Despite stiff fines leveled by the city and promises from a prominent local musician, the historic Central City home of legendary jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden continues to molder though restoration work may finally begin soon.

On Thursday, the city issued a construction permit for repairs to the house at 2309-11 First St. Work could begin this coming week, according to Brandin Campbell, a spokesman for the Buddys House Foundation, an organization founded to preserve the historic site.

The permit for the modest double shotgun house with peeling paint calls for repairs to the siding, window trim and stucco, the replacement of missing roof shingles and the demolition of a sagging laundry room that may have been a later addition to the 19th century building.

A little more than a century ago, the house was occupied by Bolden, a hugely talented though troubled trumpeter. Born in 1877, he was a star of the Crescent City music scene, and his fiery style of playing influenced a generation of horn men.

Some consider him the first bona fide jazz musician, yet he remains a mysterious figure, with only two remaining images and no known audio recordings. Boldens career was cut short in 1907 due to apparent mental illness. He died in 1931.

The recent history of the house has been contentious.

Since 2008, the property has belonged to the Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church. Among jazz fans and New Orleans history buffs, the house is a landmark, but according to a previous interview with executive pastor Donna Williams, the leadership of St. Stephen had no idea that Bolden grew up there when the church acquired the property.

On March 23, City Hall cited Greater St. Stephen for allowing the house to become so rundown that it was in jeopardy of demolition by neglect. According to a city spokesperson, the church was fined $2,705 on March 26.

Repairs made in the following months were apparently insufficient, because on Nov. 18 the city leveled a $100-a-day fine on the church to compel it to begin repairs within 30 days.

Devon Hulbert, one of the citys code violation case specialists, said the owners may have put some lipstick on the front of the house but had failed to begin the substantial repairs required by the city.

The modest Buddy Bolden house may have been the home of the world's first bona fide jazz musician.

Despite a month of daily fines, as of Dec. 19 the boarded-up, unoccupied house hadnt undergone any noticeable work. A city spokesman said that the owners had been assessed $3,205 for continued code violations, in addition to the original $2,705 fine. Those charges remain unpaid, according to the city.

In an email, a city representative explained that if repairs arent begun, the next step in the process could be the forced sale of the house following a one-month period during which the church can appeal. The sheriff sale process generally takes six months to a year, the representative wrote.

An official city notice posted on the house alerted the owner to another administrative hearing called for Dec. 18 by the citys watchdog Historic District Landmarks Commission, at which further fines could be imposed. The hearing was later canceled, according to a city representative.

The Buddy Bolden house is visible from Simon Bolivar Avenue in Central City, Dec. 19, 2019

Despite an outcry from preservationists fearful the house will be lost, renovation of the boarded-up property has never been a priority for Greater St. Stephen. The former church building on nearby South Liberty Street was ruined by a catastrophic fire in the same year that the church acquired the Bolden property. The church has two other locations in Uptown New Orleans and New Orleans East.

For the past several months, the churchs plans for the Bolden house have rested with Grammy-winning pianist PJ Morton. In addition to his solo career, Morton is the keyboardist for the nationally known band Maroon 5. He is also the son of St. Stephens senior pastors, Bishop Paul S. Morton and Dr. Debra B. Morton.

Though the house was still the property of the church, in March, PJ Morton announced plans to form the Buddys House Foundation to begin an extensive renovation, with advice from the nonprofit Preservation Resource Center. Morton has said he hopes the house, and a similar house beside it, will become a museum to Boldens memory, with a replica of Boldens home as it might have looked in the early 20th century and a community-access recording studio.

New Orleans-born Grammy winner PJ Morton invites you to join him at a block party from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2309 First St. on Thursday (May 2). The

Campbell, the Buddys House Foundation spokesman, said that Morton has applied for federal tax-exempt status for the foundation, which was registered with the state in March. He said hes unsure of the budget for the remediation or ultimate restoration of the First Street properties.

Campbell said that since the houses are of historic significance, planning the construction took longer than it might have with ordinary properties. He said he hopes that when repairs are made, the city will consider forgiving the fines.

The sagging laundry room at the rear of the Buddy Bolden house, Dec. 19, 2019

Nathan Lott, the Preservation Resource Centers public policy research director, said that, based on a tour of the inside of the Bolden house in October, the old shotgun is not in any danger of collapse. The floors were solid, he said, and the oldest part of the house seemed reasonably stable. However, he said, the newest part of the house the rear laundry room, which was probably added when indoor plumbing became available is in worse shape.

Lott said the empty house is always in jeopardy from fire and maybe termites, but otherwise its not going to blow down in a strong wind.

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No progress visible at the blighted Buddy Bolden house, but work may begin soon - NOLA.com