An Opelousas ordinance for abandoned businesses failed, but could be reworked, heard again

Downtown Development District chairperson Lena Charles maintains she’s not giving up.

In fact, the initial failure last week by the Opelousas Board of Aldermen to adopt an ordinance that addresses the city’s numerous unoccupied buildings has made Charles more determined to continue an effort to eventually bring the downtown business area back into commerce.

Charles says she will reintroduce the ordinance possibly as soon as next month in an effort to create economic impact for a once-thriving business area that attracted consumer interest parish-wide.

On Tuesday night the vote from the six-person Board ended in a tie, which means the adoption proposal failed to gain acceptance.

That vote was preceded by a public hearing which included comments from downtown property owners and a presentation by Charles in which she displayed the 60 businesses she says are now closed in the downtown area.

Now that the ordinance has failed once, Charles said the decision by the Board has seemingly generated more public interest.

“From what I have been hearing and from some of the comments that are out there now on the social media, people can’t believe that the city’s keepers do not believe that it’s necessary to begin opening up the downtown area. Because of that, I am going to bring (the ordinance) back up for another introduction,” Charles said on Friday.

Charles vowed to “keep the pressure on” for improving downtown economic development.

“That’s because doing something to revitalize the downtown is very important. If we don’t get the heart of Opelousas back open for business, then what are we doing?” Charles asked.

Bill Rodier, executive director of the St. Landry Parish Economic Development District, said downtown revitalization in Opelousas is a crucial matter.

“Opelousas is the parish seat for St. Landry and it should be the heartbeat of the parish and economic development. Downtown is critically important to the city and the parish as a whole,” said Rodier.

Rodier said on Friday, that usually if a city’s downtown area reflects commercial inactivity then that perception will reflect on the progress of an entire community.

Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said in another Friday interview that perhaps more discussions need to occur among the Aldermen, downtown business owners and the DDD before an attempt is made to pass the ordinance again.

“I think there is a need for more discussions to take place between all parties and develop an ordinance that is fair to everyone. I do support the decision that the leaders of our city have made. Having said that, I think that our city also needs to move forward,” Alsandor said.

Alsandor said he hopes to possibly convene a meeting that includes downtown property owners, elected city officials and members of the DDD, to decide what changes need to occur in the ordinance to make it a more amenable document.

At the end of last week’s meeting Alderman Charles Cummings, who voted against the ordinance adoption, said in an interview that he is concerned about an ordinance requirement for downtown property owners to have million-dollar liability insurance.

“To me, that seems pretty restrictive and outrageous. Another thing that bothers me is (the Board) and the city’s code enforcement did not have enough input,” Cummings said.

Charles said on Friday that members of the Board introduced the ordinance at a January 10th meeting.

“I would think that’s enough time for any of the Board of Aldermen to review the ordinance and ask any questions,” Charles said.

Charles added Friday that she attempted to meet individually with several of the downtown property owners, but those meeting dates were either canceled by the property owners or those who were contacted failed to respond.

Ivan Bourgoyne, an Opelousas businessman who does not operate in the downtown area, questioned why city enforcement procedures are in place requiring residential owners to address their blighted properties, but there are none that pay attention to business properties.

“You put the burden on (residential owners), but you are not paying enough attention to fix these other buildings,” Bourgoyne said.

Beth James, who also spoke during the meeting, said requiring rehabilitation codes for downtown buildings is essential to attract developers seeking investment.

“No one is going to want to locate next to blighted properties. These buildings need to get back into commerce and that is going to give the city property taxes, sales taxes and inspectors’ fees,” James said.

Carola Ann Hartley, the publisher of an online parish newspaper, said the creation of an ordinance is essential and an issue that other elected officials have overlooked for decades.

“Opelousas has needed an ordinance like this for a long time,” Hartley told the Board.

This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: First vote on Opelousas abandoned downtown property ordinance failed