Terrebonne Parish committee calls condemnation hearings for multiple properties; officials clarify tax-sale liabilities

The Terrebonne Parish Community Development Planning Committee voted to call condemnation hearings on multiple residential and commercial properties and spent substantial time discussing how sheriff tax-sale purchases affect responsibility for demolition and liens.

The committee, meeting as part of the parish consolidated government, moved to call hearings on a list of properties across Houma, Chauvin, Gibson, Berg and Montegut. The motion was moved by Councilmember Amadeg and seconded by Councilmember Hamner and passed by an 8-0 vote.

The list of properties slated for condemnation hearings included, among others, structures at 623 Clinton Street (Chauvin); 204 Morgan Street (Houma); 6178 Grand Cayo Road; 209 Saint Paul Street (Houma, Plantation Trace Apartments LLC); 7479 Main Street (Houma); 305 Clinton Street (Chauvin); 6046 Shrimpers Road (Houma); 4439 Highway 56 (Chauvin); 5442 North Bayou Black Drive (Gibson); 1220 Lee Avenue (Houma); 7771 Waterfront Drive (Chauvin); 159 Jennings Lane (Houma); 1908–1909 Highway 55 (Montague, SNN Holdings LLC); 4231 Country Drive (Bourg); 5648 Highway 56; 152 Klondike Road (Bourg); and 8911 Main Street (Houma). The committee motion called hearings on both residential and accessory structures where noted. (The agenda listed additional addresses in full; those addresses are reflected in the committee backup.)

Committee members raised a recurring issue: when a property is purchased at a sheriff tax sale, who is held responsible during condemnation and demolition proceedings — the original owner listed in assessor records or the tax-sale purchaser? Councilmember Pledger and others described cases in which assessor records still show the original owner while a purchaser holds a tax-sale interest.

A parish staff member who addressed the committee explained the parish’s current practice and the consequences: the parish sends notices to both the original owner and the tax-sale purchaser, and the original owner remains the party “ultimately . . . held responsible” in the parish records while the tax-sale purchaser assumes risk after redemption periods end. The staff member added that the parish records the order-to-appear letters at the courthouse so purchasers doing due diligence will see the pending condemnation.

A different staff member explained how parish filings relate to property liens: “When the notice of the order issued by the council is ultimately filed into the record, that also becomes part of the mortgage. And so that order of condemnation relates back to the notice per statutory law, and it basically . . . becomes a lien on the property at the time that the original notice was filed, not even at the time that the order was filed.” That explanation was offered in response to questions about whether demolition costs and other charges attach to the property and who must clear liens.

Committee members asked staff to follow up with legal clarifications about remedies for tax-sale purchasers and whether purchasers can seek reimbursement from former owners for demolition costs. A staff member said they would check with the parish legal department and report back.

Council members also discussed timing: the transcript and staff comments cite a three-year redemption period for tax-title matters and an 18-month period tied to blight procedures; members noted planned state law changes referenced in committee discussion.

The committee approved the motion to call these condemnation hearings by a recorded 8-0 vote; the hearings themselves will be scheduled as announced in the committee packet and on the parish calendar.