News Roundup

NORA will Ramp up Blight Fight Monday

City Business
Deon Roberts
April 20, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, an agency expected to lead the city’s recovery by acquiring and selling blighted property, has moved so slowly its own board members have expressed frustration.

But NORA will finally ramp up if policies are adopted as expected at a board meeting Monday, said board secretary Rob Couhig.

“That will free us up to be active in the acquisition and disposal business,” said Couhig, adding that NORA’s slow pace drives him crazy.

Couhig said any developer interested in NORA properties should contact the agency Tuesday, after the policies are adopted.

Since Hurricane Katrina, the city has tasked NORA with overseeing the redevelopment of hurricane-damaged properties. NORA is supposed to acquire those properties and get them in the hands of developers.

But Couhig complained of various factors hampering NORA from gearing up, including lack of funding, opposition from some in City Hall who resist giving NORA more control, difficulty getting clear title for properties and sluggish hiring of staff for NORA, among other things.

NORA is also supposed to be given properties acquired through The Road Home program.

“To date, there’s been no Road Home properties,” Couhig said. “So it’s hard to do anything with things you don’t have.”

NORA has possession of about 87 properties, “which is not many,” he said.

Mayor C. Ray Nagin and the city have given NORA another 1,500 to 1,800 properties, but NORA can’t do anything until titles are cleared on those sites, Couhig said.

NORA needs what is known as “quick take,” the ability to quickly take control of properties in about 60 days, he said. But NORA needs the Legislature or the City Council to clarify rules before NORA can begin using quick take, he said.

NORA also needs more funding, he said.

Historically, NORA has operated on about $700,000 to $800,000 annually, he said. NORA receives its funding as reimbursements from the city, he said.

The city has given NORA $1 million to cover 2006 expenditures, he said. NORA now has $1.5 million in its treasury.

Nagin has promised to give NORA another $1 million for 2007, Couhig said.