NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced that representatives from the Department of Code Enforcement (CE), New Orleans Health Department (NOHD), Office of Community Development (OCD), New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Chief Administrative Office (CAO) and the SPCA completed a multidisciplinary inspection at the Mid-City i+Lofts, located at 635 N. Scott St., earlier this month. This inspection took place as a result of tenant complaints and inquiries from the District A Council office.
“I applaud the diligence of all the City departments that conducted this inspection,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This administration will not tolerate irresponsible landlords who mismanage their properties and allow tenants to live in squalor. We will ensure these tenants, and all tenants living in inhospitable conditions, know their rights and the resources available to them as well as hold delinquent landlords accountable in any manner we can. All residents deserve a clean place to live, work and raise a family.”
The Mid-City i+Lofts are owned by local landlord Josh Bruno. In addition to inspecting the property for substandard conditions and other violations of the law, the multi-departmental team spoke with several tenants who provided information about problems they have experienced, including mold, faulty appliances and unresponsive property management. City employees and UNITY of Greater New Orleans provided these tenants with information about services available to them.
“The Department of Code Enforcement and our partner agencies are aggressively pursuing owners of blighted properties,” said Thomas Mulligan, Deputy CAO, Business and External Services and Director, CE. “We will use all legal tools at our disposal to hold these owners responsible for violating the law, and we will continue working to ensure that all rental properties meet minimum standards of safety and habitability, as required by law.”
Nine violations of the City’s Minimum Property Maintenance Code were identified, and a Code Enforcement case has been opened against the property. A hearing will be held, and if the property is found to be in violation of the law, the City will aggressively pursue abatement of the illegal conditions. Evidence of criminal activity and zoning violations was also documented and referred to the appropriate City agencies.
“Substandard housing conditions often pose public health threats, so NOHD joins these multi-departmental property inspections to evaluate and document public health issues and offer resources,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of NOHD. “All renters in the City deserve a healthy and safe place to live.”
These apartments have become a nuisance for the area. It appears there are vagrants within the parking lot, which is typically locked and gated. Trash and vehicles are piled within the lot, including possible drug paraphernalia. Neighbors have reported possible mechanic or chop shop activity, as well.
“NOPD Community Liaison Officers assisted with an initial assessment of the apartments and noted several areas of concern, including alleged criminal activity,” said NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork. “The NOPD is investigating and will continue to monitor the activity to ensure that our citizens in the apartments and in the surrounding areas are protected.”
One week prior to this multi-department sweep, officers with the Mid-City Security District conducted a walk-through of the Mid-City i+Lofts. They observed the following:
- Several cameras on the facility, none of which appeared operable at the time
- Garbage throughout the courtyard, including home trash, vehicle parts and biohazard trash, like needles
- Dumpster on the property does not seem big enough for the number of apartments and tenants living there; several trash containers overflowed inside the courtyard even though there were four trash bins on the street of the property
- Large amounts of dog feces all over the property, including steps, walking paths and leading into apartments
- Total of seven vehicles in the courtyard (four appeared to be broken down and having work done, and three looked inoperable); items typically used to repair vehicles, like an engine lift and tools
- Electrical wiring flowing from one apartment to the other, posing a potential fire hazard
- Leaking water on the exterior of the building
- Reason to believe a criminal element is living there, and they were notified of who may have shot out the camera installed across the street
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