Tangipahoa Parish gives owners 60 days to address two burned Hammond properties

Tangipahoa Parish Council on Oct. 27 voted unanimously to give property owners 60 days to repair or remove two burned and derelict properties in Hammond after code enforcement and neighbors described hazards and repeated contact attempts.

Councilman Wells moved the action for 46073 North Cherry Street, and Council member Ciatek moved the action for 15476 East Hoffman Road. Both motions passed 10-0.

The council opened a public hearing on two condemnations: 46073 North Cherry Street, Hammond (assessment numbers recorded at different points as 4409108 and 4409107) and 15476 East Hoffman Road (assessment 1962205). Jerry, a Tangipahoa Parish code enforcement officer, told the council the North Cherry structure was “a burned structure” and that the East Hoffman property also showed burn damage and an overflowing dumpster that had been on site since about September. Neighbors and a person identifying themselves as the property owner spoke during the hearing.

Why it matters: Council members said the properties present public-health and safety risks — citing rats, vermin and reports of unauthorized people entering the structures — and said the parish needs a timeline to compel cleanup or demolition.

What the council heard: The unnamed property owner at the East Hoffman address said the family wants to repair the house but lacks insurance and sufficient funds, noting they still owe on the mortgage and have four children. The owner said they have been keeping the lot mowed and had a camera on the property, and that when people have been on site they called police. Jerry said code enforcement has tried to reach the owners “several times” and that the overflowing dumpster and trash at East Hoffman have created code violations and attracted vermin. A neighbor told the council they had reported unauthorized entries and thefts at the property.

Council action and conditions: For 46073 North Cherry Street, Councilman Wells moved to give the owner 60 days to demolish or restore the structure; the motion carried by roll call, 10-0. For 15476 East Hoffman Road, Council member Ciatek moved to give the owner 60 days, with three specific expectations: the dumpster must be emptied and continued to be maintained (not allowed to overflow), the grass must be cut, and the structure must be boarded if it will not be demolished. During discussion the council reiterated that the three items should be addressed immediately (one council member referenced a six‑day expectation for those items) and that the parish will continue code enforcement oversight during the 60‑day period; the motion passed 10-0.

Distinguishing discussion from decision: The record shows residents and the property owner describing attempts to secure and maintain the sites and financial constraints on rebuilding; Jerry explained code-enforcement contacts and documented trash/dumpster issues. The council’s decisions were formal votes providing a 60‑day compliance window and specific short‑term requirements for the East Hoffman site.

Next steps: If owners do not meet the deadlines or conditions, the council stated the parish will proceed with condemnation and the parish may demolish the structures.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this report are identified in the meeting record as: Councilman Wells (council member), Miss Ciatek (council member), Jerry (code enforcement officer), Property owner (unnamed speaker), and Resident (neighbor).