While driving around the City taking photos of houses on the agenda for Mondays demolition hearings, I began to notice that the utilities were cut off BEFORE approval and that the subcontractor was defacing the property by spray painting the initials of the company, AJM.
There were a couple of things that struck me about this house,
1. it was structurally sound
2. it appeared to have been not just stripped of it’s utilities but also the entire old brick sidewalk had been ripped up
3. It is in the Bywater District covered by the Historic District Landmark Commission.
4. It was and never had been on an agenda to be considered for demolition.
I tracked down the owner and he was shocked to find out that the demolition contractors had made the bold and most likely illegal move to disconnect his utilities while he, the owner was preparing the house for renovation.
So what have we here? An eager beaver contractor defacing property and causing more problems than they solve.
10 responses so far ↓
e // May 17, 2008 at 11:06 am
NO, we have to keep demolishing homes! How else will we stabilize rent so that it remains prohibitively high?
Suspect Device: The Blog » Ready, Set DON’T DEMO | Squandered Heritage // May 18, 2008 at 12:15 am
[…] One-woman truth squad Karen Gadbois finds another contractor knocking down homes for no reason. […]
ramona // May 18, 2008 at 8:31 am
please give the full name of “AJM” so we can spread the news and tell EVERYONE to watch out.
Karen Gadbois // May 18, 2008 at 8:56 am
Louisiana Secretary of State
Detailed Record
Charter/Organization ID: 36068358D
Name: AJM DEMOLITION, INC.
Type Entity: Business Corporation
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: Not In Good Standing for failure to file current Annual Report
2007 Annual Report is required at this time Print Annual Report Form For Filing
Mailing Address: C/O ANDREA J. MONTEROSSO, 821 NASHVILLE AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Domicile Address: 821 NASHVILLE AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
File Date: 12/09/2005
Registered Agent (Appointed 12/09/2005): ANDREA J. MONTEROSSO, 821 NASHVILLE AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
Director: ANDREA J. MONTEROSSO, 821 NASHVILLE AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115
boxchain // May 18, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Thanks for tracking this, this is around the corner from me and I’ve been wondering what the deal is.
ramona // May 19, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Ok..is this his home address cuz I do not think it is a business address…..add to that, he’s only been in business since 2005????? and he is not in good standing…
Great job city of NO and State of LA…another great hire in our recovery.
Banzai Bill // May 20, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Unfuckingbelievable!!!
Sabatoge by those who seek to profit from the process….
This really sickens me….
Banzai
bayoustjohndavid // May 22, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Having a busy schedule all Spring and getting sidetracked by national politics has kept me from knowing as much about this as I should. In an earlier post, you mentioned DRC (which somehow went from not being able to get its foot in the door to being a player) seeming to be a major contractor in the demolition process. Do you know anything about the city has contracted this out, is there one prime and several subcontractors? Are there numerous small contracts? Has the city placed a bounty on houses in certain neighborhoods?
boxchain // May 23, 2008 at 5:03 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boxchain/1562774305/in/set-72157594163221941/
3829 Dauphine
Also has ‘GAS OFF’ signage
big swede // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:32 pm
this is insane! is this still going on? with this type of activity, blakely will definitely meet his goal of knocking down 10,000 houses.
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