FEMA New Orleans Demolition Update

Friday, 03 February 2006

A recent report (below) provides a status of demolitions in the City following its settlement of a recent lawsuit (previously discussed here).

In addition the City has issued a Press Release (below) on the matter.

Times-Picayune Report

N.O. soon will start razing homes

Newspaper notices and mail planned

The city of New Orleans wants to start demolishing houses that floated or collapsed into streets and sidewalks during the floods following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by Feb. 16.

The first wave of demolitions targets about 118 homes that were swept off their foundations and onto public rights of way, said Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Bob Anderson. The corps will pay for the demolition and the removal of the resulting debris. It has already lined up contractors to do the work.

The city will begin publishing the list of homes Monday in The Times-Picayune and on the city's Web site, www.cityofno.com.

Newspaper notices will run for three consecutive days, and the city will also mail notices to the last known address of each homeowner, Mayor Ray Nagin's office said Thursday.

Property demolition was put on hold in December after residents and activists sued the city in federal court, arguing that homeowners were not being given proper warning.

The city settled the lawsuit by agreeing to follow a list of rules concerning notification before sending out the bulldozers. On Thursday, the Lower 9th Ward streets appeared not much different than they have for months, with the renegade red barge that floated through the Industrial Canal still stuck on top of what was once a person's home. Debris from house gutting was heaped high on curbsides.

Owners of the most severely damaged buildings, those whose rooftops and debris are blocking roadways, will receive at least seven working days' notice prior to any demolition action, the city said. A homeowner who wants to object to the demolition must do so in writing within that seven-day period.

Owners of homes that floated off their foundations and onto public property -- but not into a street -- will get at least 10 working days' notice before demolition. The city will also mail a written notice to these owners' last known address and post the information on its Web site.

In cases where the address can't be determined, the newspaper notice will include a description of the block where the building is located and the cross streets. Pictures of these properties will also be put on the city's Web site.

When the various notification periods expire, the city will send in the wrecking crews.

All other properties deemed "nuisances" because they are in "imminent danger of collapse" but are not in a public right of way will be advertised in the paper and on the Web site 30 days before demolition.

The Department of Safety and Permits is finishing its review of these "nuisance" properties. Once the list is complete, notification to the owners will begin.

Once the notification process has run its course, it typically takes several days to prepare for the demolitions, Anderson said. The area around each home to be razed must be marked off with safety tape and wet down to keep the dust and "particulate matter" from wafting into the rest of the city.

"A lot of people don't realize how dangerous the work zone is," Anderson said.

Residents have already started asking the city to demolish their storm-battered homes -- work that the government will pay for. Starting Monday, forms will be available on the city's Web site. The program is available to private residential property owners only.

People who don't have Internet access may call the 311 call center or 1 (866) 607-2472 for more information.

"The city anticipates receiving numerous requests," the mayor's office said in a statement. "Please be patient. Each request will be evaluated to determine if it meets city and FEMA guidelines."

N.O. soon will start razing homes

City of New Orleans Press Release

City Issues Notification of Future Property Demolition

(New Orleans, LA) The City of New Orleans has begun issuing notification to property owners of structures, portions of structures, or partially or wholly collapsed properties that floated off their foundations, as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita, and are now on public property including streets, sidewalks or rights of way.

Pursuant to a Consent Decree between the City of New Orleans and plaintiffs in, Kirk, et al v. The City of New Orleans, notification will be published in the Times-Picayune newspaper for three (3) consecutive days, beginning Monday, February 6, 2006, and will also be posted www.cityofno.com. The City will also send notification by US Mail to the last known address of the homeowner, if the address of the homeowner can be determined.

Owners of properties that are blocking public streets, sidewalks or rights of way shall receive notification at least seven (7) working days prior to demolition action. Owners of properties that floated off their foundation and onto public property, but not into a street, shall receive notification at least ten (10) working days prior to demolition action. For those properties or portions of properties where the address is not ascertainable, notification in the newspaper will include a description of the block where the structure is located and the bounding streets. Additionally at www.cityofno.com, pictures of the structures or portions of structures will be available for review.

After the notification periods expire, demolition of structures and/or removal of debris will commence.

In addition to properties referenced above, a number of properties in the City of New Orleans were inspected and determined to be in imminent danger of collapse. The Department of Safety and Permits is completing their final review of those properties. Once that list is finalized, notification to owners of those properties will begin. The City of New Orleans will issue a press release when notification commences for those properties.

A number of residents have made requests to the City of New Orleans to have their properties demolished. Beginning Monday, February 6, 2006, information and forms will be available on www.cityofno.com, for those property owners requesting demolition. This program is available for private residential property owners only! For those property owners who do not have internet access please call the 311 call center or 1-866-607-2472 for more information. The City of New Orleans anticipates receiving numerous requests. Please be patient. Each request will be evaluated to determine if it meets City and FEMA guidelines.

For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Press Office at (504) 658-4940.

City of New Orleans Press Release