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Council approves conditional rehabilitation agreement for 626 E. Saint Peter; owner agrees to staged repairs or demolition will proceed
Summary
After months of discussion, the council approved an agreement allowing property owner Asma Malloway to repair 626 E. Saint Peter under a court-dismissal and fixed schedule; the council reserved the right to demolish the structure without further proceedings if deadlines are missed.
The City of New Iberia approved an agreement giving property owner Asma Malloway a structured, time‑bound opportunity to repair the property at 626 E. Saint Peter rather than immediately proceeding with demolition, city attorneys and inspectors told the council.
At prior meetings the council voted to demolish the structure; Malloway filed an appeal, and the city’s insurance defense counsel asked whether allowing repairs under a formal agreement was an alternative. Staff and the city attorney drafted a proposed contract that the owner would sign to dismiss the appeal and to release the city from related liability. Under the agreement, inspections would verify compliance at each stage and missing a deadline would place the owner in default, allowing the city to demolish the building without further appeal.
Key deadlines and code references in the agreement (as presented to council): - By March 21: Owner must obtain a building permit. - By April 29: Complete exterior repairs required to make the building safe and fit for human occupancy under sections 102 and 111 of the International Property Maintenance Code (roof, windows, doors, soffits, siding, east wall and related work). - By May 13, 2025: Complete repairs to the electrical service and bring systems into compliance with Article 230 of the National Electrical Code. - By July 22, 2025: Complete sewer and plumbing work to comply with the International Plumbing Code and complete rewiring to meet NEC Articles 310 and 398. - By Sept. 18, 2025: Complete all remaining repairs and achieve full compliance; inspections will verify completion.
City Attorney and inspection staff emphasized several terms: if costs overrun, the owner is responsible; work must be performed without unnecessary disturbance to neighbors; debris must be removed daily; and the agreement required the owner to sign a general release of liability and dismiss her appeal. Staff said the owner had been told that the city will not be responsible for overruns or delays, and that failure to meet any deadline is default with no further appeal under the drafted terms.
Council members described the arrangement as an “experiment” intended to avoid demolition if the owner followed the timeline. Corporal Tim and other council members pressed the owner on whether she understood the financial risk — council repeatedly said that if she does not meet the schedule the city will proceed to demolish.
The motion to proceed with the agreement was moved by Enrique Gossett and seconded by Councilman Ron Davis; the owner, Asma Malloway, told the council she intended to sign and complete the work and said she hoped to finish sooner than the deadlines. If she ultimately declines to sign, staff said the city will proceed through the court process to demolish the structure.
