BlightSTAT Methodology

This page describes the data sources for some of the most important recurring slides that appear in the analysis reviewed in BlightSTAT meetings. In many cases, the data sources are available publicly in the City’s open data portal, data.nola.gov. 

Code Enforcement Pipeline

The Code Enforcement pipeline is maintained in LAMA, the City’s system for tracking code enforcement and permitting actions. Data is updated in LAMA after an action is taken that moves a case along in the pipeline. After a property is inspected and found to have violations it moves to the “Research” stage (if no violations are found, the case is closed and removed from the pipeline). After a hearing date is set the case moves to the “Hearing” stage. After a final judgment is given by a hearing officer at a public hearing, the case moves to the “Abatement” stage if further action like a demolition or lien foreclosure (Sheriff Sale) is needed.  If no additional action is needed, the case   is closed and removed from the pipeline.

The data is pulled from LAMA on a monthly basis and is published here. 

Inspections

Data on Code Enforcement inspections is maintained in LAMA and can be found here. Data is updated in LAMA by inspectors after they perform an inspection. This is a live feed from LAMA, and may be missing some records from prior to 2012 that did not properly migrate when the City transitioned to the database in 2012.

Hearings

Data on Code Enforcement hearings is maintained in LAMA. Data is updated in LAMA by Code Enforcement after each hearing is held and can be found here.  This is a live feed from LAMA, and may be missing some records from prior to 2012 that did not properly migrate when the City transitioned to the database in 2012.

A dataset with records that occurred before the LAMA implementation can be found here. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of all pre-LAMA hearings, and it contains some records that did migrate successfully.

Demolitions

Data on Code Enforcement demolitions is reported on to the Office of Performance and Accountability on a monthly basis directly by City contractors.  Each contractor enters demolition data into a standardized form containing information including the address of a demolition, how many units are being demolished, and when the demolition is initiated and completed. Data on demolitions is located here.

Code Lien Foreclosure Pipeline

Data for the Code Enforcement lien foreclosure pipeline is maintained by Code Enforcement and the Law Department.  It is updated as new events occur.

Information on properties going through the code lien foreclosure process is located here.

NORA Properties Returned to Commerce

Data for NORA properties sold through auctions, the Lot Next Door program, Alternate Land Use program, and other development programs is reported as closings on those properties are reached. Data on these sold properties is here.

Blight Abatement Actions

This chart totals the major City and NORA actions that have been taken to abate blight in New Orleans. This data is de-duplicated across datasets and is represented in addresses (properties with multiple addresses are split).  However, it should be noted that this list does not necessarily describe addresses that are in compliance at any given time. For example, structures that were once demolished that are on private lots may have been allowed to fall back into blighted conditions by their owners and a purchaser of as sheriff sale property may not have yet renovated that property. We urge citizens to notify the City if the properties have become blighted by calling 311.  In addition, this list does not include additional addresses in which blight was mitigated by other city or state housing programs or where a property owner has taken action without direct action from the City.  We would note that the city’s overall blight enforcement efforts have caused many property owners to take action on their own before the city intervenes to require it.    

The following variables and their data sources comprise the list of major public abatement actions. Note that the chart counts the number of units involved in each action, while not all data sources contain a column with the number of units involved. 

Variable (click for data source)	Note
Compliance at Hearings	Compliance judgments can be entered in a number of ways. To find properties found in compliance, filter the Judgment column for “Not Guilty” or any other judgment type containing the word “compliance.” Hearing records that occurred before the LAMA implementation in 2012 but that did not successfully migrate can be found here.
Demolitions
Sheriff’s Sales	To find the sold properties, filter the Report Status column for “Sold.”
Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation	Due to federal privacy restrictions, addresses for the properties returned to commerce through the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program cannot be made public.
NORA Properties Returned to Commerce