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BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer

The fate of a downtown city-owned Opelousas landmark remains uncertain as members of the Historic District Commission seek alternatives for a recent Board of Alderman decision to raze the 140-year-old building at the corner of East Grolee and Main streets.

At this point city officials appear prepared to knock down what has become known as the Sandoz Building, which has stood on the corner of the two thoroughfares since the mid-1880’s.

Since it was built, the Sandoz Building has been used as a hotel, general merchandise store and a hospital.

Last week the Board of Aldermen voted to begin demolition work on the brick structure, which features a large collapsed roof that interim Code Enforcement Director Lance Ned maintains makes the building  potentially hazardous.

At an Opelousas Downtown Development meeting last Friday, ODD members voted to contribute $25,000 to assist the city with demolition costs that Ned indicates could reach as much as $100,000.

Ned described the building, previously donated to the city as a “pressure bomb,” due to the roof condition. Ned pointed out that there are other buildings downtown that are in similar shape or worse that will undergo review by municipal code enforcement.

Members of the Commission have acknowledged at both the Board of Alderman meeting and again before members of the ODD, that they are prepared to provide the city with options before demolition crews arrive to convert the property now occupied by the building into a parking lot used primarily by Opelousas City Court.

Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor has agreed to meet with members of the Commission and Opelousas Main Street sometime before next week to consider a plan that might save the building from being demolished.

What Might Be Done

Gretchen Erlingson, who represents the Main Street program and Jonathan Sebastien, chairman for the Historic District Commission, each said they can provide city officials with an outline for preserving the Grolee Street building and other historic buildings in the downtown area.

Sebastien reminded ODD members that any demolition projects occurring within Historic District boundaries require an application process that is reviewed by the Commission.

Erlingson told the Board of Alderman that Main Street members are developing a program that enables individuals to bid on historic buildings and other downtown structures at nominal costs in order for the properties to be acquired and renovated.

Bill Rodier, executive director for the St. Landry Economic Development District, has told the ODD that downtown building owners can apply for substantial tax credits which are available for pursuing rehab projects.

Sebastien told the ODD that knocking down historic buildings in the downtown area creates “property holes,” a process that he said is perhaps contrary to the objective of a 2023 city ordinance which aims to put buildings back into the commercial sector.

Authors

  • Bobby Ardoin
  • Courtney Jennings is a contributing writer with St. Landry Now since 2023 covering local events throughout the parish. She also runs the local publication MacaroniKID Acadia-St. Landry, an online publication and weekly e-newsletter on family friendly activities, local events, and community resources for parents.

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