Jennings Council begins process for removing dilapidated structures

The Jennings City Council has initiated the condemnation and removal process for two dilapidated structures located at 1306 and 1322 South Main Street.

Both properties have been declared unsafe, blighted, and in violation of the city’s property maintenance code and need to be torn down and the property cleared, according to City Inspector Phil Arceneaux.

“There are children that live next to these houses and it poses an imminent danger,” Arceneaux said.

Regarding the property at 1306 South Main Street, Mayor Henry Guinn said it is his opinion that the structure is not salvageable and that all of the proper notices have been sent for condemnation and demolition.

“Speaking on this particular property, it’s owned by Margaret Simon, but as far as the tax assessor, all notices were going to a Howard Simon, who is also deceased,” Arceneaux said. “We started back in 2022 posting signs and sending letters with no response from anyone.”

As far as notifications, Arceneaux said the city “went a step further and ran a legal notice in the paper reaching out to the owners and heirs to meet with the city council, but no parties have come forward.

Arceneaux and Guinn confirmed that the city has exhausted all legal notification measures.

Councilman Anthony “Coach” LeBlanc, who supports the condemnation, said the property is beyond saving at the point. LeBlanc said he volunteered his time to help the owner clean the property, but quit after hornets were found nesting in a sofa.

Councilwoman Carolyn Simon said the property has been on the radar for quite a few years and is definitely an eyesore in our community and it definitely needs to be demolition.

“There are quite a few others, however, we can only bite off what we can chew and do what we can, when we can,” she said.

The second property, 1322 South Main Street, is also in critical condition. The property, owned by Josephine Simon, has been declared unsafe and in need of condemnation, according to Guinn.

Councilwoman Carolyn Simon said the property is in terrible condition and looked worse in person.

“These pictures actually do no justice for the way the property is looking now,” Simon said, noting that the roof is currently resting on the porch.

The city has now exhausted all legal notification measures and is moving forward with the necessary steps for demolition to clear these sites.

Guinn is reviewing the city budget to determine if the demolition will be performed by city crews or an outside contractor. The goal is to have both structures removed within the next two weeks, pending any necessary utility removal. Once cleared, the demolition costs will be added to the tax roll.