BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Contributing Writer
St. Landry Parish government has begun intervention procedures for three structures that code enforcement officials consider prospects for demolition and four properties eventually scheduled for rehabilitation.
All of the properties listed for improvement by the Parish Council are located inside or surrounding the Opelousas city limits.
The owners of one property designated as blighted, have been given at least 30 days by the Council to provide evidence that they are attempting to improve a building formerly used as a residence on 136 Victoria Loop.
In a separate action council members approved a recommendation by code enforcement director Cynthia Fontenot that will begin work on cleaning up property on 126 Mayflower Drive in the Royal Gardens Subdivision.
Representatives of the properties located at the Victoria Loop and Mayflower Drive addresses, spoke at a June 18 Parish Council meeting.
The Council at the same meeting also approved the request from Fontenot to issue certified letters to five other individuals or mortgage holders, requesting their presence at council meetings regarding proposed demolition, debris removal or grass cutting at Opelousas addresses.
Opelousas properties or structures in need of attention and had certified letters approved by the Council will be addressed to John Gabriel Lewis Jr. and Enola Lewis on West Linwood Loop, Joseph Scottie Dumas and Melissa Villery at 171 Gulino Street, Federal Home Mortgage Corporation for a property at 239 Bullard Avenue North, Midfirst Bank for a property at 728 McNeese Street and Marvin J. Guillory and Penny Guillory at 8844 Highway 190, Opelousas.
Rhonda Tate and Brett Semien, asked Council members for more time in an effort to improve the blighted property on Victoria Loop.
Tate told the Council that family members have been working on the Victoria Loop wooden structure, but that their attempt will require more time.
Semien said the building in question was once a family home. However medical issues involving several family members have prevented a sustained improvement effort.
“I do plan on living there,” said Semien.
Fontenot said the parish has previously used resources to clean up the Victoria Loop tract.
Council members studied photos of the structure scheduled for demolition before deciding to allow the family a 30-day chance at making progress.
Individuals living at the Mayflower residence have removed the cardboard and other items that were once placed across a fence, Fontenot said.
Fontenot said at this point there are no plans to demolish the house on the Mayflower Drive property.
“We want to clean the property. This property has been an eyesore and there seems to also be a lot of activity that is going on there,” Fontenot added.
Fontenot also provided photos of the Mayflower property to council members.
Council member Wayne Ardoin said he has received numerous complaints about the condition of the Mayflower Drive property.
