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Shreveport mayor urges review of demolition lien priority; task force asks legal analysis
Summary
Shreveport officials warned that municipal demolition costs are often unrecoverable when mortgage liens outrank municipal liens; the task force asked counsel to study whether lien priority and different treatment for commercial properties can be changed.
Shreveport Mayor (name provided in the record) told the task force that large mortgages on dilapidated apartment complexes often prevent municipalities from recovering demolition costs because mortgage holders retain priority. The mayor urged the task force to consider whether state law can adjust lien priority so local governments are not left bearing demolition expenses.
Panel members agreed the issue is complex and asked Attorney Benton to analyze options for distinguishing commercial and residential properties, possible legislative fixes and the political/legal hurdles involved. Some members suggested outreach to banking and mortgage stakeholders would be necessary if lien priorities were to change.
The task force placed the research as a near-term follow-up item and instructed staff to return with an analysis of existing lien priorities, possible statutory models and stakeholder outreach plans.
