Blight team combs Kenner streets

Kenner code inspectors swept seven blocks of four-unit apartment buildings in the Greenlawn Terrace and Beachview Heights subdivisions, issuing 68 citations, officials said Wednesday.

Building and code inspectors on Tuesday scoured the area including the 3500, 3600, 3900 and 4100 blocks of Delaware Avenue and the 4100, 4200 and 4300 blocks of Florida Avenue. The largest number of violations, 30, was written for electrical problems: fixtures hanging from buildings, missing light-fixture covers and the like.

The number of violations was low compared with some other problem areas, said City Councilman Ben Zahn, whose district includes the area. For example, a September sweep of just two blocks of Martinique Avenue netted 65 violations.

"I'm pleased that the consistency of the code inspector for this area keeps the violations down," Zahn said. "I'm happy to see when violations are low."

Kenner's code sweeps were begun after Hurricane Katrina and are becoming more frequent, happening every few weeks. The sweeps cut down on violations, said Keith Chiro, director of the Inspections and Code Enforcement Department.

"It's a continued effort to get into these areas to improve the quality of life," Chiro said. "Every time we go back, it gets a little better."

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Mary Sparacello can be reached at msparacello@timespicayune.com or 504.467.1726.