Faubourg St. John Discusses Short Term Rentals

August 2, 2016 by Charlie London

The City Council is voting on short term rentals on October 6th.
Write to them and tell them you want to keep neighbors in your neighborhood.

 

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no-air-bnb
 

YOU BETTER PAY ATTENTION OR
YOU’LL PAY A WHOLE LOT MORE

 


Short term rentals drive up rents.

The New Orleans City Council will vote on short term rentals on Thursday, October 6th.

fsjnalogo4fsjnadotorg
August 8, 2016

Director Robert D. Rivers
City Planning Commission
1033 Perdido Street, 7th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70112

RE: FSJNA Positions on Short-term Rentals

Director Rivers,

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association (FSJNA) would like to put on record our opinions regarding Short-Term Rentals in New Orleans. These opinions are based on the existing CPC study, research into how other cities in the country are handling the same challenges,  recommendations from other New Orleans neighborhood associations and,  our members.

FSJNA found there is a greater adverse impact to our neighborhoods from short-term rentals than we originally anticipated and that the number of housing stock used for short-term rentals has increased from what was observed in the 2015 festival season.

For the four types of Short-Term Rentals itemized in the existing CPC study:

PRINCIPAL RESIDENTIAL / “WHOLE HOUSE” – FSJNA is in complete opposition to this type and strongly believes the CPC was right to remove this option from the earlier report. This type of use has the most adverse effect on neighborhoods and residents. It removes valuable housing stock that could be used as affordable rentals or sales to primary residents, and artificially inflates home sale prices and property tax values.

TEMPORARY – We are against any whole home rentals, even if owned by an owner-occupant. We believe there is no practical way to enforce the proposed 30 day/4 times per year restriction.

ACCESSORY – Allow only a permanent resident owner to rent out spare bedrooms or additional units in a multi-family that he or she occupies, but he or she must occupy at least one of the units.

COMMERCIAL – FSJNA believes that the CPC must identify the types of commercial zones they will allow this use, not just all “Commercial or Mixed Use” properties. Additionally, FSJNA believes that ALL short –term rentals in Commercial or Mixed use zones should ONLY BE ALLOWED AS CONDITIONAL USE.

For Overall Short-Term Rental Options:

FSJNA supports requiring a permit number be associated with every online listing.

Fines for enforcement or taxation violations should be the cost of doing business or a minimum of $1000 per instance whichever is greater. Penalties for breaking the law must be very high to ensure compliance with any new zoning use and enforcement. They should also attach to the property, such as a tax lien, to ensure compliance.

FSJNA reserves the right to offer additional opinions to city agencies and City Council pending the results of CPC Staff draft ordinances and reports expected this summer.

Thank you for your consideration, we would be happy to work with you to offer our ideas about ways to ensure compliance and to ease enforcement. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Steve Mardon
President, Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association
[email protected]
(504) 486-8125

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SHORT TERM RENTALS

brinkman_j_lgby Emile J. Brinkmann

intlunionI am submitting these comments in connection with the City Planning Commission’s reconsideration of the issue of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in Orleans Parish, and the City Council’s directive that a proposed zoning ordinance be drafted. As a point of background, I am the retired Chief Economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington and spent years running a research group dedicated to housing and housing finance issues. I have appeared on all of the major network and cable news shows, and have been quoted in newspapers through the US and other countries. Even though I retired and moved back to New Orleans two years ago, I am still the US representative on the executive committee of the International Union of Housing Finance, a 100-year old organization dedicated to housing issues around the world.

1strdestructionBased on my background, I cannot think of an action that would be more destructive to the fabric of our neighborhoods and the well-being of our homeowners than the legalization of STRs for the benefit of a few, thereby rewarding those who take advantage of a lack of enforcement to violate existing laws with impunity. In Part One of my comments, I will make three basic points about the negative economic effects on homeowners. In Part Two I will address comments that have been made to the effect that AirBNB, VRBO, and similar operations are like Uber and are merely part of the growth of the so-called sharing economy.

Part One
1) STRs fundamentally upset residential valuations by introducing unsustainable commercial valuations into residential neighborhoods.
We have already seen home prices in historically significant neighborhoods increase at rates far in excess of the local incomes needed to support those prices. A significant portion of those home price increases are due to ability of some of the properties to earn upwards of 20 percent to 25 percent return on investment through illegal renting. This is great news if you already own a home in one of these areas and will be selling soon. Because the Assessor’s Office has no way to separate out house sales for STR usage, this is great news if you are the city collecting residential property taxes based on values inflated by STR commercial use. It is bad news if you are trying to buy or rent in Mid-City, Treme, the Bywater, or other impacted neighborhoods in order to live in the city.

It is terrible news if you are a long-term resident with no intention of moving, but are now faced with an annual property bill driven up by the valuation effects of illegal renting.

The valuation and property tax problem will likely be exacerbated by the idea that the city can mitigate the negative impact of STRs by limiting the number allowed per block face. The owner of the first one on the block makes a killing, and the value of that property goes up. However, the other owners on the block not only have to deal with the disruptions caused by the STRs and the higher property taxes, they are precluded from selling at the higher STR-driven prices because no other STRs will be allowed on their block (assuming for the sake of argument that the city would actively enforce density limitations). Therefore, the idea that the negative impacts of STRs can somehow be ameliorated by reducing the permitted densities can actually make more people worse off from a valuation perspective.

Given the instability of this structure and the lack of equitable treatment in terms of valuation and who is allowed an STR and who is not, I do not believe density limits would survive legal or political challenges, and are therefore not a viable option to prohibition.

1neighborhoods4neighborsThe result is that if you are a New Orleans resident with no intention of selling and moving, you would not only face the prospect of having weekly fraternity parties next door, you get to pay higher property taxes for the privilege. The result is that if you are looking to buy, you risk over-paying and being underwater on your mortgage if something were to happen suddenly to impact negatively the STR business, as will be covered in the next point.

2) Short-term Rentals directly inject the business risk of tourism into residential neighborhoods.
keepneighborsHotel owners and operators are accustomed to the business risks associated with the travel and hospitality industry. These risks are reflected in their operational plans, capital investments, and equity and debt financing costs. They understand that in a recession, travel is disproportionately impacted as businesses cut back on discretionary travel as a first response. They learned in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks that terrorism can interrupt air travel, and that even when flights are restored, companies will impose travel restrictions on key personnel.

In New Orleans and other hurricane-impacted areas, they have learned that even the threat of a storm, with or without a mandatory evacuation, can cause their rooms to empty and disrupt operations for some time. (As a side note, would operators of STRs be required to maintain enforceable hurricane evacuation policies for their guests, or would responsibility for these visitors fall on the city?)

In contrast, the health of the hospitality industry has a more muted impact on the traditional residential housing market in New Orleans. Tourism is only one of the legs of the New Orleans economy, and there are other legs to support the New Orleans jobs market and home prices. STRs, however, directly inject the risk of the tourism market into every neighborhood of the city where they exist. Demand for houses and high prices exist when owners can earn high returns, but what happens in a downturn? What happens when tourism suddenly slows for one of any number of predictable and unpredictable reasons? What happens is what we have seen in other housing markets dominated by investors and speculators. At the first sign of a reversal, they sell with a vengeance, driving down prices and leaving the long-term residents suffering the consequences of rapidly falling prices and “For Sale” signs everywhere. If the properties are leveraged, they can sit for months and years as they work their way through the mortgage foreclosure (and probably bankruptcy) process, further depressing values.

Real estate speculation is a fact of life. Some people win and some people lose. When a strip mall goes bankrupt on Airline Highway, the negative consequences (other than to the property’s owners and lenders) are limited to having one more eyesore around town. When that speculation, however, is driven by STRs and is occurring in some of the city’s most important and historic residential neighborhoods, the negative consequences of a drop in tourism will go right to the hearts of these neighborhoods, and will be much more severe and widespread than any normal downturn.

