After being an eyesore for nearly 18 years under three previous owners, the current owner of the old James Ward Elementary School on W.D. Rochelle Avenue has a deadline for getting the property cleaned up and repaired or face demolition by the city.

The Jennings City Council has granted the property owner until Jan. 1, 2024 to partially repair or demolish the old school, which has fallen into a state of disrepair with broken windows, open doors, mold, overgrown weeds. If the owner does not meet the deadline, the city will demolish the building and bill the owner for the cost.

However, Mayor Henry Guinn told the American Press on Thursday that he will veto the council’s decision based on information learned through prior litigation involving demolition and will expedite actions to immediately demolish the structure.

“Our goal is to incorporate proper language to safeguard the city as we continue our efforts to clean up blight,” Guinn said. “Because of the severity of issues and numerous attempts for action, I will also request the structure be immediately demolished.”

Guinn said the property has been an eyesore and safety concern since it closed its doors in 2005. Guinn said he has been in contact with all three prior owners of the property over the years about its upkeep. The city sent the current property owner two letters requesting the property be cleaned up and secured, but no action has been taken, he said.

“A lot of the stuff that I have stood for is for the cleaning of the city and the demolition of blight,” Guinn said. “These are not fun decisions. These are things that we take very seriously.”

Councilman Anthony LeBlanc said the new owner should be given a chance to evaluate the situation and come up with a plan to clean up the property. He asked the city to send Coleman another letter notifying her of the deadline.

The school closed its doors and relocated to the former Northside school campus on Shankland Avenue in 2005 after a new Jennings High School was built and students were relocated to the old high school which became Jennings Elementary School. Northside was renamed James Ward Elementary School.

After the school closed it was used for a short-time as a summer feeding program and other youth programs.

The Southwest Development Board and Dr. Charles Achane later purchased the property from the Jeff Davis Parish School Board for $50,000 with plans for a youth community center.

The property was then purchased in 2021 by Janine A. Coleman Community Development. Plans for the property are unknown.

Coleman, who has a Lafayette address, did not attend Tuesday’s hearing on the condemnation because she was unable to clear her schedule, according to City Attorney Derek Bisig.

A phone number for Coleman obtained by the American Press, did not appear to be a current number.

City Inspector Phillip Arceneaux determined the structure is unsafe and in need of condemnation with broken windows, exposed, opened doors, damaged ceilings, outdated electrical and plumbing, overgrown weeds, mold and more.

Councilman Clifton Lejeune said the building is likely facing “hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions” in repairs, including bringing the building up to code with extensive plumbing and electrical work.

“We are putting off the inevitable,” Lejeune said. “No one here is interested in hurting people…but there is no financial sense in investing a few million in dollars without the idea of at least opening a school there or something viable to generate that kind of revenue to justify that kind of expenditure.”

Lejeune, who is in favor of demolition, said there is no reason to wait.

Councilman Johnny Armentor, whose children went to school at James Ward and who knew a lot of the teachers and the Ward family,

“I don’t want to see it sit there another 5 years and that is what is going to happen if we let it drag,” Armentor.

“I don’t see no reason to take the school down because it is historical,”  resident Carolyn Barker said.

Barker urged the city to seek historical funding to help save the school. The school does not fall within the historical district, according to Guinn.

Resident Chris Lehman said he was surprised that the item was placed on the April 11 council agenda with only the address and no mention of the property being the former school.

“I don’t know if that was on purpose or meant to keep other people from getting involved, that when we put it on the agenda we didn’t mention what it was,” Lehman said. “That’s pretty important to a lot of people in the community. That name actually stands for something and I think if you would have put it on the agenda as James Ward, not necessarily that more people would come to defend it, they would have shown up with an interest to discuss the school itself.”

Lehman said he does not oppose demolition of the structure, but expressed concern for cost of saving the structure and removing potential asbestos. He estimates the cost of asbestos abatement between $50,000 and $200,000.

Any cost occurred by the city for asbestos removal or demolition will be placed on the tax rolls since the property is privately owned, Guinn said. The property would be adjudicated to the city and maintained by the city until all taxes are paid.

Lehman also expressed concerns that the city inspector, who is a member of the Jeff Davis Parish School Board, inspected the property and signed related documents.

“The fact that you have a school board, an elected official, who is actually playing the role of inspector, in an issue that he could have resolved eight, nine years ago,” he said. “Why wasn’t the building condemned then?”

Guinn and Council President Stevie VanHook acknowledged they were aware of Arceneaux’s position, but said they were trying to focus on the current situation.

“Whatever you are going to do, do something firm, make it transparent and give everybody an opportunity to have a voice in the process,” Lehman said.