Abbeville Mayor Blasts Police Jury Over Neglected Historic Bank Building

Abbeville must invest up to $1.7 million to repair the dilapidated Hibernia Bank Building, which the city is acquiring from the parish.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:21pm

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An oil painting depicting the exterior of an old, weathered bank building in Abbeville, Louisiana, with boarded-up windows and peeling paint, conveying a sense of civic decay and political inaction.The long-neglected Hibernia Bank Building in Abbeville stands as a symbol of the city's ongoing battle with the parish government over the responsible stewardship of public property.Abbeville Today

Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White harshly criticized the Vermilion Parish Police Jury for the poor condition of the old Hibernia Bank Building, which the parish has owned for over 20 years but made minimal repairs to in the past six years. An independent inspection found the building requires at least $610,000 in repairs to make it suitable for occupancy, with up to $1 million in optional renovations. The city council voted 3-1 to accept the police jury's offer to transfer ownership of the building and the old downtown library to Abbeville, with the city allowing the Sheriff's Department to remain in the bank building rent-free.

Why it matters

The transfer of the neglected Hibernia Bank Building to Abbeville's control highlights ongoing tensions between the city and parish governments over the stewardship of public assets. Mayor White's strong criticism reflects frustration over the police jury's failure to properly maintain the historic building, which the city must now invest significant funds to repair and renovate.

The details

An independent inspection by Vermilion Architects found the Hibernia Bank Building requires replacing all exterior windows and frames, repairing exterior stucco, stabilizing the foundation, and replacing two 12-ton air conditioning units to make it suitable for occupancy. Additional optional repairs could cost up to $1 million. The total estimated renovation cost is $1.7 million, while the building's current appraised value is around $500,000. Mayor White has contacted local legislators to seek funding assistance from the state for the repairs.

  • The Police Jury has owned the Hibernia Bank Building for over 20 years.
  • The Police Jury has made minimal repairs to the building in the past six years.
  • The city council voted 3-1 on Wednesday to accept the police jury's offer to transfer ownership of the building to Abbeville.

The players

Roslyn White

The mayor of Abbeville who strongly criticized the Police Jury's neglect of the Hibernia Bank Building.

David Hamer

An architect with Vermilion Architects, LLC who conducted an inspection of the Hibernia Bank Building and found extensive issues due to neglect.

Vermilion Parish Police Jury

The parish government entity that has owned the Hibernia Bank Building for over 20 years but made minimal repairs in the past six years.

Francis Plaisance

An Abbeville city councilman who voted against accepting the police jury's offer to transfer the Hibernia Bank Building, citing the building's long-standing problems.

Brady Broussard Jr.

An Abbeville city councilman who voted to accept the police jury's offer, arguing it would allow the city to consolidate government offices into a single building.

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What they’re saying

“I was surprised by the neglect of the building. Some of the issues could have been mitigated easier, had it been maintained.”

— David Hamer, Architect, Vermilion Architects, LLC

“This is how your tax dollars have been spent over the last 20 years. So, when you complain about us (Abbeville government) not being good stewards, at least the City of Abbeville is taking care of the properties it owns. This (upkeep of the building should be criminal.”

— Roslyn White, Mayor of Abbeville

“You know the old saying, 'You can't judge a book by its cover.' This is what I feel about this building. There have been many problems with this building, and that is why the police jury has been trying to get rid of it for a long time.”

— Francis Plaisance, Abbeville City Councilman

“Why would we not consolidate into a single building and sell the smaller buildings that we have outgrown? That is why I support this.”

— Brady Broussard Jr., Abbeville City Councilman

What’s next

The Vermilion Parish Police Jury is expected to formally transfer ownership of the Hibernia Bank Building and the old downtown library to the City of Abbeville at their meeting on Wednesday. The city will then work to secure funding to begin the extensive renovations required to make the historic building suitable for occupancy.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining and preserving historic public buildings, especially when ownership and responsibility are divided between different government entities. The Hibernia Bank Building's deterioration under the Police Jury's watch underscores the need for better coordination and accountability between local governments when it comes to stewardship of shared assets.