By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – One of the most contentious condemnation issues ever to come before the Slidell City Council was resolved once and for all when the property at 1738 Sullivan Drive was ordered for demolition.
Property owner Zelmo Strickland, Jr. came before the City Council in December with the city considering condemnation and demolition. But a hearing that lasted almost an hour-and-a-half ended with Councilman Nick DiSanti asking for a 30-day extension before demolishing the home, all as a favor to Strickland as he was waiting for an insurance company to pay off.
DiSanti agreed to the time extension even though the home has sat in deteriorating condition ever since a fire in June 2019 destroyed most of the second floor, and the roof protecting the first floor. Since that time, Strickland has been in a fight with Allstate Insurance to pay off his claim of $350,000. He has been living in an RV on the property, which is illegal according to city law, and he has also been operating his mobile car detailing business on the property, which he has been cited as illegal as well.
Strickland’s problem with Allstate is because fire inspectors in the area called the fire arson and Strickland’s attorney Damian Marinello acknowledged that Strickland has been called the prime suspect. The case was not helped when it was revealed that Strickland previously built a home around the corner at 1713 Sullivan Drive that also was burned in another arson case only two years earlier. Allstate did pay off on that claim, but so far has refused to completely pay Strickland for the latest fire, although they did reportedly pay off a mortgage on the property and gave Strickland living expense money.
When Strickland returned before the council for this hearing it turned into another lengthy discussion of well over an hour. In the end, Strickland’s home was scheduled for demolition within 14 days, and the homeowner was given a stern talking to by several council members who were not happy that he continually blamed his problems on Allstate and Chief Building Inspector Joe France for having some kind of vendetta out for him.
That relationship was clearly seen for what it was as Strickland entered the council chambers and immediately was met by France, who handed him another citation for high grass, trash and over a dozen abandoned vehicles on the property. France said at the first hearing that Strickland had previously been cited several times for similar problems that were never cleaned up.
Strickland called the relationship with France for the past three years a “hostile environment” and suggested France “has turned this into something it is not about. It should be about demolishing my home, not the yard.”
But the condition of the yard one month after the council offered 30 days extra was something that upset several council members, not to mention the fact they said Strickland has had several years to improve the situation but has not.
Councilman Cynthia King said she was disappointed more had not been done with the property since Strickland last appeared before the council.
“I was hoping for a sign of good faith from you, yet very little has been done to improve your property,” she said. “This is not punishment against you. We are charged with protecting the community and there is no evidence you did anything to secure the property. The house was burned down by someone who got on your property, so clearly kids could do that now considering the condition there. But a month from the first time you were here, and the property is still not secured.”
Strickland said his ex-wife claimed that Strickland’s brothers joined him to set the fire, but Strickland said he was out of town when the fire occurred.
Councilman Ken Tamborella echoed the comments from his colleague.
“In all this time you did nothing to save your property. You said a lot of building materials could be reused on the property, but you haven’t taken the time since 2019 to save what could be used.
“You could have gotten a dumpster on the property and slowly cleaned things up, but you never did it. You could have slowly been saving any salvageable materials, but you haven’t. You are here today because how you handled this, not Joe France and not the City Council. We are sorry that we are all in this position now, but it is due to your lack of action,” he said.
Marinello fought to get more time as he has filed a lawsuit against Allstate due to their claim rejection. He admitted it could take months to get in front of a judge for that to be resolved and previously stated, “I know this will be a hard case to win,” considering his client has been called the prime suspect in the arson.
Strickland and Marinello also tried to have the demolition leave the existing slab so a home could be rebuilt, but Council President Bill Borchert said that current code now has the slab too low to build on.
Several character witnesses showed up to testify on behalf of Strickland, with some statements attacking France.
“Zelmo doesn’t smoke or drink and is a good man,” said Leon Newsom. “He built that home to give the community a place to come and when the floods came, they came to his house. The problem is Allstate and right now it is wrong that you are all attacking a citizen of Slidell when we should come together to support him.”
Another local resident called Strickland “a good man and a plus for the community,” while his sister Denise Fleming testified to the council that “he set a wonderful example to the children that if you work hard, you can have something.”
She also said, “the community has had enough of Joe France. People shouldn’t have to follow the law out of fear. To see citizens attacked, it’s like an abuse of power.”
But Councilman Leslie Denham was one of several who supported France, the chief building inspector in Slidell for over 10 years with certifications in virtually every building category.
“This is my fifth year working with Joe France and I trust his opinion, as well as his thoroughness,” she said.
While Strickland continued to insist, he was being punished for not keeping the property cleaner, Tamborella didn’t buy his remarks.
“We don’t punish people, we try to uphold the law for the entire community,” he said, noting neighbors on all sides of Strickland’s home have looked at the eyesore for over three years.
“At the last meeting we tried to work with you, but there is still an issue of boats, cars and campers sitting on the property. You were to move them, and you didn’t. Since 2019, you didn’t do much of anything and that’s why we are here today,” he said.
The council voted unanimously 7-0 to demolish the home, with Councilmen Trey Brownfield and David Dunham absent.