Historic District Commission OKs demolition application for 817 Fourth Street with planning review to follow

The Natchitoches Historic District Commission voted to approve the City of Natchitoches’ demolition application for the house at 817 Fourth Street on Oct. 7, approving the application and passing the folder on to Planning and Zoning for additional review.

The vote came after city staff and the property owner described a year-long effort to encourage repairs. "The city recommended that the house be demolished," said Miranda Reno, the city staff member who presented the application, summarizing the office's contacts and the lack of a building permit for the repairs the city had sought.

The owner, identified in the meeting as Ms. Mandarino, told the commission she had hired contractors and said "I do believe that 88% of that work was done," but acknowledged a roof replacement and other structural repairs were not finished. Commission members noted the commission’s approval is only one step: the application must also go to Planning and Zoning, and any Planning and Zoning denial could be appealed to City Council.

Commission members discussed timing and observed a blue tarp had remained on the roof for more than a year; one member said the structure did not appear stable and supported approving the demolition application. "I would move at this time to approve the application for demolition," the commission chair said before a recorded vote. The motion was seconded and carried with all voting in favor.

Discussion in the meeting distinguished the commission’s narrow role—evaluating the application against historic-district demolition standards—from broader questions about the property owner’s efforts to secure repairs and resources, which staff said fall under Planning and Zoning enforcement and appeals.

The commission’s approval does not itself authorize demolition; Planning and Zoning will review the application next and the owner retains options to complete repairs during that process.