It's been about six years since the Sheraton Hotel on East 70th Street closed and was sold to a new out of town owner. Reportedly ownership has changed at least once.
Construction to renovate this property has been in progress for about two years. More delay in completion is now expected. Mold has been discovered in many areas of the facility and the owner is having financial issues.
In the meantime liens of approximately $300,000 have been filed by unpaid workmen and material men against this property. This further compounds the prospect of completion by the end of this year.
What can be done by the City to expedite completion of this project?
Actually NOTHING.
The city can cite the building if there are violations of the city's property standards ordinance. Non-compliance with any citations could result in fines that most likely would not be collectable....or at least not until the building was completed and the facility is opened.
The city is actively enforcing its building codes. It was this effort that revealed the mold problem.
However the city can only enforce remediation of the mold if a certificate of occupancy is applied for by the property owner. The city can not fine the building owner for the existence of the mold. The city can not levy fines for noncompletion of work permitted by the city. Nor can the city levy fines if the remodeling effort is, in effect, delayed further or abandoned completely.
Shreveport does have a special property standards code for the downtown area that addresses vacant property. But this ordinance does not specifically deal with delayed construction/renovation of buildings in the ordinance's footprint. And the ordinance is not applicable outside the downtown area.
The old Sheraton is just one example of commercial properties neglected by owners. These eyesores are in every council district and most of these are vacant. Unless the property standards ordinances are violated, the city is powerless to require vacancy, remodeling or improvement of building appearances.
The Shreveport city attorney's office has been asked to research options for the city in cases like the Sheraton and others throughout the city. However property owners have inherent rights to manage their properties as they wish--subject of course to zoning requirements, building codes, fire codes, and property standards requirements.
This means that delays in completion of construction/renovation, ugly building facades, and vacant buildings are basically not subject to city regulation. Property owners have substantial legal rights that must be balanced against public policy regulations.
The overall "good" of the community to have aesthetically pleasing building exteriors, no long-term building vacancies and timely completion of construction/renovation are worthy causes that will most likely lose out to the rights of property owners.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.