Around Central City, New Orleans

Around the corner from me, The Marigny, New Orleans

New Orleans has some of the most beautiful architecture in the world, yet it also has one of the highest percentages of blighted properties in the country. I receive weekly emails on blight hearings in my neighborhood. This week’s status of ongoing properties at Code Enforcement:

2230 Chartres Street
Guilty. No Show. $500/day

2017 North Rampart Street
Guilty. $500/day

615 Mandeville Street
Guilty. $500/day

1030 Port Street
Decision was rescinded due to a change of ownership

621 Kerlerec Street
Guilty. No Show. $500 daily fine if work is not done by 10/30/2010

1518 Pauger Street (Accessory)
Compliant. No Prosecution

824-26 Marigny Street
Guilty. No Show. Fine: $100 daily

1119-21 St. Anthony (Pool)
Guilty. No Show. Fine: $100 daily

How can so many people afford to let their properties rot? At the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association’s general meeting they remind us how important it is for a local resident to attend the hearings and meetings to let officials know these properties affect the health, safety, and quality of life in our neighborhood. It is a typical scene to see a pristinely restored shotgun house next to one that looks like it should be in a horror movie. I have project ideas for blighted properties in the works. Some community leaders are for it. Some are afraid it will incite graffiti wars and lewd comments. And others recommend I find the owners and contact them for permission. I think about how to find their information through the city government’s tax records. And then I think, does that look like someone who cares about how their house looks in the neighborhood?

A man who lives across the street from it says, “Yeah we’ve been staring at that since forever. Do it. I’ll help you paint!” That’s the permission I want.

Update: I did contact the owner of the blighted property and found out that it’s actually a sad story – a single mother who wanted to help and invest in New Orleans after Katrina, but the contractors stole her money and she’s been struggling to overcome obstacles since. Lesson learned. Every house has a story.