Photograph: Opelousas Aldermen Marvin Richard and Milton Baptiste III. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The long process for refurbishing downtown Opelousas began this week as elected city officials approved a pair of ordinances that intend to bring vibrancy and rehabilitation for currently vacant buildings and prepare them for commercial use.
Transforming the number of unoccupied structures into prospective businesses will not occur immediately, but the action by the Board of Aldermen will enable city enforcement to eventually begin structural assessments.
One ordinance approved unanimously allows Mayor Julius Alsandor to initiate a cooperative endeavor agreement that will redesign the former New Life Center for commercial and residential occupancy.
Another ordinance approved establishes a process for examining the vacant downtown buildings. The vote on the vacant building ordinance was 4-1, with Alderman Cummings providing the ” no” vote.
Although the ordinance is effective immediately, it provides owners of currently unoccupied buildings at least 18 months to prepare their structures for code enforcement inspections.
A corresponding ordinance amendment also passed in relation to the downtown vacant building ordinance provides a deliberation process which enables a hearing officer to preside over code enforcement decisions regarding the vacancies.
City Attorney Travis Broussard said building owners dissatisfied with the decisions of hearing officers can choose to have the matter resolved in a state district court.
NEW LIFE CENTER
Opelousas Downtown Development District chairperson Lena Charles told the aldermen that the multi-story New Life Center which was donated and owned by the city, will be transformed into a commercial and residential building.
The building has been vacant for several years, but the DDD in conjunction with the the city, obtained several proposals for redeveloping the building that was once a hotel and an integral part of Opelousas downtown commerce.
During a presentation Charles said the Masion Des Chambers development group offered what city officials feel is the best proposal for the New Life Center.
Charles said the bottom floors of the New Life Center will be reconstituted for several small commercial businesses. The top floors will be used for residences.
No representatives from Maison Des Chambers spoke during the public hearing conducted prior to the vote.
VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE
In February the aldermen rejected the identical ordinance that was approved on Tuesday night. That decision however caused a predominantly unsatisfactory reaction that was expressed on social media.
The aldermen agreed during a March meeting to reintroduce the ordinance.
“This is the city’s ordinance. It’s not the Downtown Development District’s ordinance. I think the city has realized passing this ordinance is the best way for the city to bring commercial development back to downtown Opelousas and begin collecting revenue,” said Charles.
“What’s important to know is this ordinance resembles a number of recommendations that were made in a master plan paid for by the District and approved later by the city officials,” said Charles.
In a previous interview Charles said the ordinance provides ample time for business owners to decide what to do with their properties before the code enforcement process gets underway.
“The owners will have a year and a half to prepare their buildings after the ordinance becomes effective. I think that is more than a reasonable amount of time,” said Charles.
