The New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission has denied the New Orleans Code Enforcement Department’s application to demolish a circa-1896 camelback at 2328 Annunciation St. At its Oct. 2 meeting, the HDLC called for more detailed information from Code Enforcement for this type of application in the future. The PRC spoke in support of the denial, voicing concern about the precedent it might set since HDLC’s inspection determined that the building was not in danger of collapse and is not beyond repair.
Code Enforcement’s application described the action as a “Strategic Demolition Issued by the City of New Orleans,” but omits any criteria or explanation for this decision. No one from Code Enforcement attended the HDLC meeting to provide an explanation for the application.
Commission staff acknowledged that blight is both a safety issue and an economic drain on New Orleans. However, they also expressed concern with what appears to be a shift in Code Enforcement’s policies regarding demolitions in historic districts. At the root of the problem is a lack of transparency and documentation surrounding the “strategic demolition” of buildings that are not in imminent danger of collapse. Several commissioners indicated they, too, were troubled that Code Enforcement would apply to demolish a building without any known structural issues.
The building at 2328 Annunciation St., located in the full-control Irish Channel Historic District, is owned by the Galilee Housing Initiative & Community Development Corp., a nonprofit that has a history of property neglect. This building’s condition is a problem for neighborhood residents, but demolition is a shortsighted solution that would likely result in little more than an unmaintained vacant lot and a continued public nuisance.
Code Enforcement and HDLC have issued multiple violations on the property over the last six years, with no results. The property would benefit most from a new, responsible owner; as a result of the unpaid liens on the property, Code Enforcement could seize and sell the house at a sheriff’s sale.
In other business at the HDLC meeting, the commission approved the removal of decorative roof features at 3044 Royal St. in the Bywater after a new roof was installed to Fortified standards to withstand high winds, hail, hurricanes, and tornados. The applicant had received a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the roof but had not applied to remove the decorative roof features (ridge cap vents, roof cresting and finials), which do not meet current wind ratings and cannot be maintained on a Fortified roof at this time. Staff acknowledged that there may have been confusion about what roof features could be kept with a Fortified roof, and that they had no objection to the request to remove these elements since the new roof will provide substantial additional resiliency to the overall historic structure.
HDLC staff and members of the commission acknowledged that reconciling the HDLC’s Design Guidelines with Fortified standards will likely become an increasingly prevalent issue. The HDLC and PRC are looking to collaborate to educate the public around this issue.
The commission denied an application to demolish the entire roof at the double shotgun at 509 Exposition Blvd. in the Uptown Historic District. The proposed renovation, which includes adding a second and third floor to the shotgun as well as removing weatherboards and brackets, would result in a de facto demolition to grade, with no historic architectural materials remaining.
Several demolitions to grade were approved for non-contributing buildings or buildings in poor condition. The approved demolitions included: 237 Lowerline St., 539 Webster St., and 4623 Annunciation St., all Uptown; 624 Second St. in the Irish Channel; and 7924 Panola St. in Carrollton. The application to demolish the commercial building at 2600 St. Claude Ave. in the Marigny was also approved, although review/approval of site redevelopment plans will be required before the HDLC issues a Certificate of Appropriateness.
