Terrebonne Parish council reviews dozens of condemned properties; most owners given time to repair, several files closed

The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government held a special condemnation hearing in April 2025 to consider more than two dozen properties flagged by inspectors and South Central Planning and Development Commission staff. Councilmembers removed several properties from the condemnation list after evidence of repairs, continued items when service or litigation was unresolved, and approved condemnation orders in other cases while giving owners deadlines to repair or demolish structures.

Tom Watkins of the South Central Planning and Development Commission told the council that some properties originally recommended for condemnation had been cleaned up and should be removed from the agenda. "...this particular property was initially recommended for condemnation. If you look on at the pictures, you'll see it was in terrible condition," Watkins said, then added that some owners had since cleared or demolished structures.

The council generally followed staff recommendations while also allowing owners time to show progress. Parish staff and certified building official Charles Bertrand repeatedly urged owners to obtain permits to show intent to rehabilitate; Bertrand described several structures as unsafe and recommended condemnation in those cases. "The residential structure is in good shape" he said in describing one house later taken off the list after repairs were shown.

The hearing included at least one pending federal filing that altered the council's approach. Parish counsel and staff reported that a pro se lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana relating to 104 Plant Road had been received; no injunctive order had yet been issued by the court. Because of that litigation, the council agreed to continue that matter to allow the parish attorney time to review the filing and for the parties to pursue judicial remedies.

Councilmembers repeatedly emphasized that the parish does not seek to acquire private property but wants dilapidated structures repaired or removed so lots return to productive use. Administrators and inspectors told owners that getting building permits is the clearest evidence of intent to repair and often clears a case from the condemnation list once inspectors confirm progress.

Votes at a glance

- 6653 Westpark Ave — Removed from condemnation list (staff recommended closure). Motion to concur with staff by Councilmember Champagne; second by Councilmember Hamady. Vote: 8-0; outcome: closed.

- 7808 Waterfront Dr — Removed from condemnation list after owners cleaned the site; owners present. Motion to concur with staff by Councilmember Babin; second by Councilmember Champagne. Vote: 8-0; outcome: closed.

- 216 Saint Malo St — Condemnation retained but extended 90 days for repairs/demolition. Motion by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Trusclaire. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended).

- 104 Plant Rd — Litigation filed in U.S. District Court (Scarborough family). Parish attorney recommended continuation to allow review; council continued the matter to the scheduled condemnation hearing on July 15, 2025. Motion to concur with administration by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Trusclaire. Vote: 8-0; outcome: continued to 07/15/2025.

- 7802 Main St — Removed from condemnation list (owner remedied defects). Motion to concur with administration by Councilmember Champagne; second by Councilmember Amity. Vote: 8-0; outcome: closed.

- 329 Levron St — Condemned; owner given until May 15, 2025 (30 days) to repair or demolish per inspector's report but council also discussed 90‑day timelines in similar cases; motion to condemn and extend by Councilmember Babin; second by Councilmember Pleasure. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (deadline specified in file).

- 2607 Larry St — Condemned; owner given 30 days to repair or demolish. Motion to concur with administration by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Babin. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned.

- 167 Jennings Ln — Condemned and extended 90 days for corrective action. Motion to condemn and extend by Councilmember Wazant; second by Councilmember Tresclair. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended).

- 6188 Highway 56 — Condemned and extended 90 days; owner present requested time to demolish or repair. Motion to condemn and extend by Councilmember Babin; second by Councilmember Amadi. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended).

- 807 Highway 55 — Continued to next combination hearing (July 15) to allow time for permits/utility connections. Motion to extend to the next hearing by Councilmember Charles Clatter; second by Councilmember Hamady. Vote: 8-0; outcome: continued to 07/15/2025.

- 2931 Highway 311 — Rescheduled because certified service could not be confirmed; ad hoc attorney to be appointed for the absentee owner. Motion to concur with administration by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Hamner. Vote: 8-0; outcome: continued/rescheduled.

- Multiple properties with service issues (examples: a property listed under item L, 406207 Highway 204) — continued/rescheduled and ad hoc counsel appointed where required. Motion(s) to concur with administration. Vote(s): 8-0; outcome: continued/rescheduled.

- 804 Greenwich St — Condemned; owner working with Restore Louisiana; condemnation maintained but extended 90 days to July 15 to permit restoration efforts. Motion to condemn but extend by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Babin. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended to 07/15/2025).

- 3626 End St — Inspector reported demolition/cleanup underway and the structure removed; council voted to close the file after on‑site cleanup was confirmed. Motion to close the case (staff recommendation) by Councilmember Omidy; second by Councilmember Truscola. Vote: 8-0; outcome: closed.

- 307 Cortez St — Inspector reported roof and other repairs completed; council removed the property from the condemnation list. Motion to close the file by Councilmember Amity; second by Councilmember Babin. Vote: 8-0; outcome: closed.

- 315 Commerce St — Inspector reported open windows, missing front door and habitation by homeless individuals; council condemned the structure and gave the owner time to pursue permits and repairs (90 days to show progress). Motion to condemn and extend by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Champine. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended to 07/15/2025).

- 116 Cairo Ct — Structure partially demolished; council maintained condemnation but gave the owner an extension until the July 15 hearing to complete demolition/cleanup. Motion to concur with administration by Councilmember Champine; second by Councilmember Hamady. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended to 07/15/2025).

- 127 Crozer Dr — Ad hoc counsel represented the estate; ad hoc attorney reported the widow had no opposition to condemnation; council concurred with administration. Motion by Councilmember Fletcher; second by Councilmember Hamlin. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned.

- 315 Commerce and other long‑open files — several owners reported progress or permits pending; where paperwork or updated photos showed repairs, council removed files from the agenda.

- 101 Hundred Billotte Ct (and other multi‑owner files) — South Central Planning recommended condemnation with 30 days; council followed the staff recommendation and made additional time allowances when owners showed active repair plans. Outcome and deadlines recorded in each file.

- 515 Antoine St — Owner present said materials and intent to repair; council condemned but extended 90 days for the owner to obtain permits and complete work. Motion to condemn and extend by Councilmember Pleasure; second by Councilmember Babin. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended).

- 107 Alex Ln — Ad hoc counsel appointed and property maintained on the condemnation list pending cleanup; condemnation and a 30‑day compliance deadline were approved. Motion to maintain condemnation and extend by Councilmember Babin; second by Councilmember Amadi. Vote: 8-0; outcome: condemned (extended 30 days).

The council closed the hearing after voting on the full agenda. Where owners showed permits, utility hookups or substantial work in progress, councilmembers frequently removed properties from the condemnation list; where owners lacked service or litigation was pending, staff and council preferred to continue files so notices and legal processes could be completed.

Why it matters: condemnation hearings define short timelines that property owners must meet to keep structures from being demolished at parish expense. Councilmembers stressed the parish's preference that owners either rehabilitate structures and obtain permits or allow the parish to remove hazards efficiently.

The parish attorney and department staff said they will follow up on cases continued for service or litigation, and inspectors will re‑inspect properties before the July 15 session when many files were continued.