With the closing of five more properties last week, Baton Rouge has now completed about three-fourths of planned home buyouts as part of a plan to create a buffer zone around the North Baton Rouge Waste Water Treatment Plant. The most recent purchases in the University Place subdivision total $244,800.
In January 2013, after almost two decades of relocation requests by nearby residents—who complained of the plant’s odor—and numerous lawsuits, the Metro Council approved the $6 million buyout plan for residents living within three-and-a-half blocks of the treatment facility. In addition to funding the purchase of homes and land from owners, the plan includes the costs for appraisals, relocating families, demolishing existing homes and constructing the buffer.
Since the first University Place purchase, recorded in November 2013, East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court records show there have been 35 transfers of property to the sewerage commission totaling $2,463,760. The values of the individual properties range from $9,600 to $110,500.
“As of today [July 17], we have closed on 30 houses out of the 41. There are 19 properties that are vacant land; we have closed on five of those 19,” says Assistant Parish Attorney Bob Abbott. “On existing homes, we have made all of the offers. Three are still in consideration, but 37 have accepted.”
The city-parish is following relocation guidelines in making the purchases. After at least two appraisals, residents are offered the higher dollar amount and are also provided assistance with finding a comparable home and relocating, Abbott says. Utility hookups and moving expenses are also covered.
Abbott says title issues have been a challenge in completing some of the purchases, as have encountering individuals with judgments and clearing liens.
“We are getting close [to finishing the real estate transactions],” says Abbott. But he adds, “We will probably have to file expropriation proceedings. We are halfway through on relocations. We expect to have 36 and we’ve done 18. We haven’t had a lot of complaints from the people we’ve relocated. We haven’t had a lot of complaints period.”
The city-parish will hire a landscape architect to draw up plans for the buffer zone area, and that portion of the project will be put out for bid. Once all of the homes are acquired and demolished, the buffer will be installed.
“The plan includes the fence and vegetation for a sight and odor barrier so as to have less effect on the remaining residents,” says Abbott.
The buffer project is part of the city-parish’s federal consent decree to repair the sewer system. The deadline for completing the buyouts and buffer zone is January.
“We must have all property acquired or have filed for expropriation. We plan to have all houses removed and the fence put up,” Abbott says.