3) Weekly bachelor parties are more than a nuisance. They represent a real loss of value for the neighbors.
Many of the comments presented to the CPC and the City Council on this issue have dealt with the horror stories of late night parties and the problems that occur when out-of-towners believe that they can freely extend the revels of Bourbon Street to the residential neighborhood where they have rented a house for the weekend. The problems go far beyond loss of sleep, frustration with the inability of an under-staffed NOPD to deal with noise issues, and the absence of a private right of action to move against the owners of the offending properties. They represent a real loss of value to anyone attempting to sell an impacted home to anyone other than an STR operator. (I do not know whether the failure to disclose a nearby nuisance STR in a real estate declaration has been tested in a Louisiana court, but I am fairly certain it would be actionable in other jurisdictions.)

The logical outcome is that once an STR opens on a block, the only informed sales that would not be negatively impacted by the existence of the STR would be those to another STR operator. As already noted, however, such a sale would be prohibited if density limitations were put in place as part of an attempt to make STRs politically palatable.

This points again to the utter fallacy of putting any faith in density limitations. The idea that the CPC and the City Council would not be inundated with requests for exceptions, and that many of those requests would be granted, simply ignores political reality. That assumes, of course that the many illegal operators of STRs would even apply for exemptions to the density limits. The reality is that the city has failed for years to deal with illegal STRs. Based on this history, it is reasonable to expect that any density limits would be ignored or gutted in a few years.

keepneighborhoodsIn conclusion, the adoption of a legal STR framework for residential neighborhoods, particularly for non-owner occupied structures, would have tremendous and largely irreversible negative impacts on the fundamental character of the city for years to come. Ignoring the quality of life issues, the economics alone will lead to a further hollowing out of the city’s full-time residents. Homeowners will see that the rational action is to sell. They would avoid both the higher property taxes and the risk of a speculative bubble bursting with downturn in the tourism industry.

Part Two
AirBNB is not like Uber
It has often been argued that AirBNB and similar operations are nothing more than Uber for houses, that they are simply one part of an irreversible movement toward a shared economy where technology brings together the buyers and sellers of various services. At their best, such arguments are facile and do not stand up to even a modest amount of economic scrutiny. At their worst, they are a bald-faced attempt to direct attention away from what is illegal activity by saying that it is no different from what everyone else is doing in other areas of the economy. In reality, the only similarity between Uber and AirBNB is that both rely heavily on computers and smart phones.

Uber is an example of what the Austrian-American economist Joseph Schumpeter described as “creative destruction”. The idea is that in a capitalist system, economic growth occurs when innovators put their money behind new ideas for goods and services. While the creative process is the key for creating new markets and new opportunities, it comes at the cost of destroying old products and services, and the capital invested in delivering those old goods and services.

A prime example is Blockbuster versus Netflix. Blockbuster invested huge sums in brick and mortar stores and an inventory of video tapes, and later DVDs, to fill the shelves in those stores. It had a large complement of employees to man the cash registers and stock those shelves. Along came Netflix with the idea that people could go to their computers, select what titles they wanted to see, and have the DVDs delivered a few days later by the postal carrier. Immediately successful, the service Netflix created began the destruction of the hundreds of millions of dollars Blockbuster had invested in its system. Later, when Netflix switched to streaming content, it effectively destroyed the capital Netflix itself had invested in DVDs and its mail order business.

In Uber’s case, it challenged the existing way of summoning a taxi, as well as introducing a model that matched supply and pricing to peak periods of demand. Uber was challenging the economic model of the taxi business, but, more importantly, it challenged the local regulatory framework for taxis that existed in each of the cities where it sought to operate. Its success has come in exposing and differentiating between those regulations that were necessary for the public’s protection and those regulations that merely existed to protect the status quo. After all, until Uber, the method of summoning a cab outside a hotel had not really changed since the 1800s. This is Schumpeter’s creative destruction process at work.

The key difference between Uber and AirBNB (and similar companies) is that there is nothing fundamentally illegal about the service Uber provides. Paying someone to take you in his or her car from Point A to Point B is not inherently illegal, provided appropriate licensing requirements are met. The only ones harmed by the Uber innovation are those invested in the old ways of doing business.

In contrast, AirBNB and similar services are providing technology platforms that offer services that are fundamentally illegal. The regulations of which AirBNB facilitates the violation are not there to protect capital invested in the hotel industry. Rather AirBNB is facilitating, for a profit, the violation of zoning laws that were enacted to protect individual homeowners from this type of commercial activity. If the only harm was to the established hotels and legal bed and breakfast establishments, it could be argued that AirBNB is just another example of Schumpeter’s creative destruction. However, the true harm and destruction is to the residents of the neighborhoods disrupted by the illegal short-term rentals. The residents of these neighborhoods do not have capital at risk in the hospitality industry like Marriott or Hilton. Rather the capital they have at risk is in homes that they trusted would be protected by zoning laws and the enforcement powers of the city government. It appears that trust was misplaced.

Therefore, AirBNB has nothing to do with Uber or Schumpeter’s growth through creative destruction, but is simply a case of making a fast buck at the expense of someone else by facilitating an illegal activity. The closest parallel to AirBNB is not Uber, but hiring prostitutes with Craig’s list.

Sincerely,
Emile J. BrinkmannNO-short-term-rentals

 

 

 

 

TODAY, Tuesday, June 14, at 1:30 p.m., the City Planning Commission will propose a CZO amendment to allow all categories of short-term rentals, and make short-term rentals permitted and conditional uses in all neighborhoods. The CPC Staff Preliminary Report makes these and other recommendations, and has little information on enforcement mechanisms to control and penalize illegal operators.
For information on today’s meeting and a link to the Preliminary Staff Report, please use the link, below – short-term rentals appear as agenda item 9.
http://cityofno.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php
Call the CPC at (504) 658-7033 before you go to make sure the vote will take place today and that there will be time for public input.
If you are able, please attend the 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, June 14 CPC meeting in City Council Chambers to voice your opinion. Thank you.

Preliminary Staff Report

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 1

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 2

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 3

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 4

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 5

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 6

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 7

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 8

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 9

Preliminary Staff Report – Public Comments 10

Jay Brinkmann is the retired Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research and Education at the Mortgage Bankers Association where he worked on a wide range of issues impacting single-family, commercial and multifamily real estate finance. His team handled economic forecasting, responding to regulatory and legislative issues impacting the mortgage industry, and benchmarking the operational efficiency and profitability of the mortgage divisions of commercial banks and independent mortgage companies.

Jay is a native of New Orleans, but began his career on Capitol Hill as the press secretary to U.S. Rep. David C. Treen. He then served as Treen’s deputy chief of staff when Treen was elected governor. He worked in commercial banking at what was then Louisiana National Bank/Premier National Bank in Baton Rouge, and was on the business school faculty at the University of Houston where he specialized in financial institution regulation and energy markets. Immediately prior to joining Mortgage Bankers Association, he worked in the portfolio strategy group at Fannie Mae.

He has published articles on bank regulation and housing finance in various academic journals and on the op-ed pages of The Wall Street Journal and the American Banker. He was frequently quoted in print and electronic news outlets on real estate finance topics, has appeared on the news shows of all of the major broadcast and cable networks, and has testified before the US House and Senate banking committees. Jay holds a Ph.D. in finance from Purdue University, an MBA from Tulane University and a BA in International Affairs from The George Washington University. He currently serves at the US representative on the executive committee of the International Union of Housing Finance, a 100-year old organization dedicated to housing issues around the world.

He returned home as a full time resident to New Orleans in 2014 after a 40-year absence, intending to spend his time being a grandfather, and renovating an old home. He has instead found his time increasingly occupied by being a volunteer for various public policy and community service projects.

