Last week’s City Council meeting saw some great successes for historic preservation. Two hot issues were on the table: the proposal of two new historic districts, along with the requested demolition of a circa-1920s school in the St. Roch Neighborhood.
New Historic Districts
New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to protect Mid-City and Parkview by designating these areas as historic districts. Click here to see a map of the areas.
Demolitions proposed to structures in these boundaries must now seek demolition permission from the Historic District Landmarks Commission — a move that will inevitably help to ensure the future of countless restorable homes that may have otherwise faced demolition.
PRC wishes to thank study committee volunteers, HDLC staff, the City Council, and congratulate PRC members and others who voiced their interest in this matter and worked toward this compromise.
A demolition application for Charles E. Gayarre Elementary School, later renamed Oretha Castle Haley Elementary, was recently submitted to City Council as its owners were hoping to turn the space on which it sits into a “strip mall“ style of commercial development.
Built in the 1921 by noted New Orleans architect E.A. Christy, the three-story stucco building exemplifies Christy’s Mediterranean Revival design style. After an interior and exterior inspection by HDLC staff, the building was determined to be in very good condition.
City Council unanimously voted to deny this request, noting that this is an opportunity for the developer to work with the community to determine the best use for the future of this important building.
PRC sincerely thanks every person who reached out to us and to City Council to voice their concern on this matter. We will keep an eye on the future redevelopment of this property, so stay tuned for updates.
2515 N. Robertson St. / Created by Sam Randolph, littlehistories.net
