LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Since Hurricanes Laura and Delta, we have seen more properties go before the Lake Charles City Council for demolition.
While many property owners were able to make repairs, some homes and businesses remain in various states of disrepair.
“We have hundreds of properties throughout the city through window surveys with the Inspection Department. They will identify structures that are qualified to go through the condemnation process,” Doug Burguieres, City of Lake Charles Director of Planning and Development, said.
Broken glass, missing roofs, shifted foundations, or anything deemed unsafe could land a home on the chopping block.
The owner is notified with a certified letter and allowed to address any issues with the property. If the inspector’s recommendations aren’t followed by the property owner, then demolition of the property will be discussed by the city council.
The timeline for a home demolition depends on the actions of the council. Once the council approves a demolition to take place, sometimes they choose to expedite the process. Generally, the council gives 30 days to obtain a permit to repair the structure.
“If they don’t obtain a permit to repair the structure, then the process starts to go out for bids to actually demolish the house. That can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months because you have to do notifications to the property owners, you have to get mortgage certificates, so it’s a very long, drawn-out process,” Burguieres said.
There are instances when a structure can be on the demolition list, repaired by the owner, and rolled off. However, if the structure falls back into a state of disrepair and doesn’t meet building and safety codes, then it could face demolition again.
Burguieres says since the hurricanes, there are a lot of structures still in poor condition that meet the criteria for condemnation. He says they are sorting through the properties and moving them forward as quickly as possible.
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