The Historic District Landmarks Commission has unanimously denied four applications from the New Orleans Code Enforcement Department to demolish buildings in local historic districts: 1016 N. Roman St. and 1900-1902 St. Anne St. in Treme; 416 S. Broad St. in Mid-City; and 613 Vallette St. in Algiers Point. The HDLC expressed concern about why Code Enforcement had not explored alternatives to demolition for historic buildings that could viably be renovated.
These demolition applications are part of a push by Code Enforcement to reduce the number of blighted properties throughout Orleans Parish. Code Enforcement included documentation for each property’s current violations, but a representative from Code Enforcement did not attend the Nov. 6 meeting to answer questions from the commission.
The Preservation Resource Center agrees with Code Enforcement that blight presents significant safety concerns to residents, and we support the city’s efforts to ensure that buildings are properly secured and maintained. But if the property is not in danger of collapse, and if owners take steps to improve their properties, demolition should be a last resort.
PRC made comments in support of the denials, encouraging Code Enforcement to consider alternatives to demolition when addressing neglected properties in historic districts, such as seizing properties for resale when necessary. The PRC is hoping to work more closely with Code Enforcement to ensure that buildings are not demolished unnecessarily.
A rare, three-bay Creole cottage at 1016 N. Roman St. was the first Code Enforcement demolition application to be reviewed. Built circa 1850 by Lenoville Augustin Pascall, a free man of color, the cottage’s condition has been a concern for several years, earning it a place on the Louisiana Landmark Society’s 2019 list of New Orleans’ Nine Most Endangered Sites.
The property has been plagued by chain of title issues resulting from a succession with multiple owners — a common local occurrence resulting from Louisiana’s complicated heir rights laws, which can hinder people from applying for funding to fix up a property or even sell it. A family member associated with 1016 N. Roman St., for example, previously applied for a Revival Grant through the PRC, which is designed to help homeowners with HDLC violations. While the property is potentially eligible for the program, the applicant could not proceed without clearing the chain of title issues. Another presumptive owner, who appeared at the HDLC hearing, said he has been trying to save the building. Instead of using city funds for demolition, the PRC suggests Code Enforcement could use those funds to secure the building as the owners work out the chain of title issues.
The next Code Enforcement demolition application was for a circa-1880 mixed-use building at 1900-1902 Saint Ann St. The property owner confirmed that he is in the process of applying for historic rehabilitation tax credits to renovate the building. The owner also stated that he was working with a structural engineer, who had assured him that the building was structurally sound. The commission (and the PRC) encouraged the owner to promptly secure the building, which is in poor condition and largely open to the elements, as he proceeds with the tax credit process.
The third Code Enforcement application was for 416 S. Broad St., where the owner, according to the city’s OneStop website, has recently applied for a structural renovation permit. The PRC encouraged the owner and Code Enforcement to work together to ensure that the building is secured immediately and that the renovation work is started in a timely manner.
The final Code Enforcement application was for the residential property at 613 Vallette St., sale of which is currently pending. A real estate agent said that the buyers, one of whom is an architect, are enthusiastic about the property. Hopefully, Code Enforcement will remove the building from its demolition list because of the imminent sale.
In other business, the HDLC voted to nominate the Branch Bell Baptist Church at 1223-1231 St. Maurice Ave. for study as a local landmark. Built in 1958 and designed by architect Patrick M. Allison, the church was nominated by the pastor and congregation.
Two properties were considered for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. While the commission recommended listing the residential building at 1309 Harmony St., which was constructed in 1898 and designed by master architect Emile Weil, the commissioners did not move to recommend listing the dilapidated Sophie Gumbel School at 1771 Nashville Ave. Owned by the City of New Orleans, representatives from the mayor’s office requested that the commission avoid recommending inclusion in the National Register at this time, out of concerns that federal review processes might delay redevelopment plans.
HDLC staff also released the 2025 HDLC Commission meeting schedule, which will shift the New Orleans HDLC meeting times next year from 1:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., still on the first Wednesday of each month
