Blighted 7th Ward home that caught fire had 3 demolition permits approved since 2010
The fire spread next door and left a couple homeless
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Updated: 10:47 PM CST Mar 12, 2021
The fire spread next door and left a couple homeless
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Updated: 10:47 PM CST Mar 12, 2021
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KNOW ABOUT HOW THEY WILL HONOR HIS LEGACY. >> BASICALLY MY LIFE IS GONE. SULA: A COUPLE IN THE 7TH WARD WANTS ANSWERS AFTER BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOME WHEN THE ABANDONED HOUSE NEXT DOOR CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THEIR HOUSE. WDSU CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GREG LAROSE TRACKED DOWN THE OWNER OF THE ABANDONED HOME, AND ASKED THE CITY WHY IT DIDN’T TAKEN ACTION BEFORE THE FIRE REPORTER: CITY OFFICIALS ISSUED DEMOLITION PERMITS FOR THIS HOUSE THREE TIMES SINCE 2010, AND A FIRE LAST SATURDAY MORNING GOT MOST OF THAT JOB DONE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE FLAMES SPREAD AND HEAVILY DAMAGED THOUSAND NEXT DOOR. >> MY GREATEST FEAR ALWAYS WAS THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME OVER THERE AND SET A FIRE. REPORTER: INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL LOOKING INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. CITY RECORDS SHOW THE FIRST DEMOLITION PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR THE VACANT HOUSE IN 2010, THE OWNER AT THE TIME SAID HURRICANE DAMAGE REQUIRED THE STRUCTURE TO COME DOWN, ACCORDING TO THAT PERMIT. THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AT LEAST THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. RECORDS SHOW A COMPANY OWNED BY LOCAL REALTOR JONANTHAN GOEDECKE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY LAST MAY. GOEDECKE TOLD WDSU INVESTIGATES IN A STATEMENT HE PLANNED TO TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE. HE WOULDN’T EXPLAIN WHY HE HASN’T DONE SO OVER THE PAST 9 MONTHS AND DECLINED AN INTERVIEW. >> NOBODY EVER FOLLOWED UP ON IT. THAT’S THE THING. REPORTER: GOEDECKE’S COMPANY APPLIED FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT IN LATE DECEMBER. THE CITY DID NOT REVIEW IT UNTIL THIS WEDNESDAY AT A GOT APPROVED 24 HOURS LATER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SIX DAYS AFTER THE FIRE. HOWEVER I FOUND THAT MONTHS EARLIER A DEMOLITION PERMIT WAS APPROVED AND ISSUED BY THE CITY TO THE PRIOR OWNER. I ASKED THE CITY WHY IT NEVER FOLLOWED UP TO ENSURE THE HOUSE WAS TORN DOWN SOONER ESPECIALLY , IN LIGHT OF THE HURRICANE DAMAGE, THEY DIDN’T ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT SAID THE CITY GIVES OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENOVATE EVEN IF THEY APPROVE A DEMOLITION PERMIT. >> SURE, I FEEL A LOT OF HARDSHIP ABOUT IT. BUT TO ME, I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK AT THE GOOD OF IT, BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. I DO TRULY BELIEVE WHAT THE DEVIL HAS FOR ME, GOD IS GOING TO MAKE IT GOOD. REPORTER: THE DELONGS HAVE FOUND A PLACE TO STAY TEMPORARILY, BUT THEY’RE STILL LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT HOME. THEY DIDN’T HAVE RENTERS ISSURANCE, BUT THE RED CROSS HAS