Council introduces ordinance to condemn multiple unsafe buildings; 30-day notice period set

The Natchitoches City Council on March 10 introduced Ordinance No. 006 of 2025, which lists multiple properties the city’s planning and building officials have deemed unsafe and recommends the buildings be condemned or demolished.

Councilman Petey read the ordinance in title and listed the properties included in the report, which the planning director said are the subject of written inspections by the director of planning and zoning and the city building inspector. The property list includes addresses identified in the ordinance and cover single-family houses, lots with burned or collapsed trailers and trailer-park parcels on South Bend Drive that city staff said contain multiple burned or fallen trailers.

Planning staff explained the process during the introduction: the item is for introduction only, a 30-day layover applies, and the city has notified individual trailer owners and property owners where applicable. The planning director said the condemnation process does not automatically demolish every structure named on the list; compliant owners who maintain their structures will not necessarily be removed, while structures that are unsafe, burned or vacant may be scheduled for city removal if owners do not act.

Several residents and property owners addressed the council during the public-comment portion related to the ordinance. Dwight Davis, who said he owns multiple South Bend properties, told the council he and a contractor (Ivan McDaniel) have agreed on a price to remove abandoned trailers and that cleanup work had been scheduled but delayed by weather. Cynthia Mandarino, owner of 817 Fourth Street, described long delays and financial challenges after a tree limb collapsed onto her roof; Mandarino said she has a contractor lined up who is addressing permit issues and asked for time to obtain permits and begin structural repairs. Contractor Greg Duggan said from his inspection perspective the 817 Fourth Street house can be restored and “there’s not that much wrong structurally” beyond a damaged roof.

Planning staff urged owners to contact the planning office (planning staff named Shantrell as the point of contact) during the 30-day period and noted the city would proceed with removal of unsafe structures only after the process and timelines in the ordinance are observed.

This introduction begins the formal condemnation process for the listed properties; staff said owners who demonstrated active remediation plans could provide documentation to planning staff during the 30-day notice period.