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Lisa Amoss writes, “This is a problem that is rapidly spiraling out of control. While, in our post-Katrina recovery and rebuilding mode, we haven’t been paying attention, our neighborhood (and many others) have been invaded by short-term rentals and they are drastically changing our character and culture. I am NOT talking about neighbors renting out rooms in the homes they occupy, nor about anyone occasionally renting out the entire home they occupy for Jazz Fest while they are out of town. I am talking about developers coming in and buying up multiple houses, then renting them out as a business venture. These are hotels in residential neighborhoods. They are creating parking and noise problems on our residential blocks, and they are helping to drive up housing prices so that young families cannot afford to buy homes here any more. Our neighborhood is becoming increasingly occupied by transients who have no vested interest in keeping this a vibrant, diverse and safe place to live. If your block has not yet experienced this, there are many in FSJ that have. And it’s changing faster than you can imagine. ”

Cynthia Scott writes, “The ‘hotel’ on my block has now graduated to an events rental venue. Last week, for 3 or 4 days running, the space was rented to someone from Tales of the Cocktail for a daily party from early afternoon to 7 pm each day, with a DJ blasting extremely loud hip hop and other music and a constant stream of people being ferried from the CBD to the location via Uber. A week or two earlier the space was rented for the day to a HUUUUUGE (to paraphrase a certain candidate) birthday party which drew people from all over the city, with cars racing up and down our one-way street and parking in people’s driveways. They departed by sundown, so neither of these rentals could be considered a “home rental” by any definition.

An open letter to the Tales of the Cocktail Community regarding the effects of Short Term Rentals in New Orleans

Dear friends,

This open letter is not about Air…BnB as such, but about the challenge of supporting your industry and community amidst new paradigms of travel and tourism. When Tales of the Cocktail was founded, we deliberately placed the event in July, one of the most difficult months for our local economy, in an effort to help increase revenue for New Orleans’ many hospitality businesses and employees. The hotels, bars, restaurants and thousands of hospitality workers they employ have been grateful for Tales of the Cocktail, and we want to continue to do right by them. In this spirit, we write to you today to help raise awareness about the effect short term rentals, such as AirBnB, are having on residents, business owners, and event producers, like ourselves.

Bar manager at Erin Rose, and former CAP, Rhiannon Enlil was given a notice of eviction last week, after four years in her apartment because her landlord wants to list the property on AirBnB. This is by no means an isolated incident. There are now over 4,316 AirBnBs operating in New Orleans.

“There are a finite number of homes in this city, and the demand is high for workers and residents who keep the economic engine running. If you allow short-term rentals to eat away at that supply, the appeal to live and work in this city diminishes. All of the visitors who use short-term rentals, who want to eat in our restaurants, listen to our live music, drink in our bars… who will serve them if we in the service and entertainment industry cannot afford to live here?”

Rhiannon Enlil
Erin Rose
Newly evicted tenant

This issue is also having a significant impact on the hotels and licenses B&B’s in New Orleans. Hotels are one of the longest standing harbingers of hospitality. They employ hundreds to thousands of people, provide insight and infrastructure to guests, and work with event organizers to facilitate events that would otherwise not be possible, such as Tales of the Cocktail. Every tasting room and seminar we facilitate is done so in a hotel, and it’s hard to imagine where else we could possibly produce so many events within one week. Because of our longstanding relationships with these hotels, we’re able to negotiate special rates for Tales attendees year after year. Hotels are experienced in the practice of hospitality, and legally qualified to accommodate our guests, whereas short term rentals, which are illegal in New Orleans, fundamentally upset residential valuations by introducing unsustainable commercial valuations into residential neighborhoods.

In this spirit, we encourage you to stay with one of our partnering hotels (or even another local hotel if you prefer), but please avoid staying at an AirBnB or other short term rental property that is not legally sanctioned to operate in New Orleans. Each short term rental takes revenue away from our own hospitality industry; if the hotels are operating below projected capacity, staff hours get cut, and employees get laid off. Tales of the Cocktail is one of many organizations in New Orleans working to have these illegal rentals addressed by our city government, but in the meantime, we encourage you to consider the matter for yourself. Everyone wants the best deal they can find, but sometimes the best deal results in an exceptionally rotten deal for everyone else. We employ you: help us keep locals in their homes and guests visiting our city in the many beautiful and hospitable hotels and B&Bs New Orleans has to offer. Thank you for your time and consideration. If you support this effort, please share this post.

Respectfully,

Tales of the Cocktail

Thank you to our partnering hotels: Hotel Monteleone, Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, Ace Hotel New Orleans, AC Hotel New Orleans Bourbon, Bienville House, Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Dauphine Orleans Hotel, Hotel Le Marais, Hotel Mazarin, MOXY NOLA, Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, W New Orleans – French Quarter.

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“Venice, whose world-famous canals are constantly in a precarious condition because of the environment, is now seeing some 22 million visitors per year, which dwarfs the estimated 55,000 people who actually live there. And while many Venetians rely on tourists filling hotels, going for gondola rides, and eating in restaurants to stimulate the local economy, it’s clear that some people would rather the travelers go home.”

The effects of “over visiting” in Venice is reaching a boiling point, so much so that residents are posting signs telling tourists to go away. An independent study projects by 2030 there will be zero locals living in Venice.

http://www.cntraveler.com/story/venice-locals-to-tourists-go-away?mbid=nl_082016_Daily&CNDID=31819853&spMailingID=9388026&spUserID=MTMzNDg1MTk2ODkzS0&spJobID=981661951&spReportId=OTgxNjYxOTUxS0

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Filed Under: CRIME, Featured, HISTORY, More Great Posts! Tagged With: air bnb, bayou, best neighborhood in New Orleans, blight, Charlie London, destruction of neighborhoods, eclectic, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, fungus among us, homeaway, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, no more neighbors, preservation, short term rentals, str

WHEN WILL THE PUBLIC DEMAND THAT OPEN SPACE BE LEFT OPEN?

July 29, 2016 by Charlie London

DEMAND THAT OPEN SPACE BE LEFT OPEN

by Keith Hardie, Jr.

70% of those who use public parks use them for passive purposes. But municipalities too often look at parks as vacant unused land that needs to be developed and programmed. Our own master plan warns against this kind of thinking:

City Park in New Orleans
City Park in New Orleans

“Cities that give up park land end up regretting it. A robust network of green space and parks is a critical asset for quality of life and urban success. It helps retain existing residents and attracts new ones.  When cities looking for “free land” establish other public facilities on park land, they are chipping away at the community’s overall inventory of park land.  Often, it is more costly or otherwise more difficult to acquire new park land. For this reason, it is important to make sure that, at a minimum, the city maintain a commitment to keeping the same overall amount of park land that it has at present.”     Master Plan, Vol 2, Chap 7. p 15.

But, despite this language, our parks continue to be threatened by development and overprogramming. That’s why we need to amend the Master Plan to put language in Chapter 14 (the one that everyone agrees has the force of law) to stop commercialization and development in our parks.  We need parks for residents, not parking lots and “attractions” for tourists.”

article below by Charles A. Birnbaum President & CEO, The Cultural Landscape Foundation

 Has the time come to refine how we measure the value of historic parks like  Audubon and City Parks in New Orleans?

What about the irreplaceable historic and cultural values that are embedded in these places?

The Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore® Index ranks land owned by regional, state, and federal agencies within the 100 most populous U.S. cities—including school playgrounds formally open to the public and greenways that function as parks. The ranking criteria includes acreage (park acreage as a percent of city area), facilities and investment (spending per resident), and access (the number of residents within a ten-minute walk). However, the measure of acreage doesn’t take into account parkland and open space lost to new construction within a park. Consequently, the measure of overall acreage may not be affected by new construction within a park, but the amount of actual open space is.

2016-07-28-1469742382-6535805-map1973.jpg 2016-07-28-1469742413-7806175-Map2000.png

Audubon Park, New Orleans, LA, showing loss of public open space.

In New Orleans,  open space in Audubon Park today only accounts for about one third of the park; it’s a sliver around the park’s periphery, along with some other limited interstitial space. City Park could soon lose eight acres to the Children’s Museum expansion. That’s a quantitative and qualitative difference that needs to be measured, particularly as it affects many residents’ quality of life.

