish is a mostly white working class and poor community.
The Notice and Order of Involuntary Demolition states that tagged properties are not in current compliance with “Minimum Housing Standards” and gives homeowners 10 days (not business days) to appeal the condemnation of their property. The accompanying “Notice of Condemnation”, which was also posted on some of the doors, states that filing an appeal does not in itself change the condemnation status, but merely gives the homeowner the right to a hearing, prior to demolition of the structure being officially ordered.
Homes that were recently in compliance with Parish guidelines are now slated for demolition because they do not meet the “24 Minimum Housing Standards” set forth by the St. Bernard Parish Council. The minimum standards equates to a fully refurbished home and include strict standards for such items as interior/exterior surfaces, electrical equipment, ventilation/cooling structures, heating, common areas (such as hallways) and general cleanliness of the property. For example:
(11)Kitchen-- All kitchens shall posses at least one (1) functioning sink with hot and cold running water; one (1) electrical outlet and one (1) permanent light fixture; and permanent counter space for food preparation.
Although the Order gives residents 10 days to file an appeal, because Monday was a holiday, residents are actually left with five days to file.
According to the Office of Resident Services and Compliance (504.278.4224), the minimum housing standards came into effect January 1st, 2008. Prior to that, the Parish required that homes be gutted, boarded and lawns kept tidy. Residents were only informed of the changes through direct postings on their property, not by mail, excluding the residents with a forwarding address from the information dissemination process. The Office stated that since the storm, 10,000 homes in Saint Bernard Parish have been slated for demolition.
One 26 year-old area resident who up until two and a half years ago had been living the so called American dream, was in despair. Wishing to remain anonymous, he spoke to Common Ground Media from outside his front yard FEMA trailer, which houses his wife and their two daughters who have developed asthma: “My wife is crying and I’m trying to stay strong. I don’t know what else to do. I’ve applied for my road home money and my insurance money. I gutted my house and replaced the doors and windows on my own dime. I’m off work today trying to figure out what to do, but it’s President’s Day and no one’s picking up the phone. This came out of nowhere. I came home from shopping and there it was. What am I supposed to do now?”
Common Ground was able to reach a gentleman who is selling his local property and currently resides Austin. When asked if he was aware of the Notice and Order, his response was that he had no idea. “I don’t get it. I’m keeping up my lawn and the house is gutted,” he said. “When did all this come into effect?” The windows and doors of his property are new.
It is interesting to note the proposed Florida Expressway that runs the length of the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish figures prominently on the 2006 Universal Map, commonly sold within the city of New Orleans. Remembering the drafts of the enlarged industrial canal, flanked by casinos and golf courses, it’s easy to imagine St. Bernard as a bedroom community for affluent urban professionals in the “new” New Orleans.
If Saint Bernard Parish is taking this action, then what’s to stop other Parishes from engaging in the same scenario to condemn, demolish private properties despite the fact they’ve already been gutted and the residents have begun to rebuild? How can this approach be implemented without ample prior notice given to, as well as input from the residents? Moreover, how can residents continue to be completely excluded from the entire rebuilding decision making process, while their properties are slated for eventual expropriation?
