By MELISSA PEACOCK

RESERVE – Residents on East 14th Street have watched time tear at the fabric of their community. In its heyday, East 14th Street was a place built of dreams for St. John Parish’s African-American Community.

E.B. Robinson and her husband were the first to establish an African American day care facility in the area. It thrived. Residents from as far away as St. James Parish drove to Reserve to utilize the day care center and to attend church at Rescue Mission Baptist Church.

Another resident was one of the first African Americans to run for an office in Parish government.

Now, residents on East 14th have only their memories and stories passed down from parents and grandparents. Old homes have burned and crumbled. New businesses have moved in around them.

“I am not opposed to businesses coming into the parish,” said community activist Faith Farlough. “I’m glad to see St. John have businesses moving in. But let’s not put them where they can destroy the community and endanger residents.”

Farlough is a member of the E.B. Robinson Neighborhood Improvement Coalition, a group of residents “trying to revitalize the community.” The group was formed more than a year ago to fight crime and violence threatening the neighborhood. Now, the coalition is fighting a different type of community threat.

Coalition members recently addressed the St. John the Baptist Parish Council about a parish ordinance, “Nonconforming Uses of Land, Structures, Uses of Structures, and Premises” – an ordinance that allowed a commercial welding business into their community.

“That ordinance needs to be amended,” Farlough said. “It is troubling because you do not know what (business) could come next. That particular business is not suitable for that location – there is no loading, no unloading and no buffer zones.”

The welding and metals shop moved into on old automobile repair facility at the head of E. 14th Street just off River Road. Farlough and other residents believe that the newly relocated business could be creating safety hazards for the community.

“We do not know what they are storing,” Farlough said. “It could be a hazard to residents. They put up a fence that obstructs view. We have had residents that have almost had accidents.”

Members of the coalition have already met with Director of Planning and Zoning Adrienne Labat and Parish President Nickie Monica. What they learned, Farlough said, was the parish ordinance gives the company the legal right to operate at that site.

“There may be a change in tenancy, ownership or management of a nonconforming use or structure provided that there is no change in the nature or character . . .” Section 33:129 of the ordinance reads.

The ordinance was written to allow for continued use of properties that were built legally before provisions passed that “permitted, regulated or restricted” the use of those properties within a district.

“They (the welding company) are classified as an industrial use,” Labat said. “It went from one industrial use to another.”

According to Labat, the welding company met ordinances passed by the parish and did not need any additional permits to take over at the site. However, if the property is indeed a nonconforming property, the “Nonconforming Uses” ordinance could also keep the business from expanding the building or from adding structures such as signs, racks and balconies until the property is brought up to a “conforming use” meeting current district standards.

“I have looked into every avenue that is possible,” Labat said. “I have had a meeting with the fire marshall. He did not have a problem with them being there. I am sorry she is unhappy with the situation.”

But Farlough and fellow community advocates are far from satisfied with that answer. They are currently consulting with Tulane Law Clinic and LEAN (Louisiana Environmental Action Network) to determine if there is anything neighbors can do to protect their neighborhood.

“It seems grossly unfair that this is just allowed to be ‘grandfathered’ in,” Farlough said. “I say this only because I believe it sincerely in my heart. They have a ‘let the businesses come in’ attitude, unless it is in the more affluent neighborhoods. Perhaps Economic Development could help them find a more suitable location.”