City Park in New Orleans
City Park in New Orleans

With the renaissance of cities, and more and more users taking advantage of our municipal parks, when will the public demand that open space be left open? Will we draw a line in the grass that says municipalities can no longer repurpose meadows for museums and trade pastoral parkland for parking? Will we declare that parks held in public trust—especially masterworks designed by great landscape architects—are not free for the taking?

The majority of our park users—more than 70%—use public parks for passive enjoyment. These vulnerable spaces are living, connective tissue composed of soil, rock, trees and lawn; but more than that, they tell our stories as a community and a nation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-a-birnbaum/the-obama-library-is-goin_b_11248112.html

Filed Under: CRIME, Featured, HISTORY, Living Well Tagged With: audubon park, bayou st john, city park, faubourg st john, New Orleans, open space, preservation, quality of life, recreation

Valuable Information for 1st Time Renovators

January 8, 2016 by Charlie London

firsttimerenovatorFirst Time Renovator Training: Buy Right
Buy Tickets Now

This training includes two sessions:

Session 1: Tuesday, January 12 · 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Session 2: Tuesday, January 26 · 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

At the Preservation Resource Center located at:
923 Tchoupitoulas St. (in the Warehouse District)

GoogleMap

Prepare to take on your first renovation project with this two-night course.

Topics covered will be an analysis of the pros and cons of renovating, how to select a project that is right for you and your budget, and financing options including 203(k) renovation loans and rehabilitation tax credits.

This training is helpful for anyone trying to purchase their first home on a limited budget, as well as anyone who is thinking of renovating for the first time who wants to do the best job possible and maximize their renovation budget.

First Time Renovator: Buy Right is Underwritten by Tricia King- Gardner Realtors.

EVENT COST
$40/$35 for PRC members.

Become a Member
For more information or to register, click on “buy tickets now” or contact Suzanne at 504.636.3399 or [email protected]

Space is limited · Pre-registration required.  Buy Tickets Now

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, best neighborhood website, buy right, faubourg st john, learn, New Orleans, prc, preservation, preservation resource center, purchase a home, rebuild, renew, restore, tchoupitoulas

2552 St. Philip to Get an Inn with Neighbors

November 4, 2014 by Charlie London

2552stPhilip-300x240Nearly everyone who spoke before the City Planning Commission this week about the proposal to convert the century-old New Orleans Police station at 2552 St. Philip Street into a bed-and-breakfast was in favor of it — including the neighbors, the commissioners and even the city staffers who said it was impossible.

Only the language of the city’s land use bureaucracy stood in the way, an obstacle that proved insurmountable Oct. 28. After the City Planning Commission voted to postpone a decision on the project, District D City Councilman Jared Brossett said he is preparing to amend city law to make it possible.

Please click here for the rest of the Mid-City Messenger’s story.

2552 St. Philip auction

A “Police Jail and Patrol Station” built in the turn of the 20th century in the Esplanade Ridge neighborhood was auctioned off for $175,000 Friday(December 13, 2013), according to city officials.

The 6,291-square foot Queen Anne and French Renaissance Revival-style building, located at 2552 St. Philip Street, was given a market value of $175,000 in September 2012. It is “in very poor condition,” with “substantial flooding and roof damage,” according to an appraisal done by Stegall, Benson and Associates, LLC for the city of New Orleans.

According to Tyler Gamble, the city’s press secretary, Liz and Raul Canache purchased the property.

December 16, 2013
http://midcitymessenger.com/2013/12/16/st-philip-street-police-station-from-1902-auctioned-for-175000/

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by Charlie London
Property Disposition 12/12: Consideration of the sale of 2552 Saint Philip Street, Lots 99 and 100, Square 322, in the Second Municipal District, bounded by Saint Philip, Dumaine, North Rocheblave and North Dorgenois Streets. (ZBM C-13, PD-4)

jailpatrolstation

You may remember that I have been passionate about the restoration of 2552 St. Philip for many years now. I happened upon the property while surveying the area after moving to Faubourg St. John after my previous house was destroyed by the Federal Flood. I literally gasped when I first saw the property. It is a stunning architectural gem of serious historical significance.

I am happy to announce today that dream of getting the property restored may indeed become a reality… with your help. You see, the city wants to auction 2552 St. Philip off to the highest bidder. I hear you saying, “so what, I can’t afford that!” Maybe not, but you may know someone who can. Let’s work together to find someone who will provide the care and restoration this property so desperately needs.

There are many people who helped bring this city property up for auction. Michelle Kimball of the Preservation Resource Center has been a stalwart fan of 2552 St. Philip and deserves much of the credit for keeping the pressure on the city to do something with it. The Louisiana Landmarks Society was also instrumental in bringing attention to 2552 St. Philip when it listed it as one of its “New Orleans 9 Most Endangered Properties”.

Former Councilperson Shelley Midura and present Councilperson Susan Guidry both of New Orleans Council District A and their staffs were also extremely helpful.

2552 St Philip Street was included in a presentation given to the Council Housing and Human Services Committee yesterday. It is among the City’s first list of surplus properties to be auctioned.

2552 St. Philip is just one of the historic city-owned properties being demolished by neglect…

Restoring City-owned historic properties would create anchors of positive development throughout New Orleans and give a big boost to our restoration efforts. My previous blog posts about 2552 St. Philip are in the links below:

PHOTO and DESCRIPTION of 2552 St. Philip
http://katrinafilm.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/2552-st-philip-street/

DONATION OF CITY PROPERTY
http://katrinafilm.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/donation-of-city-property/

CITY DEMOLISHES PROPERTY BY NEGLECT
http://katrinafilm.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/581/

PHOTO and DESCRIPTION of 2552 St. Philip
http://katrinafilm.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/2552-st-philip-street/

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: 2552, 2552 St. Philip, charlie, endangered, historic, historic building, inn, Jail and Police Station, landmarks, london, louisiana, most, New Orleans, North Dorgenois, philip, preservation, renovation, resource, restoration, salmen, society, st.

News from the PRC

October 23, 2014 by Charlie London

Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

What’s in This Issue:
Stained Glass Tour:  Celebrating Local History
First-Time Homebuyer Training:  November
Historic House Specialist Seminar for Real Estate Agents
Calling for Holiday Home Tour Volunteers
Absolute Auction:  130+ Homes and Residential Lots
Save the Dates for PRC’s Upcoming Events


Renovators' Happy Hour Goes Uptown

Stained Glass Tour:  Celebrating Local History

Sunday, Nov. 2 · 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tour begins at Our Lady of Prompt Succor
$16 for PRC members / $20 for non-members
Advance ticket sales close at noon on Friday, Oct. 31. On the day of the tour, all tickets are $25.

Sally downriver for a unique Stained Glass Tour in Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish!


First-Time Homebuyer Training:  November

First-Time Homebuyer Training:  November

Four sessions are required for completion of this course:
Monday, Nov. 3 · 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 · 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 5 · 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 6 · 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
At PRC, 923 Tchoupitoulas St.
$75 per individual / $90 per household
$50 for ASII individual members / $75 for ASII household members


Historic House Specialist Seminar for Real Estate Agents

Historic House Specialist Seminar for Real Estate Agents

Thursday, Nov. 6 · 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At PRC, 923 Tchoupitoulas St.
$75 for PRC members / $85 for non-members

Attention real estate agents:  Bolster your knowledge of historic house types, New Orleans neighborhoods, and financial incentives for homeowner renovations.


39th Annual Holiday Home Tour

Calling for Holiday Home Tour Volunteers!

Sunday, Dec. 14
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In the Garden District

We enlist over 200 volunteers to work as docents in the tour homes throughout the Holiday Home Tour weekend. Not only will you enjoy an “insider’s view” of one of the incredible tour homes, but you will also receive one FREE ticket to the tour ($45 value) in exchange for your time. Volunteer now before all the shifts are taken!

