Bossier City council orders removal of dilapidated house at 1401 Burchett Street

The Bossier City Administrative Council voted to remove a dilapidated structure at 1401 Burchett Street “as soon as legally possible,” after Property Standards staff reported extensive interior and exterior damage and a stalled ownership succession.

Property Standards inspector Philip Coleman told the council that the house is in poor condition: “You can see through the pictures, it's boards falling off of it. The walls got cracks in it.” Coleman said inspectors found holes in the roof, mold and mildew, and collapsed ceilings.

Gahagan Pugh, identifying himself as the curator for 1401 Burchette Street, told the council he had researched the title history and found the recorded owner, Willie Lee Keyes, died on Sept. 16, 2007, and a succession was opened on Sept. 19, 2007, by Deborah Williams. Pugh said the succession was never closed and the property was never distributed; he added that mailed notice to the recorded address produced no response.

The council voted to proceed with removal “as soon as legally possible.” The motion was made and seconded during the hearing on the property; the meeting record shows the motion carried.

The case file and staff photographs were used in the council presentation; Property Standards recommended removal citing health and safety hazards and long-term vacancy. The council did not specify a demolition date in the hearing transcript; staff indicated the usual process is to post for bids and proceed administratively if the owner does not remedy the violation.

Background: the condemnation process for the property began with the posted notice; council members and staff discussed title issues and lack of contact information for heirs. The council action authorizes staff to follow the city's legal process to remove the structure if required.

No additional funding or timeline beyond the standard condemnation-to-demolition process was recorded in the meeting transcript.