NEW ORLEANS — Rotten wood and boards that hang on by rusty nails are just some of the problems at a blighted property at 501 Belleville St. in Algiers Point.
Aaron Angelo, whose daughter goes to the International School of Louisiana just a block away, said he's worried it'll soon fall down -- and he worries children could be walking by when that happens.
"I'm surprised a good wind hasn't taken down that wall yet already,” Angelo said.
Ernel LaFrance has owned the property since at least 2001. He said it didn't begin to fall apart until recently.
"I'm concerned, but I don't think the building is going to collapse. Now those boards right there, they've been falling maybe one or two every so often,” he said. “I don't mean in the same day, but just depending upon the condition of the weather."
A property owner can leave a building vacant. But a property owner cannot leave it in blighted condition. And the Belleville Street property's condition put it on the city's radar several times, most recently in 2017 when inspectors found 10 violations.
City Councilwoman Kristin Palmer, who represents Algiers, said she’s frustrated.
"He has had the ability and the potential for many years to shore up the property, even if he couldn't do a complete renovation. Board it up, put some some two-by-fours make sure it's secure. And he's never even done that."
A City Hall spokeswoman said LaFrance did show up there today to begin the application process for a demolition permit. But taxpayers could be on the hook if the city orders an emergency demolition.
"This man could've been taking care of it all along,” Palmer said.
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