At the request of New Orleans City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, developers hoping to build a $70 million high-rise tower on the site of a long-vacant Woolworth's store at Canal and North Rampart streets are expected to withdraw their application from the agenda of this week's New Orleans City Council meeting.
But the developers said they are not dropping their project. Instead, they will first submit it for review by the Central Business District panel of the Historic District Landmarks Commission, as Palmer requested.
As proposed, the residential, office, parking and retail building would be 213 feet high, or three times the 70 feet allowed by the site's zoning, and it has drawn fire from some French Quarter residents and preservationists.
Proponents argue that it would not be out of scale with other tall buildings on the French Quarter side of Canal Street, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Astor Crowne Plaza and Marriott hotels.
But even though the site is outside the Vieux Carre as defined by city law, critics say that to have yet another building towering over the historic district would detract from its character and "tout ensemble," which the city should strive to protect for historical, aesthetic and economic reasons.
The City Planning Commission voted 5-4 in December to disapprove the 20-story tower. However, the final decision is up to the council. The site is in Palmer's district.
Praveen Kailas, one of the developers, said Tuesday that Palmer's main concern is with the building's design, not its height, and that she wanted the proposal withdrawn so the Landmarks Commission can review the design. The proposal then will be resubmitted to the Planning Commission and the council, Kailas said, adding that the talks with Palmer's office have been "very productive."
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