Fate Of Downtown Buildings Are Unresolved

Fate Of Downtown Buildings Are Unresolved

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

One vacant Opelousas downtown building has received a temporary reprieve from imminent demolition, while another historic automotive landmark awaits possible action from city officials next month.

A potential Board of Aldermen decision to assign condemnation for a 150-year-old former general merchandise business now owned by the city at 124 East Grolee Street was delayed again on Tuesday night.

In August the Board is also scheduled to conduct a public hearing that could determine the fate of the former Bordelon Motors property which consumes an entire block across from Opelousas City Hall.

The Board now has the authority to make decisions related to uninhabited downtown commercial buildings after passing a vacant building ordinance backed by code enforcement inspections last year.

On Tuesday night legal advisor Travis Broussard raised potential procedural issues associated with a motion to knock down the brick structure.

Broussard said the meeting agenda item approved by the Board indicated that the Board only intended to discuss and consider condemnation or demolition for the building, whose roof collapsed several years ago.

Yet Broussard said, the Board appeared ready to vote on whether to approve the demolition for the building.

Broussard added that the agenda item as printed and adopted said nothing about voting on whether to destroy the building located across from Opelousas City Court.

Previously the Board gave representatives from the city’s Main Street and Historic District 90 days to prepare a detailed plan for restoring the building.

The moratorium on that vote was scheduled to expire on Tuesday night.

Main Street Director Gretchen Erlingson admitted during discussion that the organization has had what she described as “very limited success” locating investors or developers who appear interested in bankrolling a project that would save the building.

Erlingson added that persons seeking to initiate efforts to restore any vacant historic structures are eligible to receive tax credits to help offset costs.

A potential developer that Erlingson did not identify on Tuesday night, has apparently expressed interest in rehabilitating the structure.

Broussard questioned the sincerity of the proposal from the unnamed developer, since the person has not been specifically identified or appeared before the Board.

“Where is this person? All we have right now are pronouns associated with this individual and no names. Where is he? Is he here, or on a yacht somewhere?” said Broussard.

Code Enforcement Director Lance Ned repeated his former recommendation for demolition. Ned added that the Board should not even consider accepting bids for rehabilitation.

“The building is not safe and is in horrible condition. The city needs to move forward. In doing that, some things need to be sacrificed,” Ned pointed out.