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Council extends renovation deadline for two homes, orders condemnation process on two others after public pleas
Summary
After public comment from homeowners and a community cleanup volunteer, the Natchitoches City Council voted July 14 to give two property owners six more months to obtain permits and repairs and to proceed with condemnation procedures for two hazardous properties at 801 Dixie Street and 412 Martin Luther King Drive.
The Natchitoches City Council on July 14 voted to give additional time for repairs to two privately owned properties but moved forward with condemnation procedures for two others after an extended public-comment period and staff reports.
Homeowner Cynthia Mandarino told the council she has been restoring her house at 817 Fourth Street for nearly two years and that a contractor, Greg Duggins, had passed the first licensing exam and is waiting for the state to schedule the second. "This is our home," Mandarino told the council, saying she and her husband currently live in a trailer on their lot and that pending condemnation could jeopardize renovation financing. Planning staff said they have not received an interior-permit application and that the city previously granted a 30-day extension that has now lapsed.
Brian Briggs, who said he was authorized by a local board to coordinate cleanup, told the council the property at 412 Martin Luther King Drive is occupied by several people and presents safety risks; he said contractors’ estimates have been submitted and that he had a meeting scheduled with the board to decide next steps.
Planning and zoning staff described the city’s process: property owners are given notice, the city may record a condemnation order with the clerk of court, and demolition is not automatic if an owner shows measurable progress or obtains permits. City staff also noted a recent state licensure change that limits what unlicensed home-improvement contractors may do, requiring residential contractor licenses for structural work.
After discussion the council adopted a substitute motion to grant six additional months for the properties at 817 Fourth Street and 852 Second Street to secure permits and demonstrate progress, and to move forward with condemnation procedures for 801 Dixie Street and 412 Martin Luther King Drive. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.
The council and staff emphasized that condemnation does not necessarily mean immediate demolition; recording a condemnation starts a legal process that can include a hearing and offers the owner an option to repair. Staff also warned that condemnation can affect an owner’s ability to obtain renovation financing, a point Mandarino raised as a reason to grant more time. The council asked the homeowner to provide evidence of the contractor’s exam results or other progress before the next meeting.
The city will record its action and notify property owners of the next procedural steps. The council scheduled follow-up and said it would revisit the properties if the owners present permits or documentation of progress before the six-month deadline.