If you have any questions, please contact Bette Painter at 504.636.3397 or [email protected].


Absolute Auction:  130+ Homes and Residential Lots

Absolute Auction:  130+ Homes and Residential Lots


Save the Dates for PRC’s Upcoming Events:Sunday, Nov. 2
Stained Glass Tour:  Celebrating Local History
View event details.

Monday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 6
First-Time Homebuyer Training:  November
View event details.

Thursday, Nov. 6
Historic House Specialist Seminar for Real Estate Agents
View event details.

Friday, Dec. 12
Holiday Home Tour Patron Party — SOLD OUT
View event details.

Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 13 & 14
39th Annual Holiday Home Tour
View event details.

Click here for PRC’s Calendar of Events.


For more information about Preservation Resource Center,
please call 504.581.7032 or visit www.prcno.org.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, faubourg st john, historic renovation, New Orleans, prc, preservation, rebuild, renew

Preservation News

October 4, 2014 by Charlie London

Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

What’s in This Issue:

Announcing New Work by George Schmidt to Benefit PRC
First-Time Renovator Training, Part 2:  Renovate Right
Renovators’ Happy Hour Goes Uptown
Home Repair Advice by Maryann Miller
Preservation in Print:  October Issue
Community Corner:  Introduction to Property Research Resources
Save the Dates for PRC’s Upcoming Events


New Work by George Schmidt to Benefit PRC

Announcing New Work by George Schmidt to Benefit PRC

Saturday, Oct. 4 · 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
At George Schmidt Gallery
626 Julia St. (in the Lafayette Square District)
FREE and open to the public


George Schmidt is one of PRC’s most talented friends—an artist, a musician, and a general New Orleans celebrity—and he’s honoring PRC’s 40th anniversary with a new series of limited-edition etchings! Drop by to see his original depictions of New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods at his gallery this Saturday as part of Art for Art’s Sake.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit PRC.


First-Time Renovator Training, Part 2:  Renovate Right

First-Time Renovator Training, Part 2:  Renovate Right

This training includes two sessions:
Tuesday, Oct. 14 · 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 21 · 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 28 · 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
At PRC, 923 Tchoupitoulas St.
$50 for PRC members / $65 for non-members


Learn how to manage your first home renovation.


Renovators' Happy Hour Goes Uptown

Renovators’ Happy Hour Goes Uptown

Thursday, Oct. 23 · 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
1905 Peniston St. (at Dryades Street)
FREE for PRC members / $10 for non-members


Tour this unique 4,297-square-foot Craftsman home that was designed by Favrot & Livaudais and built in 1909.


Renovators' Happy Hour Goes Uptown

Home Repair Advice by Maryann Miller

“Minding the gap:  easy DIY ways to fill the gaps between old wood floor boards”
NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune · Sept. 22, 2014

This week, I want to talk about another wood floor pet peeve:  the tendency for slim gaps to appear between floor boards, when the aging fill between the boards cracks, dries and pops up out of place. The gaps can be anywhere from a few inches to a foot in length, resulting in air leaks and climbing utility bills.


Click here to read the complete column or post a question about home maintenance.


Preservation in Print:  October Issue
Featured Content:

Poverty Point Becomes a World Heritage Site  (p. 10)
Louisiana claims its own World Heritage Site:  the ancient mounds of Poverty Point.  By Diana M. Greenlee.

Renovate Right:  The Synagogue Apartments  (p. 17)
How seasoned renovators created their masterpieces.  By Lauren McCulloch.

Clarence John Laughlin:  Life After Life  (p. 20)
The surrealist photographer who brought the spirits of Louisiana’s architecture to life.  By Gene Fredericks.

Subscribe to the print edition by joining PRC today!



Introduction to Property Research Resources

Community Corner:  Introduction to Property Research Resources

Saturday, Oct. 4 · 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
At New Orleans Public Library, in the Louisiana Division / City Archives
219 Loyola Ave. (at Tulane Avenue)
FREE and open to the public; registration appreciated


Want to research the history or your house or other buildings in New Orleans? This class will introduce beginners to the property research resources available in the Louisiana Division/City Archives.


Save the Dates for PRC’s Upcoming Events:

Saturday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 11
First-Time Homebuyer Training:  October
View event details.

Tuesdays, Oct. 14, 21 and 28
First-Time Renovator Training, Part 2:  Renovate Right
View event details.

Thursday, Sept. 25
Renovators’ Happy Hour Goes Uptown
View event details.

Sunday, Nov. 2
Stained Glass Tour:  Celebrating Local History
View event details.

Monday, Nov. 3 through Thursday, Nov. 6
First-Time Homebuyer Training — November
Call 504.636.3046 or email [email protected] for details.

Thursday, Nov. 6
Historic House Specialist Seminar for Realtors
View event details.

Friday, Dec. 12
Holiday Home Tour Patron Party
View event details.

Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 13 & 14
39th Annual Holiday Home Tour
View event details.

Click here for PRC’s Calendar of Events.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, faubourg st john, New Orleans, prc, preservation, preservation resource, restore new orleans

Party Thursday at 5:30

April 20, 2014 by Charlie London

2917ursulines-webRenovators’ Happy Hour Goes to Faubourg St. John

EVENT DETAILS

Thursday, April 24
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

2917 Ursulines Ave. (between N. Gayoso and N. Dupre)

GoogleMap

EVENT OVERVIEW

Visit this Neoclassical house on Ursulines Avenue that is being restored to its original glory.

This highly modified Neoclassical house on Ursulines Avenue has been gutted, and many of the anachronistic elements removed, to restore it to its original glory. The historic body of the house will utilize the Residential State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit while a non-contributing addition was demolished to make way for an addition including a great room with exposed steel and reclaimed wood tread staircase leading to the master suite with vaulted ceilings and new double-hung wood windows.

Light refreshments provided. Wine and beer available for a suggested donation.

EVENT COST

FREE for PRC members
$10 for non-members

Light refreshments provided. Wine and beer available for a suggested donation.

For more information, contact Suzanne at 504.636.3399 or [email protected].

 

Renovators’ Happy Hour goes to Faubourg St. John

Thursday, April 24

Tour a historic renovation-progress, learn from the renovators, and enjoy a glass of wine at the PRC’s Renovators’ Happy Hour. This highly modified Neoclassical house on Ursulines Avenue has been gutted and many of the anachronistic elements removed to restore it to its original glory. The historic body of the house will utilize the Residential State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit while a non-contributing addition was demolished to make way for an addition including a great room with exposed steel and reclaimed wood tread staircase leading to the master suite with vaulted ceilings and new double-hung wood windows. Greg Jeanfreau, FSJNA President, will speak on the benefits of Faubourg St. John becoming a Cultural and Historic District. Light refreshments provided. Donation bar.

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at 2917 Ursulines Avenue, $10 / Free for PRC and JLNO members.

For more information: [email protected], 504.636.3399

Suzanne N. Blaum | Director of Education and Outreach | Preservation Resource Center

923 Tchoupitoulas St | New Orleans, LA  70130 |   (504) 636-3399

[email protected]

www.prcno.org

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, faubourg st john, New Orleans, preservation, renovation, Ursulines

Lyndon Saia Saves Neighborhood Treasure

April 6, 2014 by Charlie London

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/8810399-171/lyndon-saia-painstakingly-restores-old

1300Moss1-2014mar25

By Mimi Read | Special to The Advocate

As personality types go, the well-heeled bon vivant and the pious preservationist would seem to have little overlap. The guy intent on living with a state-of-the-art surround sound system and an outdoor spa big enough to hold 20 friends is generally not the same sort of person who purchases a dilapidated historic house as fragile as a Ming vase.

But Lyndon Saia is the exception to that rule. He is both of those people. For the past 4½ years, he has funneled profligate sums of money and almost all of his time and attention into the painstaking restoration of one of New Orleans’ neglected treasures: the Old Spanish Custom House at 1300 Moss St., thought by architectural historians to be the oldest surviving residence in the city.

