Downtown Landmark Faces Demolition
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
(Photos By Bobby Ardoin)
St. Landry Parish government heavy equipment began tearing down the historic Bordelon building Wednesday morning as Opelousas municipal officials started the process of potentially putting the property back into commerce.
With parish president Jessie Bellard at the controls of an excavator, the brief demolition took aim at a portion of the south side of the former Main Street vehicle dealership and began pulling away bricks and metal gutters that have been in place for about 80 years.
The photo-op of destruction followed an outside parking lot press conference in which Bellard said the building, which had its commercial origins 150 years ago, has been adjudicated to the parish due to non-payment of property taxes.
City officials at the press conference and Bellard pointed to the deteriorating condition of the building, which they said has become a blighted downtown eyesore that attracts vagrancy and is possibly structurally dangerous.
Bellard said once the demolition and clean-up are performed with no expense to the city, that he would like to see the city own the property.
More Questions
Although the building and property are situated in the heart of the Opelousas historic district which requires specific procedures for tearing down structures located in that area, Bellard and city code enforcement director Lance Ned said the demolition will proceed apparently without any restraints.
Representatives from the Opelousas Historic District that attended the press conference questioned proceeding with any phase of the demolition until the parish could indicate whether it had acquired the proper permits and provided a site plan that outlines the process.
Opelousas Main Street director Gretchen Erlingson said following the press conference that the organization could not support the demolition of the Bordelon building until the public and the Board of Aldermen are shown whether the proper safety procedures are being followed and if all the necessary demolition permits have been obtained.
Erlingson said the District is disappointed that the building, which has been one of the cornerstones of the downtown area since the early 1900’s, is being demolished without the consideration for possible redevelopment.
Historic District
Jonathan Sebastian, who also represented the District, said potential property investors could lose redevelopment tax credits of up to 55 percent by failing to leave the building intact.
Sebastian added there was also apparently no attempt by the city to contact the historic district stating any intention to knock down the building.
“If you don’t have a site plan available, then you don’t get a permit. If the (City Council) does not agree with either, then (demolition) can’t proceed,” said Sebastian.
Ned admitted that sometimes code enforcement has chosen to ignore demolition procedures even if required by the District.
“When there are blighted structures and they are voted on, then we tear them down,” Ned explained.
Negotiations
Ned also pointed out the city and the parish have attempted to work with owner Cody Lanclos, but negotiation attempts between the parties have broken down.
“We have tried everything. This is the last resort. There are other tax credits out there,” said Ned.
Lanclos was not at the press conference on Wednesday.
Bellard also added that the parish had little alternative.
“You either have to make it safe or demolish it. What we are doing is going to be a slow process, so we can make sure we do things the right way and make it safe,” Bellard said.
Bellard there is about $5,000 currently owed in back taxes on the building which has been in possession of the parish for three years.
If an individual pays the taxes and removes the property lien, then there are still steps needed to acquire the parcel from Lanclos.
Mayoral election challenger Sona Anderson was skeptical about allowing the demolition to proceed without providing any documents.
“It looks like they haven’t dotted all their “i’s” and crossed all their “t’s,” Anderson said.
