William Hetzer, Sr.
June 1, 2007
Gerald Hite, Sr.
June 8, 2007
The Terrebonne Parish Council is not displaying a “Heart of Gold” toward the dilapidated downtown Houma house at 7586 Main St. co-owned by the drummer for rock musician Neil Young, Karl Himmel.
Himmel’s house is one of an increasing number of homes scheduled to be demolished by Terrebonne Parish this year, compared to the number which were taken down last year, according to Terrebonne Parish Director of Planning & Zoning Patrick Gordon.
At the Terrebonne Parish Council special session condemnation meeting held May 21, five homes were slated to be demolished by the parish in 90 days.
Himmel’s home was given 30 days (until June 20), following a motion by Councilwoman Arlanda Williams.
The six houses were the highest number condemned at one special session condemnation meeting “that I’m familiar with,” Gordon said.
“The Council has been taking a more aggressive approach” toward condemning dilapidated houses, he said.
Gordon estimates that Terrebonne Parish has 500 to 1000 dilapidated homes which need to be condemned by the parish. The number of damaged homes was increased in southern Terrebonne Parish by Hurricane Rita.
He said that his Department of Planning & Zoning has not received many complaints from the public about homes damaged by Rita. The homes must be elevated to comply with FEMA rules.
Himmel, who is currently on tour with Young, has been living in the downtown house, according to the drummer’s cousin, Aleta Leckelt. She is the daughter of the home’s other owner, the late Merril Roper.
“They want to tear down the house before he gets back,” Leckelt said.
Williams said the structure (which is in her district) is a fire hazard, and that she normally allows homeowners 90 days to repair their residences.
She said she gave Himmel’s home only 30 days to be repaired because of its location in downtown Houma, and its large size.
The house is one of the oldest residential structures in Terrebonne Parish, though it has never been declared an officially-recognized historic site.
“Don’t you think they should take care of it?” Williams asked.
To the dismay of people living nearby, the house has been a hangout for vagrants and prostitutes. Neighbors have expressed concern about the structure being a center of criminal activity.
“There have been prostitutes going to the neighbors asking to take a shower,” Williams said.
“The neighbors on Levron St. are excited” about the home being demolished, she said.“That house has been one of the biggest complaints. The family didn’t want to sell the house.”
Leckelt was hoping someone would buy the home. She pointed out to the Council that the home’s interior is in good condition, and that the exterior has a notable gingerbread trim.
At the meeting, Williams said the Council became aware of Himmel’s house in December 2006. Himmel knows that his property is in poor condition, according to ad hoc attorney Kerry Byrne.
Planning Director Gordon said he had anticipated that the Council’s initial warning to Himmel in 2006 would spur the musician to repair the home.
The family has “allowed it to fall into disrepair,” he said. “We’d like to preserve our heritage, but it shouldn’t be on the back of government to restore the home. The grass is not cut. It’s in deplorable condition. Someone did cut the grass once, and they had to use a bush hog.”
“It’s not something we want to look at at the entrance to Houma,” he said.
At one point, the house was going to be developed into a bed and breakfast, Gordon said.
The Department of Planning & Zoning receives complaints from the public about dilapidated structures, sending out inspectors to the property to take photographs.
If the property owner cannot be located, the department places newspaper advertisements, and, if necessary, hires an ad hoc attorney to search for the owner.
When a homeowner does not repair or demolish a condemned house, Terrebonne Parish contracts to remove the structure, and bills the owner. If payment is not made, the parish places a lien on the property.
“This is an act of last resort,” Gordon said. “We sent out letters. Nothing has been done. If the grass had been cut, and repairs done, this would not have been sent to the parish.”
Roots-rocker Karl “Junkyard” Himmel has a long association with Young. Himmel had played with Leon Russell before Young tapped the drummer to record the acclaimed Comes a Time album in 1977. The album yielded one of Young’s best-known songs, “Lotta Love,” which became a top-ten hit when it was covered in 1979 by the late Nicolette Larson.
In the 1980’s, Himmel was a member of two of Young’s backing bands, the Shocking Pinks and the International Harvesters, the latter with Cajun fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux. With Young, the Shocking Pinks recorded a version of an earlier Young song, “Wonderin.”
The innovative video produced for the song was Young’s first music video, and it received regular MTV airplay.