Situated on a half-acre parcel at a hairpin bend of Bayou St. John, the atmospheric West Indies-style plantation house began its life circa 1784 as two rooms downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs, with airy front and back galleries supported by colonnades.

These days, Saia, who at 52 is retired and single with grown children, arrives at the house at 7 a.m. every day to consult with craftspeople and subcontractors, and he stays until they quit work in the late afternoon. For years now, he has wrangled with the folks at the Historic District Landmarks Commission, seeking permission to make small and large alterations to the exterior and grounds.

Working closely with architect David Waggonner, who has restored some of New Orleans’ pre-eminent historic buildings, he spent a year just getting permits.

“This is my project, what I get up for in the mornings,” said Saia, a scion of the local family who founded and later sold Saia Motor Freight Line, now headquartered in Georgia. “It’s the faucet I can’t turn off.”

1300Moss3-2014mar25The property is still a construction site, fragrant with sawdust and littered with piles of bricks, but he hopes to move in this summer. “My friends just laugh at me because every year I say, ‘Oh, I’ll be in next year,’ ” he said.

The Moss Street property is Saia’s first historic house. When he bought it in 2009, he just wanted to keep it from falling down and to make it comfortable. The first objective turned out to be a complex structural puzzle where nothing was as it initially appeared. Termites, rot, water and time had done their worst.

photo courtesy Lyndon Saia
photo courtesy Lyndon Saia
“None of it was easy, and it was all suicidal,” said John Voss, a master craftsman who lives in a trailer in the middle of a north shore cornfield but has made a career of rebuilding the city’s historic houses. “The whole back of the house was rotten. When we took it off, we had to build supports to hold up the roof from the inside so the house didn’t collapse.”

Saia has restored the house’s exterior carefully, expensively and correctly, Waggonner said. All the plaster was removed from fortress-like walls. Studs from a 1927 addition that had crumbled to dust were replaced with treated lumber. Walls were overlaid with a rubber vapor barrier before being replastered. Original cypress exterior doors half the thickness of the ones used today were babied back to life.

“We took a staircase off the façade that probably wasn’t original,” Waggonner said. “The volumes and the openings that were there from earlier times are evident again. The circulations are generally improved.”

Waggonner also applauds Saia for letting him design a new $25,000 fence based on the original fence, which had twisted and was falling down. “It’s what meets the sidewalk, what you’ll see on the street, and it will be a huge benefit to the area,” the architect said.

On the other hand, Saia’s manner of enhancing the house’s comfort level has sometimes made onlookers wonder why he wanted this fragile antique of a house in the first place. He has added everything from a steam shower and wine cellar to geothermal air-conditioning and a security system with 17 cameras. There will be a pond, the 20-person spa, an elaborate Sonos sound system, computers, outdoor lighting and electronic gates — all of it operable from an iPhone. In a house with 16- to 22-inch-thick masonry walls, such high-tech undertakings have proved to be convoluted, if not maddening.

“I call it ‘Star Wars,’ ” said Voss. Or as the writer Stewart Brand said about another important and even earlier house in his book “How Buildings Learn”: “Try putting modern plumbing and heating into a stone Chatsworth — it’s like performing lung surgery on a tetchy giant.”

Saia has has added a barbecue station with marine resin cabinetry and a Versailles-sized fountain that doubles as a spa in the backyard between the house and its two outbuildings. Within viewing distance of bathers will be a 50-inch TV inset into some shutters. None of this is visible from the street, and it all can be removed and hauled away if the house becomes a museum someday, as Saia pointed out to the Landmarks Commission.

pool1300moss2A neighbor once groused about the fountain addition, arguing that people didn’t have spas on their little indigo farms in the 1780s. Saia’s reply: “Well, they did have fountains, and if they could have had spas back then, I’m sure they would have.”

Nevertheless, the arduous restoration process has taught him things.

“I had patience,” Saia said, perching on the rim of the empty limestone fountain recently as men dug trenches in the yard for a Shell refinery’s worth of pipes that will feed the spa. “But I’ve got even more now. Before, if I wanted it a certain way, I expected to get it that way. Now I listen to people, get their ideas. I take into consideration what’s proper for the house, architecturally and aesthetically.”

This psychic evolution was not planned. At the time he bought the house, Saia was living in a Houma subdivision and considering moving to New Orleans. If he did move, he figured, he’d live in the West End boathouse he already owned and had renovated post-Katrina — a low-maintenance bachelor paradise with a titanic TV and a kitchen island surrounded by barstool-height director’s chairs.

1300_Moss_rainbow1But in February 2009, he walked into the Neal Auction Co.’s sale of the Bayou St. John house, held onsite. It felt like a lawn party, with tables of champagne flutes and desserts set up on the ground-floor gallery. At the time, the house was an enticingly romantic wreck, with sagging walls, tumbledown outbuildings and a musty, frozen-in-time charisma that was vividly sensual. Plants that had escaped the garden beds wandered the property.

“I found it to be in a state of charming disarray,” said Ann Masson, the local architectural historian and author who researched the house’s history for Neal. “It had a sense of being remote in time. It didn’t seem like people had just moved out of it. I could catch a glimpse of what it would have felt like to live there in that early time period — how it would have been, walking on that porch over the bayou at night.”

Scores of people turned up to bid. The house’s dappled patina made it irresistible to members of New Orleans’ ever-growing cult of scenic decay. But Saia wasn’t one of them.

“The first time I saw the house was the day of the auction,” he said. “I walked through and thought, ‘This is nice; I can see living here.’ But I wasn’t sure I was going to bid. I really hadn’t planned on bidding.”

Still, something must have worked on him — the graceful façade with its low-key nobility, the broad galleries cooled by steady breezes rippling off the bayou, the friendly neighborhood where everyone seems to have a dog.

“My mother grew up nearby; my grandmother used to live on Bienville Street. I would cut her grass,” Saia said. Bidding spiraled up, and he ended up paying $1,045,000 for the property. “When the gavel went down, I almost fainted,” he said.

At one point, he sold his Ferrari, pouring the proceeds into the ever-hungry house. At times the whole enterprise seemed like a dreadful mistake. “Be glad you didn’t get it,” he said to someone he outbid that day. Fortunately, his buyer’s remorse didn’t last long or cut deep.

“In the end, I think it will be worth it,” Saia said. “I’m very close to my family and friends, and I want to share it with them. I can’t wait to live here. I think it’ll be an amazing place to own and have parties and dinners.”

He’s also come to see the house as his life’s work and a gift to the city.

“Hopefully, my name goes in the history books for saving this house,” he said. “The good part is that it stayed a residence and stayed with a local person. It wasn’t sold to a movie star or somebody that turned it into a restaurant or a hotel to profit off it. My intentions are to live here until I die.”
1300Moss2-2014mar25

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/8810399-171/lyndon-saia-painstakingly-restores-old


photos below courtesy Lyndon Saia

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: 1300 moss, bayou st john, faubourg st john, lyndon saia, New Orleans, preservation, restoration

City Property Auction December 13th

December 7, 2013 by Charlie London

2552stPhilip-300x240Mayor’s Office Announces It Will Auction Five Properties, Friday, December 13

On Friday, December 13, the City of New Orleans will auction five city-owned properties in the City Hall Council Chambers at 10:00 a.m. The Department of Property Management through the Division of Real Estate and Records will conduct the auction. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. 

The order of the auction is 2552 St. Philip Street, 6038 St. Claude Avenue, 7450 Paris Road, 801 Rosedale Drive, and 4131 Elysian Fields Avenue. These properties are owned and were previously used by the city but have been determined to be “no longer needed for public purposes.” The Home Rule Charter requires that the properties be sold at public auction instead of sold privately.To view the full press release from the mayor’s office, click here.

To learn more about the city-owned properties being auctioned and the city’s property auction process, click here.

Properties for sale

2552 St. Philip Street

Property is to be auctioned of as part of a multi-property auction to be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.

