City identifies more than 50 blighted properties

BILOXI — A landmark hotel and a former high-rise senior apartment complex are among more than 50 structures the city of Biloxi is ordering to be either repaired or knocked down.

All are still damaged and vacant more than six years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

A new state law gave allows Biloxi’s City Council to declare a building blighted, instead of going to court. That power lasts only until next September.

The Sun Herald reports city officials believe some buildings will be saved.

Among the buildings are the blighted list are the former White House Hotel, a former federal office building, the former White Pillars restaurant and the 13-story former Santa Maria del Mar senior apartments owned by the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi.