MORGAN CITY, La. -- Eight buildings containing 24 units in the Brownell Homes development are slated to be demolished by the end of January 2013, according to a news release from Charles Spann, executive director of the Morgan City Housing Authority.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the Morgan City Housing Authority’s application to demolish the buildings.

Bradfield, Richards, Rhodes and Associates Inc., a professional design services company, issued a report on the condition of the buildings.

The report concluded that the buildings should be demolished due to outdated infrastructure, structural damage, fire and water damaged units remaining vacant for 10 years without modernization and the health and safety issues the units pose to the surrounding community.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agreed with the total development cost developed by the Duplantis Design Group of Thibodaux, that the buildings are obsolete, and it is not cost effective enough to update the current public housing units, Spann stated.

MCHA intends to use the property for future development of single and duplex housing for individuals or families with incomes less than 60 percent of the median income, Spann stated.