St. John Housing Authority to demolish housing unit destroyed by fire in 2008

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 23, 2011

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Monday gave its approval to a contract with an engineering firm to perform asbestos abatement and demolition at a housing unit in LaPlace that was destroyed by fire in 2008.

The Housing Authority awarded a $52,000 contract to Gill Industries Ltd., a Belle Chasse firm, for the demolition of a fourplex in the LaPlace Oaks housing development. The unit, located in the 200 block of Joe Parquet Circle, directly across from the Housing Authority offices, has been vacant since a fire tore through the unit in July of 2008, displacing four families.

“Thank you Jesus,” said delighted Housing Board Commissioner Art Smith when the item came up for a vote. “I’m glad to see that this is finally happening. That building has been a real detriment to this housing complex.”

Smith said the abandoned building has been home to assorted criminal activity and that the fragile state of the structure is a danger to residents, specifically children.

Once the asbestos has been removed and the building is demolished, the Housing Authority plans to use the vacant lot as a green space and playground for the residents of the housing development.

In other action, Housing Authority Executive Director Trina Henderson discussed the body’s progress in improving its Public Housing Assessment Scores from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Henderson said the Housing Authority was given a 65 out of 100 score for 2009 and a 42 out of 100 for 2010. She said several years of turmoil within the office contributed to the poor scores.

“The numbers are scary, but all we can do right now is chip away at them,” Henderson said. “These scores did not happen overnight, and change will not come right away, but the staff is dedicated to putting forth the effort to turn the agency around.”

Henderson explained HUD assesses housing agencies on management, facilities, operations and residential issues. She said her office has drawn up a recovery plan to be submitted to HUD for approval.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. at the Housing Authority Office in LaPlace.