The Kenner City Council voted 6-0 on Jan. 24 to order the demolition of a vacant structure at 1235 Roosevelt Boulevard after code enforcement staff said an engineer found the building to be a public hazard.

Code Enforcement Officer Miss Topple told the council the city’s engineer documented “inadequate maintenance, dilapidation and/or abandonment” including boarded windows, missing siding, wood rot in exterior wall framing, missing soffit and fascia, and a collapsed carport cover. Topple said the property’s water service has been inactive since Aug. 29, 2022, Entergy’s meter was turned off in October 2024 and the sewer line was capped on Jan. 14, 2025.

“Based on the report of the engineer, the structure is a serious public hazard and [we] recommend the city take the steps necessary to demolish the structure and abate the violations,” Topple told the council during the public hearing.

The mayor had appointed LeBlanc Fanteze & Villio LLC as curator for the owner after the city was unable to reach the property owner. The appointed curator told the council they had researched the estate, located an obituary for the listed owner, identified a likely son, James Stewart, and sent certified letters that were signed and returned. The curator said they also ran newspaper notice ads and had received no contact from anyone claiming ownership or responsibility.

The city provided a demolition-cost estimate based on a recent comparable job (400 Ferrara) and said the likely cost would be in the neighborhood of $29,430, though a contractor estimate could not be completed on schedule because of inclement weather.

Councilmember Brannigan moved to close the public hearing and then moved the demolition resolution; Councilmember Lehat seconded both motions. The council voted unanimously to demolish the property “within the time allowed by law,” as the motion stated.

Acting-city officials and the district representative said the property is one of several in District 2 that the city plans to address to improve neighborhood safety and conditions.

The city’s code-enforcement presentation, the curator’s summary of outreach, and the council’s demolition vote were documented in the meeting minutes and public hearing record.