Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.38

  • Blighted housing property: means (a) any residential housing property for which environmental remediation is required by state law, rule, or regulation and  the condition of which is found or declared by the public officer to be harmful to the health or welfare, including the economic welfare, of the residents of the local governmental subdivision wherein the residential property is located, (b) any residential housing property that, as of the effective date of this Chapter, had been determined to be a blighted property or an adjudicated property by the local governmental subdivision, (c) any residential housing property that (i) is offered by a party in interest for inclusion on a blighted housing properties list and (ii) the current condition of which is declared by the local governmental subdivision to be below minimum habitability standards and unfit for human habitation, occupancy, or use, or (d) any residential housing property that (i) has not been legally occupied for eighteen months prior to the time a public officer makes a determination that the property has been vacant for such eighteen-month period and (ii) has been determined to be a public nuisance by the local governmental subdivision, except no residential housing property in an area impacted by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita which was occupied as of August 28, 2005, shall be included if the owner is eligible for and receives assistance under the Road Home Housing Program. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Court: means the district court, city court, parish court, or municipal court with jurisdiction for the local governmental subdivision in which the blighted housing property is located. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Local governmental subdivision: means any parish or municipality. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Owner: means the holder or holders of title to a blighted housing property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Party in interest: means (a) any individual, association, and corporation who has an interest of record in a residential housing property and any who has the right to possession of such property, (b) any owner of property adjacent to the residential housing property, or (c) any neighborhood association of property owners recognized by the local governmental subdivision covering an area inclusive of a residential housing property that is below minimum habitability standards. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Qualified rehabilitation entity: means any person or entity designated by the local governmental subdivision or the state housing agency on the basis of having demonstrated knowledge and substantial experience in the construction or rehabilitation of residential housing properties, the provision of affordable housing, the restoration of blighted property, the revitalization and improvement of neighborhoods and that is well qualified by virtue of its staff, professional consultants, financial resources, and prior activities to carry out the rehabilitation of blighted residential housing properties. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Receiver: means either the local governmental subdivision, secured party, or a qualified rehabilitation entity approved by the court. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Receivership: means the judicially established framework for real property interest which is created by the court with respect to a blighted housing property pursuant to which a receiver is designated to preserve, rehabilitate, restore, and operate the blighted housing property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Rehabilitation plan: means (a) a renovation or rehabilitation plan for a blighted housing property approved by the local governmental subdivision that is consistent with any neighborhood redevelopment strategy, preserves the historic integrity of the residential housing property and restores such property to minimum habitability standards based upon (i) a physical condition assessment identifying components of the blighted housing property requiring repair, replacement, or improvement to restore the property to minimum habitability standards in a cost- effective manner, (ii) an estimate and certificate of costs executed by a public officer, including a schedule of values executed by a contractor committed to complete the repairs, replacements, or improvements identified in the physical condition assessment within the estimate of costs, (iii) evidence of funding commitments from government or commercial lenders sufficient to finance all costs identified in the estimate and certificate of costs, and (iv) a tentative timetable evidencing the time frame within which the rehabilitation plan may be completed, (b) an operating budget, including any required or permitted capital recovery payment, and (c) a receivership term. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33

A.  The court shall grant the local governmental subdivision possession of the property if it finds that:

(1)  The rehabilitation plan is appropriate.

(2)  The local governmental subdivision or its designated qualified rehabilitation entity is qualified to undertake the rehabilitation plan.

(3)  The rehabilitation plan submitted by the local governmental subdivision represents a realistic and timely plan for the rehabilitation and reuse of the blighted housing property.

B.(1)  The local governmental subdivision shall take all steps necessary and appropriate to further the rehabilitation and reuse of the property consistent with the rehabilitation plan submitted to the court.

(2)  In making its findings pursuant to this Section, the court may consult with qualified parties and, upon request by a party in interest, may hold a hearing on the plan.

(3)  Regardless of whether a local governmental subdivision exercises its rights directly or designates a qualified rehabilitation entity pursuant to this Section, while in possession of a blighted housing property, a local governmental subdivision shall maintain, safeguard, and maintain insurance on the blighted housing property.

C.  Notwithstanding the local governmental subdivision’s possession of the blighted housing property during the receivership term, nothing in this Chapter shall be deemed to relieve the owner of the property of any civil or criminal liability or any duty imposed by reason of acts or omissions of the owner, or of any obligation the owner or any other person may have for the payment of taxes or other municipal liens and charges, or mortgages or liens to any party, whether those taxes, charges, or liens are incurred before or after the appointment of the receiver.

Acts 2006, No. 355, §1, eff. June 13, 2006.