Open House

FRIDAY, NOV 22  and FRIDAY, DEC 6, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
NOTE: No one under 18 allowed. All parties will be required to sign a waiver of liability and I.D. is required.

Additional Information

12-218-St-Philip-Report
2552-St-Philip-St-info
CPC-staff-report-2552-St-Philip

6038 St. Claude Avenue

Property is to be auctioned of as part of a multi-property auction to be held on Friday 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.

Open House

FRIDAY, NOV 22  and FRIDAY, DEC 6, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
NOTE: No one under 18 allowed. All parties will be required to sign a waiver of liability and I.D. is required.

Additional Information

Appraisal-6038-St-Claude-Ave-New-Orleans-LA-2012
6038-St-Claude-Ave-info
6038-St-Claude-Avenue-sale-ordinance
CPC-staff-report-6035-St-Claude

7450 Paris Road

Property is to be auctioned of as part of a multi-property auction to be held on July 31, 2013, 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

This property will not have an Open House

Please contact Real Estate and Records (504) 658-3615 to set up a viewing.

Additional Information

12-224-report
7450-Paris-Road-info
7450-Paris-Road-sale-ordinance
CPC-staff-report-7540-Paris-Road

801 Rosedale Drive

Property is to be auctioned of as part of a multi-property auction to be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.

Open House

FRIDAY, NOV 22  and FRIDAY, DEC 6, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
NOTE: No one under 18 allowed. All parties will be required to sign a waiver of liability and I.D. is required.

Additional Information

Appraisal-801-Rosedale-Dr-New-Orleans-LA
801-Rosedale-Dr-info
CPC-staff-report-801-Rosedale

4131 Elysian Fields Avenue

Property is to be auctioned of as part of a multi-property auction to be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.

Open House

FRIDAY, NOV 22  and FRIDAY, DEC 6, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
NOTE: No one under 18 allowed. All parties will be required to sign a waiver of liability and I.D. is required.

Additional Information

4131-Elysian-Fields-info
Appraisal-Report-Former-Fire-Station-4131-Elysian-Fields-New-Orleans-LA
signed-ordinance
CPC-staff-report

Sales process for city-owned property

The City may sell (through public auction) immovable property (real estate) that is no longer needed for public purpose. These particular auctions are different than the Sheriff’s auctions or NORA’s auctions. The process for bringing property any city owned property to auction is lengthy. The steps are as follows:

  1. The Department of Property Management, through the Division of Real Estate and Records, locates property that the City is not using. A constituent may bring a request regarding a particular property to the Division and request that it be sold at public auction.
  2. If the property is deemed saleable, the requested sale is presented to the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) for review, comments, and recommendations. If any city department may determine that the property is still needed for public use then the sale will not move forward.
  3. If approved by PAC, the requested sale is then submitted to the City Planning Commission (CPC) for approval or denial. CPC may deny, approve, or conditionally approve the auction of a property. CPC may place provisos on the sale of the property, which will require that certain terms and/or obligations are met prior to or as part of the sale.
  4. If the sale is approved or conditionally approved with provisos, the property is appraised to determine fair market value.
  5. After a value is determined, the auction of the property must be approved by the City Council. An ordinance containing the property description, appraised value, and any provisos set by the CPC is introduced to the City Council.
  6. If the Ordinance is passed and approved by the Mayor, an auction date and time is set and an advertisement runs in the Times Picayune Newspaper three times over a span of thirty days. The property may have an “open house” during this period.
  7. At least thirty days after the ordinance has been signed by the Mayor, the property auction is held. The starting bid is the fair market value of the property. Auctions are held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
  8. A winning bidder must deposit 10% of the winning bid amount with the Real Estate and Records Division (Room 5W06) within one (1) hour of the completion of the auction. The deposit must be in cash, certified check, or money order and is NON-REFUNDABLE. If a deposit is not timely made, the property is offered to the second highest bidder.
  9. The act of sale is sent to the City Law Department for review and signature. The purchaser typically has 120 days to coordinate with the Law Department to complete the sale. If there is a proviso attached to the property sale by the CPC, it will become part of the act of sale. The remainder of the payment, as well as costs associated with promogulation of the ordinance and advertising are all due at the signing of the act of sale.

FAQs

Is this the same property auction as NORA or the Sheriff’s Auction?

No. These are properties that are owned and were used by the City but are determined “no longer needed for public purpose.”

My non-profit/special interest needs property. Can the City donate property?

In accordance with Article 7, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution, the City cannot donate non-housing property. This office generally does not sell housing.

Why does the City use public auctions instead of private sales?

The Home Rule Charter requires that property be sold at public auction, with very limited exceptions.

If a property is not zoned the same as the rest of the neighborhood, can I get it changed?

Generally the property zoning can be changed to make a property consistent with the surrounding neighborhood through application to the City Planning Commission. Please contact the Planning Commission for further information.

What are the additional costs that are added to the winning bid price?

Additional costs, over the winning bid must be paid to complete the sale. These costs include: appraisal, Clerk of Court costs, City Notary fees, possible resubdivision fees and other possible costs.

If I win the auction, how much do I need to deposit and when?

10% of the bid price is due in cash, money order, or certified funds within one hour of the auction’s completion.

What form of currency does the deposit need to be in?

Cash, certified check, or money order ONLY

What happens if I do not deposit the funds with Real Estate and Records within one hour?

The property will be offered to the second highest bidder.

 Is the deposit refundable?

The deposit is NOT refundable. It is considered an earnest payment.

What are the requirements for purchase, other than money?

The City of New Orleans cannot contract with convicted felons or any party that owes taxes to the City of New Orleans.

Also, required paperwork will be distributed to the winning bidder. It includes a tax clearance affidavit, vendor registration form, and other required information. All documents must be completed prior to the Act of Sale date.

Can anybody bid at the auction and buy this property?

Some property sales have restrictions that prevent everyone from bidding at auction.  For example, a parcel that is too small to allow for construction may only be available to neighboring property owners, who would be required to “resubdivide” the parcel into their existing parcels. City Planning Commission sets the restrictions for property sales (Home Rule Charter Section 6-306). Also, City of New Orleans’ employees and their immediate families are not permitted to contract with the City.

How long does it take to complete the transfer of the property?

Depending on when the Division of Real Estate and Records receives the appropriate paperwork from the purchaser, a transfer may take place within three months.

How long do I have to complete the sale?

120 days

Are there private sales of city property?

The City may sell non-housing property to other governmental entities through private sale for fair market value. Other limited exceptions exist.

How is the starting bid set?

The starting bid is set at fair market value.

There is City-owned property that I am interested in purchasing. Who do I contact?

The Division only sells property that is owned by  the City and no longer needed for public purpose. Contact Real Estate and Records at (504) 658-3615.

What are the rehabilitation requirements for the properties?

The following terms shall be in the Act of Sale:

Purchaser of the Property on this ___ day of ______________, 2013, hereby agrees to maintain, renovate, develop, and improve the Property within the time frame and terms below. All work done upon the Property shall be in accordance with the requirements of the New Orleans City Code and the New Orleans Building Code, including any applicable historic district provisions.  Purchase of the Property is subject to the following additional conditions:

a)         Within sixty (60) days of recordation of Act of Sale, Purchaser shall clean, repair, secure, or otherwise remove the conditions of blight upon the property.

b)         Within eighteen (18) months from recordation of Act of Sale, Purchaser shall obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Safety and Permits.

If, in the determination of the Department of Property Management through a recommendation of the Department of Safety and Permits and/or the Department of Code Enforcement, purchaser has failed to comply with any condition set forth above, it shall notify the Purchaser and if Purchaser fails to correct said violations within 30 days, sale of the Property shall be dissolved of right, title shall revert to the City of New Orleans, and all sums previously paid by Purchaser, including the Purchase price, shall be forfeited by Purchaser and retained by the City of New Orleans as liquidated damages.  Purchaser expressly waives formal demand, notice of default, citation and legal delays, consents to summary procedure, and confesses judgment rescinding and dissolving sale, reverting title, and forfeiting all sums previously paid.

