Big Losers
This post is to thank all you hard-working Americans for paying for the demolition of this perfectly good home in Carrollton. While there was nothing wrong with this house, the city approved it’s FEMA funded demolition. I have been in Shitty Hall asking about a short list of properties from the FEMA list which, by the city’s own assessment are under 20% damaged yet are on the demolition list. Well, the shit hit the fan yesterday when this house was demolished. Mike Centenio, the head of Safety & Permits, when asked about this property,responded:
“We had Nelson Savoie screen the HCDRC from the CORPS list but must have missed this one; we have 8 coming up at the next meeting. I have advised my permitting supervisor of the HCDRC required approval for all demos; no excuses because this was never excused as a requirement for demolitions.”
I know people make mistakes, but we’ve been busting our asses to bring this to the attention of the deputy city attorney, Pete Hamilton. Pete says it’s Tony Fasciane’s department, and Mike Centenio blames little Nelson Savoir, the chairman of the Historic Conservation District Review Committee well, you know what . . . that house cannot be replaced. The materials are simply too expensive. The neighbors were horrified. The demolition team admitted that they all walked through the house and said they would all have liked to own it and couldn’t understand why they were being asked to demolish it. Yet, they did it anyway. This won’t stop me from asking to see the application and to continue to ask questions about why some people get their houses demolished for free and bypass proper procedures. Why was the building at 3601 Prytania declared an “imminent threat” for the convenience of Touro? Now that it’s done, no one wants to take responsibility for it. It’s this lack of a sense of responsibility that makes us all big losers.
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Shameful.
More than shameful, it’s criminal. Laureen would you be willing to come on Eric Asher’s show? I spoke with him already, he would like to get more info on what these jerks are doing. His email is easher@wistradio.com
I guess I just don’t see what the big deal is. If the owners wanted it torn down because it was damaged in the storm and FEMA is paying the Corps to tear down storm damaged houses at the request of the owners then the rest is damage math ( x% = travesty, y% = thanks).
I find myself thinking that if the owners aren’t going to fix it up, and, for whatever reason, can’t or won’t sell it as is, then I’d rather see it torn down than for it to languish in a progressive state of disrepair and neglect for decades until it eventually turns into a drug den or is burned down by squatters.
Maybe you guys at squander should elicit the help of a Realtor and try to find new owners for the properties on your list before they get to the point that the front loader is in the yard. I mean, you figure if someone is just tearing the shit down how much money could they possibly want for it? Maybe they just didn’t want to bother posting it and dealing with all that. Have a fund raiser or something….I dunno.
Housing prices are way too high for me to believe that someone would haphazardly just decide to tear down a piece of property without there being some pretty substantial circumstances surrounding the decision. With that said, I feel like if the owner of the property felt tearing it down is the best choice for them, then it’s ultimately their choice as the owner - I mean it would be nice if they’d listen to the people in their yard with the camera, but I don’t think they’re all that obligated to. And the city does have some influence although they seem cautious about using it but even that is limited if you aren’t talking about a historically significant structure.
Look, I’m not saying the architectural history of New Orleans shouldn’t be protected - especially now with the reconstruction - what I am saying is that the ruler used to make determinations that lead to the battles fought should be a very precise instrument not a blunt stick. There’s a very real tendency to go a little too far in either direction on issues like this and as soon as either side does that they start to loose credibility.
And I’m not trying to attack any one or any one group (you sensitive bastards) I’m offering an opposing view in my own grammatically questionable style and nothing more.
We are all we’re asking is that existing laws and regulations be followed. Not a lot to ask when these people are asking for federal money to do their teardown work for them. You want the taxpayers to pay for your demolition? Then you don’t get to bitch if the taxpayers decide they want to get all up in your shit about it.
There are scores of houses all over this city that are clearly in danger of collapse, that have no historic value, where the owners have been waiting patiently for months for demolition so that they can move forward with rebuilding. So why are we spending federal money to tear down perfectly good houses first and circumventing city ordinances to do it?
It makes no sense.
Yeah, you’re right, I don’t know anything about the Apricot owner’s financial situation. I also don’t know how she was able to sidestep HCDRC review of her demolition or was able to wrangle a free demolition on the taxpayer dole for a perfectly serviceable house, but I am pretty fucking curious about those details. I’m all for transparency. If you got facts, bring ‘em. If all you got is “shameful irony”, then save me bother.
Aw, bummer, Bernie went away.
Mongo sad.
I cant believe they would demolish an old storefront home like the one on Prytania. I used to live down the street from there. They had a house similar to that across the street from me. Very sucky, very sucky indeed.
what’s the matter? If someone doesn’t agree or has different point of view the comments get removed?
I have noticed this as well on other posts Bernie. The man is trying to keep us down. I deem it a conspiracy.
Well, Bernie, your statement that I demolished my house was just so unbelievably offensive. I don’t have any problem with other educated opinions or thoughful discussion.
I find it hypocritical that you tore down your hurricane damaged home, but other people going through the same process have to hear from the greater good citizens brigade. Yes you are a taxpayer and have the voice on how your tax dollars are spent, but how many tax dollars have you wasted in City Hall Employee and Elected officials time? I’m sure City Hall employees don’t do enough work as it is, but do you really need to impede their progress? Beside the fact you think the homes are nifty. What is your experience? Engineer/architect/contractor? Also you still never answered about the squatters, crackheads or blight after you save all these gems…
My house in Treme was a renovation project I had purchased in May of 2005. It was in review at the HDLC for approval of my drawings then the process for bidding for a contractor would have begun but that was right when Katrina hit and the house collapsed, due it’s deteriorated condition. The house was salvaged by hand in order that it might be incorporated into new constructon. In the case of the Apricot St. house, we want to see homes brought back into commerce. Vacant lots and inappropriate development can be as damaging to a neighborhood as a crackhouse. In a city suffering a housing shortage, it makes sense to save what we have left. We only want to see proper procedures followed in the handful of cases where we have questions.