During the February 23 council meeting, Parish President Dave Peralta announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency officially approved a funding extension for the demolition of blighted properties. 

“We are happy to announce that FEMA has officially given St. Bernard Parish an extension on funded demolition work through June 30, 2012,” said Peralta. “It is our intention to utilize this additional time to continue to target blighted properties that pose threats to health and safety in St. Bernard Parish.”

A recent press release from the administration states that the extension allows the St. Bernard Parish Government “additional time to demolish as many as 650 remaining storm-damaged structures throughout the parish.”

Owners of condemned storm-damaged structures in St. Bernard Parish can expect to receive a final notice if they have not received one already. Only active and ongoing repairs will suffice for getting a storm-damaged structure removed from the list of properties being considered for demolition. Simply obtaining a building permit does not qualify a structure to be removed from the demolition list.

Meanwhile, the Housing Redevelopment and Quality of Life Authority Commission is conducting district-level public workshops Saturday, March 3 to discuss the future use of properties acquired by the Louisiana Land Trust.

Peralta lauded the workshops in his February 23 President’s Report.

“I would like to commend the HRQL and the Council for agreeing to conduct district-level public workshops on March 3 regarding the future use of LLT properties,” he said. “This effort is a true indication of the new Council’s commitment to overseeing a more transparent government, and I can assure you that the administration will provide all the support you need during the workshop process.”

The HRQL commission is reviewing proposals to use remaining lots to create pocket parks, drainage improvement programs in the Lake Borgne area, and several other options, such as conducting targeted auctions. New Orleans planning firm Waggoner & Ball Architects was hired by the parish to make recommendations for potential uses, and will attend the meetings to present its suggestions. 

The parish will host a full-day series of district-level workshops, Saturday, March 3, at the Parish Council Chambers, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.

Workshop times for each district are as follows:

• District A: 8 – 10 a.m.; 

• District B: 10:15 a.m. - 

  12:15 p.m.; 

• District E: 1 – 3 p.m.; 

• District C: 3:15 – 5:15 p.m.;

• District D: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.