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Harahan council withdraws proposed sale ordinance amid dispute over Bailey Street remnant behind 439 West Avenue
Summary
After extended public comment, the Harahan City Council withdrew a proposed ordinance to sell a remnant of Bailey Street adjacent to 439 West Avenue and agreed to pursue legal avenues (revocation, permits, or reappraisal) to clear title and avoid delaying pending home sales and grant funding.
The Harahan City Council on Nov. 20 withdrew a proposed ordinance that would have authorized sale of a remnant of Bailey Street behind 439 West Avenue after residents and the property co-owner described unresolved title and access problems that are blocking home sales.
Michelle Laparouse, the co-owner of 439 West Avenue, told the council the homeowners had followed city staff guidance and completed an administrative resubdivision and building permits before learning the land had not been transferred into their name. "My name is Michelle Laparouse. I'm co owner of the property at 439 West Avenue," she said, and asked the city to record a standard setback of 21 feet 9 inches or to prepare an act of revocation or servitude modification to allow the sale and clear title so closings can proceed.
Council members and city staff discussed technical and legal options. City Attorney Scott Stansberry and Council members described two appraisals that had produced widely different values — one for $10 and another for $8,400 — and emphasized that Louisiana statutory procedures apply when municipalities advertise and sell dedicated rights of way. Stansberry noted the city has incurred roughly $5,300 in costs for appraisal and survey work to date.
Council members signaled concern that homeowners had acted in good faith after being told the resubdivision would facilitate their improvements. Councilman Asbille said the city should try to make the property owners whole where the city's handling contributed to the issue, while others cautioned that any conveyance must follow the legal sale process.
To keep options open, the council voted unanimously to withdraw ordinance 2025-15 and later introduced companion items: an ordinance to revoke the public dedication of the Bailey Street remnant (2025-19) and an ordinance to authorize sale with advertising language (2025-20). Council members agreed to authorize the clerk to advertise the sale ordinance using an appraised value of $8,400 so statutory advertising timelines begin, while acknowledging that advertising the number does not fix the final sale price or resolve title questions.
City officials discussed a faster temporary fix: an irrevocable encroachment or similar permit that might allow the buyer to close while preserving the city's servitude for drainage access. Council asked the city attorney to research whether such a permit or other administrative mechanism could clear title quickly enough to protect pending grants and closings, and to coordinate with the purchaser's title company before any final action.
Next steps include the Dec. 11 budget hearing where companion ordinances will be considered again, further research by the city attorney into encroachment/permit options, and potential reappraisal or negotiation between the parties. The council emphasized that any sale or transfer must comply with Louisiana law and protect public drainage servitudes.