Once the conditions set forth hereinabove have been satisfied, the City of New Orleans shall execute such documents as are necessary to release this right of reversion from title.

The City of New Orleans hereby agrees that it shall subordinate the right of transfer set forth above in favor of Purchaser’s construction lender and, for that purpose, does hereby consent and agree  to execute all reasonable documents, including an Act of Subrogation to subordinate the City of New Orleans’ interest in the Property to Purchaser’s construction  lender.

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: auction, city, dorgenois, preservation, property

Historic Preservation Excellence

November 30, 2013 by Charlie London

LLSlogopreservation-award

Louisiana Landmarks Society
Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation

LLS announces the inaugural Louisiana Landmarks Society Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation. These awards will honor projects completed in Orleans Parish (outside of the French Quarter) in 2012 or 2013 that represent outstanding examples of restoration or rehabilitation of historic buildings, as well as new construction in a historic district.Nominations for the 2014 Awards may be submitted from individuals, companies, or organizations. Nominations should be submitted via a nomination form on the LLS website starting today. The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2014. Of particular interest are projects which:

  • Demonstrate that historic preservation can be a tool to revitalize older neighborhoods
  • Show that historic preservation is “green” and sustainable
  • Support the cultural and ethnic diversity of the preservation movement
  • Are creative examples of saving a historic building
  • Involve properties that utilized various federal or state tax incentive programs
  • Represent new design that is appropriate to historic neighborhoods

“It is important to recognize the extraordinary investment of time, money, effort, and attention to detail that is required to create projects that stand out in a city known for historic preservation,” said Elliott Perkins, executive director of the Historic District Landmarks Commission.The Selection Committee includes representatives from Louisiana’s State Historic Preservation Office, New Orleans and CBD Historic District Landmarks Commissions, Tulane School of Architecture and the Louisiana Landmarks Society.

“We are excited to be able to continue this important awards program, and to inaugurate it in 2014, marking fifty years since Louisiana Landmarks Society saved the Pitot House,” said Walter Gallas, LLS Executive Director.

The 2014 Louisiana Landmarks Society Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation winners will be presented at a luncheon on April 9, 2014.

We encourage you to nominate projects you may know, and to spread the word. Questions can be sent to [email protected] or by calling 504.482.0312.

NOMINATE A PROJECT

If you have a project to nominate for the 2014 Awards, please submit your project before January 15, 2014.
NOMINATE A PROJECT

LLS ELSEWHERE

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Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best new orleans neighborhood, faubourg st john, history, history of new orleans, housing, landmarks, louisiana, louisiana landmarks, new orleans best neighborhood, preservation

PAGODA

October 28, 2013 by Charlie London

PAGODA1
article by Robert Thompson | iPhone photos by Charlie London

Two of our neighbors, Dan E. and Shawna S. have undertaken a small but superior cafe within walking distance of our neighborhood.

pagoda-cafe1

Pagoda Cafe, at the corner of North Dorgenois and Bayou Road, has preserved and revitalized an old neighborhood curiosity – the Chinese Laundry and created a space for sandwiches and salads with some local specialties. These talented two have combined forces to revitalize the little shopping district with their venture, and should bring responsible business practices and healthy food to the area.

One of the awesome offerings is Terranova’s sausage served in a puff pastry. It is worth the trip from anywhere.

It’s a win every time a local business offers alternatives to corporate chains, and I think this is another neighborhood shop that offers us one more option of staying local.

PAGODA2

Receipts at Pagoda are printed from an iPad used to enter your order.
Receipts at Pagoda are printed from an iPad used to enter your order.

FROM EATER NOLA: Seventh Ward: Pagoda Café | 1443 N. Dorgenois | Ian McNulty reports that Tulane architecture professor Dan Etheridge and business partner Shana Sassoon “are developing the space as a counter service breakfast and lunch joint with an espresso bar. All seating will be outside on new covered decks extending from the historic building” that’s only 300 square feet and has a pretty rad pagoda roof.

http://www.pagodacafe.net/

Pagoda Café

Coffee – Breakfast – Lunch
Made with love in the 7th Ward
Takeout and Outdoor Seating
What We Serve


Visit Us

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday. 7am – 4pm

1430 N Dorgenois St
New Orleans, LA 70119
(Bayou Road and Kerlerec St)
View Map


Contact Us

504-644-4178
[email protected]

IAN McNULTY WROTE ABOUT PAGODA in his October 30, 2013 article…

As the restaurant boom has rolled on, buildings of all description have been converted into new eateries and the dining concepts have grown ever more particular and specific. But even after all we’ve seen lately, two very new, casual additions have managed to turn heads right out of the gate.

One is Pagoda Café (1403 N. Dorgenois St., 504-644-4178; pagodacafe.net), which opened last week in a tiny building along Bayou Road that does indeed look like a pagoda. It was originally built in the 1930s as part of a string of Chinese laundries, though it had sat empty for years as a neglected, idiosyncratic outpost in the Seventh Ward before Tulane University architecture professor Dan Etheridge and business partner Shana Sassoon redeveloped it. They serve a short menu of breakfast tacos, salads and grilled sandwiches (one with Serrano ham, manchego and arugula pesto on Bellegarde Bakery ciabatta hit the spot), and the café doubles as an espresso bar…

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/features/7411358-171/ian-mcnulty-multiplying-eateries-keep

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou road, breakfast, cafe, great food, New Orleans, pagoda, preservation, quality, restoration

Ladies in Red | June 14

June 6, 2013 by Charlie London

ladies-in-red-gala13th Annual Ladies in Red

Friday, June 14  ·  At The Cannery
3803 Toulouse St. (behind the American Can Company)
Complimentary valet provided.
GoogleMap

Patron Party  ·  7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Music by the NOCCA Alumni Jazz Ensemble

Gala  ·  8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Music by Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs

Awards Presentation  ·  8:30 p.m.
Honoring jazz musicians and the institutions that support them

Enjoy New Orleans cuisine and an open bar,
plus specialty cocktails by Smooth Ambler and Ketel One Vodka.
Join us at The Cannery for an evening of jazz, cocktails and dancing!


Emcee
Eric Paulsen

Award Honorees
Lucien Barbarin  ·  Leah Chase  ·  Benny Jones
Freddie Lonzo  ·  Herlin Riley  ·  NOCCA Institute

Honorary Chairs
Michael Lewis, writer
Michael Lewis, New Orleans Saints ambassador
Irvin Mayfield, trumpeter

Event Chairs
Nicole Blackmon Lewis  ·  Anna & Adam Breaux

AAHP Chair
Edgar Chase III


TICKETS

Gala  ·  $75
1 ticket to the Gala

Junior Patron  ·  $100 (Ages 21-35)
1 ticket to the Patron Party & Gala

Patron  ·  $150
1 ticket to the Patron Party & Gala

Ragtime  ·  $500
4 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Dixieland  ·  $1,000
6 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Swing  ·  $2,000
8 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Big Band  ·  $3,000
12 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Trumpet King  ·  $5,000
16 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Lady in Red  ·  $7,500
24 tickets to the Patron Party & Gala, plus sponsorship benefits

Purchase tickets in advance by calling 504.581.7032.

Ladies in Red supports the following Preservation Resource Center programs:
African American Heritage Preservation  ·  Education & Outreach  ·  Heritage Education and My City, My Home  ·  Jazz plaques with the New Orleans Jazz Commission  ·  Jazz house research, awareness and restoration

Contributions are tax-deductible as provided by law.

Follow Ladies in Red on Facebook!

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: benny jones, eric paulsen, freddie lonzo, gala, herlin riley, hot ladies, irvin mayfield, jazz, jazz musicians, ladies in red, Leah Chase, lucien barbarin, michael lewis, NOCCA, NOCCA institute, prc, preservation, preservation resource, shamarr allen

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