WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 19, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) today met with the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), Gregg Fortner, to discuss plans to redevelop excess properties in New Orleans. Vitter is pushing HANO to sell these excess properties.
“These excess properties are idle, dilapidated, and a waste of taxpayer money and resources,” Vitter said. “By completely reversing its strategy, HANO is depriving taxpayers in New Orleans of well over $6 million that could be used to revitalize the community. After fighting through HUD red tape to get approval for HANO to sell these properties, the reversal doesn’t make sense. If the properties aren’t sold, they could remain vacant and dilapidated for years to come, which is harmful to those communities and neighborhoods.”
HANO submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in September of 2013 asking to sell its excess properties, which are valued at over $6 million. In July 2014, Vitter pushed HUD to approve this request and speed up the divestment process for all of HANO’s excess property sites. However, HANO’s leadership changed and they are now requesting to keep the properties and redevelop them into mixed-income communities. Vitter is pushing HANO to sell its excess property to its non-profit Crescent Affordable Housing Corporation (CAHC), who would then sell the surplus properties to private bidders.
New Orleans City Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head has also raised concerns. She has been critical that HANO has not provided a clear plan for implementation and asked for a comprehensive study to be completed on the benefits of both options.
