NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A former church in the Seventh Ward where jazz great Danny Barker taught music lessons in the 1970s is slated to be torn down.
City officials and the contractor hired to demolish the old Fairview Baptist Church on St. Bernard Avenue said the building is an imminent danger to the community.
The building’s roof has collapsed, and the City’s Department of Code Enforcement tells WGNO that one of the walls showed signs of “buckling” in January.
Code Enforcement reported a history of violations at the property, dating back to September 2013. Notice of the intended demolition was posted on Jan. 23, and the demolition was scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 5.
But a woman who said she represents the congregation and the pastor, blocked the contractor’s backhoe, arguing that the city did not have the right to tear down the building.
“I received in regular mail and certified mail a notice for Feb. 19. If I’m correct, today is not Feb. 19. I have not had that hearing. I believe the city needs to address the issue of my hearing on Feb. 19 and ask this gentleman to remove his caterpillar,” said Yolanda Taylor Jones.
The city tells WGNO that the hearing referred to by Jones will deal with the fines that must be paid for allowing the disrepair to continue. It will not be a hearing on the merits of demolishing the building.
NOPD officers arrived at the church and threatened to arrest Jones if she didn’t move her truck.
Jones moved, and the demolition continued.
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