Owners ask council for time to repair condemned Plantation Inn Hotel; contractor calls building unsafe

Summary

Property representatives told the St. Mary Parish Council they need until the end of summer to make repairs to the old Plantation Inn Hotel, while a contractor said the property is "very unsafe," no permits have been issued and professional engineers and local contractors are required before work can proceed. Council members said the condemnation process had been explained and no permits have been applied for.

Arda “Alex” Yanik asked the St. Mary Parish Council on March 25 for until the end of the summer to perform repairs on the old Plantation Inn Hotel, citing confusion about the condemnation process and plans to place money into a trust for the property.

Victor Gaarven, who identified himself as a licensed contractor in California and said he was called by Yanik to help with the project, told the council the property is "very unsafe" and that an engineer, an architect and a local licensed contractor need to be hired. He said his research indicates no permits have been issued for work on the property.

Several council members told Mr. Yanik that the condemnation process had been explained to him multiple times, that South Central Planning & Development’s inspector had met him on the property and notified him of the required steps, and that no permits or work have been started. No formal action to grant extra time or to alter the condemnation process was recorded at the meeting.

The discussion was part of general business and will likely return if the property owner submits permit applications or if the administration provides a status update to the council.