Judge Delays Express Inn Condemnation

A Lafayette judge pushed back the condemnation of the Express Inn on Evangeline Thruway to a Nov. 18 hearing.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Property Crime

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A City Court judge delayed condemnation of the Express Inn at 1314 NE Evangeline Thruway until a Nov. 18 hearing, after the owner said a potential buyer exists. The property was earlier ordered closed for five years due to excessive criminal activity and possible code violations.

Why it matters

The closure order reflects ongoing concerns over police calls and code violations at the property in Lafayette. The delay gives a prospective buyer time to present a plan, which could determine whether the building is redeveloped or condemned.

Lafayette Police logged 1,902 calls for service and 294 police reports at the property from January 2023 through Aug. 17, 2026, and an Oct. 5 inspection found 76 maintenance code violations. Whether a buyer will come forward and what the owner's cleanup will cost beyond the estimated $40,000 remain unresolved.

The players

Roya Boustany

Roya Boustany is a judge of Lafayette City Court who signed the final judgment closing the Express Inn.

The details

City Court Judge Roya Boustany signed a final judgment on Oct. 7 ordering the Express Inn closed for five years. The owner must let an inspector onto the property within 30 days and clear furniture, mattresses, and trash from the rooms, a task estimated to cost around $40,000.

Oct. 5: Inspection revealed 76 maintenance code violations.
Oct. 7: Judge signed final judgment closing the property for five years.
Nov. 18: Hearing on condemnation and the potential buyer's plan.

Legal Context

The Express Inn closure followed a similar order two days later against the Plantation Motor Inn at 2810 NE Evangeline Thruway, both citing excessive criminal activity. Together the two orders show Lafayette City Court applying nuisance-closure rulings to multiple motels on the same corridor.

Nearby residents and businesses on Evangeline Thruway face a motel that remains standing under a delayed condemnation order. The outcome of the Nov. 18 hearing will determine whether the property is cleared, sold, or redeveloped.

The takeaway

Property closures tied to criminal activity can stretch on when a buyer emerges, so the Nov. 18 hearing is the key checkpoint for the Express Inn.

What happens next

A hearing on the condemnation of all buildings on the property is set for Nov. 18, when the potential buyer is expected to present a plan, purchase date, and completion timeline.