The Impact of a Masonry Ordinance on the City of Slidell, Louisiana

1. The Impact of a Masonry
Ordinance on the City of Slidell,
Louisiana
How strong is your vision? Can you see
your community 20 years from now?

2. City of Slidell, Louisiana

3. Why a Masonry Ordinance in Slidell?
• Key Issues in Slidell (2004)
Concerns about lack of attractiveness and architectural
variety of new buildings
Construction quality of multi‐family was becoming
undervalued
Shortened economic life of real estate assets
Need for hurricane resistant materials and building codes
Desire for continued and sustainable growth

4. Multi‐family Housing in Slidell
Pre‐Masonry Ordinance

5. Multi‐family Housing in Slidell
Pre‐Masonry Ordinance

6. Multi‐family Housing in Slidell
Pre‐Masonry Ordinance

7. Multi‐family Housing in Slidell
Pre‐Masonry Ordinance

8. Policymakers with vision
choose to make a difference
Martin Bruno, FAICP Planning Director,
The Honorable Ben Morris, Mayor of Slidell
and other forward thinking policy makers
choose to enhance their community
planning through the adoption of a
masonry ordinance.

9. Policymakers plan
for the future of Slidell
“The planning commission knew the ordinance would have to
protect against Mother Nature. We were looking for the most
durable product to put in the ordinance and brick is what is going
to stand up over the years”
“To my colleagues in the AICP planning community, I recommend
utilizing masonry ordinances to build cities for the future—instead
of just for the here and now.”
Planning Director, City of Slidell, Martin Bruno

10. Facts About Slidell’s Masonry Ordinance
Multi‐family Housing Requirement
75% Brick requirement
City‐wide ordinance
Developed and passed in six months
Passed City Council 9 to 0 on 9/28/04

11. Multi‐family Housing with New
Masonry Ordinance In Place

12. Multi‐family Housing with New
Masonry Ordinance In Place

13. Multi‐family Housing with New
Masonry Ordinance In Place

14. Multi‐family Housing with New
Masonry Ordinance In Place

15. Recognition in APA Publication

16. Housing Unit Growth in Slidell, LA
0
50
100
150
200
250
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
TotalUnits
Year
Slidell, LA Housing Units 1999 to 2006
Unit Total

17. Population and Housing Unit Growth
in Slidell
The population of City of Slidell continues to grow at a faster
rate than communities in the New Orleans MSA
The City of Slidell had a population growth rate of 5% from
2000 to 2008
The New Orleans MSA had an overall growth rate of ‐15% from
2000 to 2008
The City of Slidell had a housing unit growth rate of 13% from
2000 to 2008 while the New Orleans MSA had a housing unit
growth rate of ‐19 % during same period.
Conclusion: The adoption of masonry ordinances results in
continued quality growth, and does not restrict growth

18. Hurricane Study
An Important Consideration for
Community Safety

19. Impact of Brick Veneer Structures to
Hurricane Debris*
Similar wall construction
– Brick veneer (4 inch nominal solid brick)
– Fiber‐cement siding
– Vinyl siding (no insulation in siding)
*Study conducted at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center
at Texas Tech University

20. Hurricane Study Objective
Determine the
resistance of
typically
constructed
residential brick
veneer walls to
hurricane-
generated missiles

21. Fiber‐cement Siding
9 lb 2 inch x
4 inch timber
at 34 mph

22. Vinyl Siding
9 lb 2 inch x 4 inch
timber at 34 mph

23. Brick Veneer
9 lb 2 inch
x 4 inch
timber at 55
mph

24. Hurricane Study Results
Material
Perforation
Speed, mph
1/2 in. OSB Sheathing 22
Fiber-cement Siding 25
Vinyl Siding 25
Brick Veneer >79

25. Hurricane Study Conclusions
Perforation speed of a 4 in. nominal brick
veneer wall is in excess of 79 mph for a 9
lb hurricane design missile
–Brick veneer meets requirements for high
velocity hurricane zones in the Florida building
code
–Brick veneer meets requirements for
enhanced protection of ASTM E 1996

26. Hurricane Study Conclusions
Brick veneer provides:
– Greater than minimum
performance found in
building code
requirements
– Safety for home and
business occupants
• Missile impact
– Reduced property
damage from high wind
events
– More durable buildings

27. Slidell, LA policymakers have left a legacy of
sustainability, safety, and economic growth…..

28. What Legacy Do You Want to Leave
Your Community?
• A sustainable, livable, and
prosperous community for future
generations
• A declining and unsustainable
community different from one
that you wished to leave behind