Shreveport environmental court continues many remediation cases, orders several demolitions and issues fines

Hearing Officer Sarah Giglio presiding over Shreveport’s Environmental Court on Wednesday continued a large portion of the docket, issued several $100 judgments and ordered demolition in a handful of long-standing hazardous properties while giving others more time to pursue repairs or sales.

The court front‑loaded deadlines and inspections for April, May and June return dates, citing public‑safety risks from open, burned or repeatedly vandalized buildings and the city’s ongoing cleanup costs. Several owners told the court they are pursuing loans, sales or contractor bids; in other matters the court signed judgments or directed the city to queue demolition work.

Why it matters: the hearing resolved or advanced a dozen-plus longstanding code‑enforcement matters that neighbors and inspectors said pose safety hazards, create repeated cleanup costs for the city and attract trespassers. The schedule and fines handed down set firm, short deadlines intended to force either remediation or demolition.

Key outcomes

- Continued hearings and deadlines: The court repeatedly set return dates to let owners pursue repairs, financing or sales. Common return dates given were April 15 (30 days), May 15 and June 12. Examples: 2604 Cresswell Avenue was continued to June 12 to allow ongoing reconstruction work; 2714 Logan Street and several other rehab matters were continued to May 15 to allow additional work; and multiple cleanup cases were continued to the April 15 docket for nearer‑term follow up.

- Demolition orders: The court signed or said it would sign demolition judgments in several matters where inspectors documented collapsed or heavily fire‑damaged structures and where no viable rehabilitation plan had been shown. The judge directed the city to place affected properties into the demolition queue in at least the following matters (judgments to be mailed to owners): 401 East 60 Sixth Street (judge signed a judgment to have the city demo the structure and place the job in the city queue); the court also ordered demolition of other fire‑damaged properties after concluding the structures were beyond practical repair and owners had not produced a viable, timely plan.

- Continued foreclosure/sale case with caution: At 5555 Financial Plaza, where Property Standards urged demolition because of repeated break‑ins and a hazardous pool, Curtis Shelton of Byline Bank said foreclosure and an outside sale are pending. The court continued that matter to April 15, told the bank and interested parties to consider temporary security measures such as fencing, and said the court’s intention is to order demolition on the April date if the sale has not closed.

- Fines and enforcement judgments: The court issued $100 judgments in multiple cases where inspectors documented long‑running noncompliance (examples on the record included properties at 5729 Grantham Street, 2747 West Caperton Street and others). In several matters the judge warned that daily fines could be assessed if required repairs or removals were not completed by the next date.

- Abatements and monitors: Inspectors reported full or partial abatement in a number of matters. The court closed a set of cleanup cases as abated where Property Standards confirmed removal of debris or inoperable vehicles (for example, 2519 Regent Street and others noted as “abated” in the record). Several other matters were moved to “monitor” status because owners had made substantial progress.

What the court directed owners and banks to do

- Provide documentation: multiple owners were ordered to bring proof of contractor bids, loan approvals or sales closing documents to their next docket date to justify further continuances.

- Prioritize immediate hazards: the judge repeatedly prioritized removing items that create immediate danger to neighbors (for example debris piled at fence lines and open pools) and told inspectors and owners to address those first.

- Consider temporary security measures: in at least one foreclosure matter the court asked the mortgage holder to consider fencing or other temporary measures while a sale or sheriff’s sale is pending.

Officials and participants

Hearing Officer Sarah Giglio presided. Property Standards inspectors who reported to the court included Inspector Lisa Hayes, Inspector Rosemary White, Inspector Thomas, Inspector Ray, Inspector Davis, Inspector Charles Graham, Inspector Ayesha Blunt, Inspector LaWanda Williams and Inspector Wheatley (listed in appearance order during the hearing). Bank and owner representatives and neighbors who spoke included Curtis Shelton (Byline Bank), Vincent Wright, Albert Bryant, Michael W. Gaye, Gary Walker, Titus Pope, J.W. (J w) Hans, Belinda Gray (neighbor), Bobby Henderson (neighbor), Ebony Taylor Jackson, and others who testified about cleanup plans or concerns.

Next steps and follow‑up

Many cases return quickly to court. Owners who do not show progress by their next docket can expect demolition judgments, collection of city cleanup costs or escalating daily fines. Where owners bring proof of funding, contractor bids or closed sales the court indicated it will consider abatement rather than demolition.

— Reporting by the Shreveport Environmental Court docket. For specific next appearances, property addresses and the inspector assigned to follow up, see the court’s mailed judgments and notices or contact the City of Shreveport Property Standards office.