Bossier City council orders demolition or sets June deadlines for multiple condemned homes

The Bossier City Administrative Council on March 26 moved to remove or temporarily suspend enforcement against a series of condemned and dilapidated houses, giving owners or prospective buyers specific deadlines to obtain permits or complete repairs.

The council reviewed status reports from Property Standards on multiple addresses, including 1725 Scott Street, 208 Waller Avenue, 500 Hall Street, 709 McDade Street, 4015 Glen Street, 4821 San Anton Drive and 4907 General Sterling Price Place. For several properties the body ordered removal as soon as legally possible; for others the council suspended action to allow owners or purchasers time to secure permits and make repairs, and asked staff for updates at the June 25 meeting.

Why it matters: condemned structures are considered public-safety and neighborhood-blight risks; by setting deadlines the council gave owners a final window to fix problems before the city proceeds with demolition and liening the property, actions that can carry financial implications for owners and affect nearby residents.

In a lengthy case over 1725 Scott Street, Property Standards staff and the city-appointed curator told the council the structure showed heavy termite and structural damage and that a record owner (James Ned) remained on file while a local resident (Earl Sanders) said he and his family had paid taxes and were attempting to obtain title. The curator, Gahagan Pugh, and the city attorney, Ray, said filings (a petition to quiet title and other attempts) had been submitted but no judgment transferring title had been entered; the city may proceed on condemnation grounds independent of private title litigation. After discussion the council voted to order removal of the structure.

Earl Sanders, who identified himself in the hearing, said his family had been paying the taxes on the parcel for decades and had filed petitions in court to obtain ownership. "I've been paying the tax on it for over 30 some years," Sanders said, explaining efforts to secure title. City counsel told the council those filings appeared not to have resulted in a judgment and that ownership remains what is on record at the parish courthouse.

For 709 McDade Street the owners said a sale was scheduled and a purchaser planned to tear down the old house and build new housing; the council agreed to order removal but suspend enforcement for 90 days and set June 24 (deadline) with an update scheduled for the June 25 meeting so the buyer could pursue permits or demolition. Jose Montalvo Aguilar, speaking for the purchaser, said the buyer planned to start clearing the property within weeks.

At 500 Hall Street a tenant, Rodney Dooley, said he had a lease and was working with community-development programs to secure roof and repair help; staff noted City Community Development typically does not fund repairs to properties already condemned, and the council requested updated photos and an update at the June 25 meeting before taking enforcement action.

For 4015 Glen Street, property purchasers (Enoch Properties) had pulled permits and completed most repairs; Property Standards reported about 90% of repairs were done and the council took no action on that case.

Several motions were made from the dais and carried by recorded voice votes; the meeting’s roll call indicated three council members present. In most removal motions the council moved to proceed with removal "as soon as legally possible" but in several cases suspended demolition to give owners or buyers a path to cure problems by specified dates.

What’s next: The council asked Property Standards to provide owners a written checklist of required exterior work and asked staff to photograph and update the council on each case at the June 25 meeting. If owners fail to meet the June deadlines, staff said contractors would be engaged to remove the structures and the city would pursue liens as provided by law.

Councils and staff noted the separate legal track of quiet-title filings or succession proceedings does not prevent the city from acting on condemned structures where public-safety hazards exist.

The Administrative Council adjourned after taking up the property cases.