City Buzz: New Iberia
Jun 07, 2018 02:49PM ● By Savannah Ludwig
Shot Street Properties Removed From Demolition List
Motions to remove scheduled demolition of shotgun houses along Shot Street were spared by unanimous council votes after a building contractor rid the area of several homes, ending a month-long observation and recommendation process surrounding the blighted areas.
According to Jimmy Landry, compliance and inspection officer, only two houses remained on the street, a decrease from four or five in the last month. The council vote closes the book on months of conversation between the NICC and Frank Mixon Jr., who took on moving the properties.
City officials hope the removed houses will curb crime, as illicit activities reportedly occurred in the blighted homes.
Although he stressed he isn’t the property owner, Mixon said he has worked on the houses with his grandparents in his youth.
“I got involved because my family was not taking care of this property,” Mixon said.
Mixon was granted an extension in late March to move the houses without government action taken. He claimed earlier in the year that his work had been inhibited by red tape by government and utility companies.
“This should have been done a long time ago,” he said. “If I’d had known about this, and we had weather like it is right now, in a month I’d probably have been finished. Other than that, I’m glad this is finished; I’m glad the property is clear.”
Councilman Marlon Lewis commended Mixon on “an excellent job.”
City Seeks to Define, Impose Punishments for Nuisances
City Attorney Jeff Simon discussed proposed changes to city nuisance ordinances, which include one new set of rules for topics such as: littering and junk, abandoned car issues, demolitions, junk vehicles, and boarding and securing of dangerous structures.
Penalties proposed for violating an ordinance include fines up to $500, 60 days in prison or both; a court order mandating people fix their property; and a court order stating the city can enter the property, clean it up and receive a reimbursement from owners.
Railroad Crossings to Receive Gates, Lights
New Iberia railroad crossings will be getting some upgrades, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
Crossings along Iberia, Julia, Weeks, French and Providence streets are set to receive gates and lights. The project’s focus must first focus on obtaining rights of way; however, some of the projects are already listed on the DOTD schedule for sometime in 2018.
