NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[Eightball]

@Tennis - on point.

A feast of new restaurants on the horizon in New Orleans
http://www.nola.com/dining/index.ssf...pid=nwsltrhead

The pace of restaurant openings in New Orleans continues to astound. Here's only part of what's on the horizon:

Biscuits & Buns on Banks (4337 Banks St.): The family friendly breakfast and lunch spot in Mid-City will be baking biscuits by Nov. 1...

District Donuts.Sliders.Brew (2209 Magazine St.): The coffee shop and burger joint will fully open Friday (Oct. 18). I poked my head in a few weeks ago, and even the half-finished space was impressive...(click the link for info on many more upcoming restaurants...)

Freret Fenced In
http://www.noladefender.com/content/frerets-funk

Surrounded by construction, small business owners in the Freret Street corridor are growing increasingly frustrated as they see sales dwindling, and a lack of consideration from the City. The bars, restaurants and other spots that were held up as a model of renewal are suffering from the limited access. Many of the merchants believe poor planning and inadequate provisions are to blame...

The “bumpouts” on the corners of Freret were built last year, but the final result was not ADA compliant. Now, the raised brick corners are being torn up and replaced with cement...

Meanwhile, the Southeastern Louisiana Urban Flood Control Program (SELA) is repaving Jefferson and Napoloeon, making it nearly impossible to enter Freret Street through common routes...
It does seem like there has been construction on and around Freret forever now. It is, IMO, a net positive in the long term, though. How frustrating for the businesses, especially since some of the construction is just re-doing work recently done!

Luxury apartments slated for Rendon Street across from future Morris Jeff Community School
http://midcitymessenger.com/2013/10/...munity-school/

Another “luxury apartment” developer has big plans for a vacant Mid-City building and residents got a look at designs Monday night at the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization’s monthly meeting.
Morris Jeff Community School’s future home is under construction directly across the South Rendon Street from the vacant brick building Narinder Gupta and his sons, both doctors, plan to turn into 24 luxury apartments.
“We plan to use the shell of the building,” said Neel Gupta. The plans would add a third level inside the existing building he said...

Awesome!

[tennis1400]

Its nice to see development is really picking up in areas outside of the core. This is another sign a city becoming much healthier. Good news!

[P Raff]

I don't know if anyone saw this, but Inland American Real Estate announced yesterday that they bought the Loew's building for $74.5 million. This could be a great sign for future downtown development.

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/10...ate-trust.html

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by P Raff

I don't know if anyone saw this, but Inland American Real Estate announced yesterday that they bought the Loew's building for $74.5 million. This could be a great sign for future downtown development.

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/10...ate-trust.html

Usually when a company purchases a hotel they plan some upgrades. Interesting to see what happens. Now the city needs to get on developing that parking lot next to the Lowes. I hate that thing!

[Eightball]

The larger projects changing hands at high valuations is definitely impressive and bodes very well for the city. 260k a key is impressive.

@ Tennis - agreed about investment percolating in new neighborhoods being a huge positive.

Still amazed at the pre-k Broad Street bus line possibly being the heaviest bus ridership line in the South!

Edit:Mayor Landrieu's 2014 New Orleans budget: high on public safety as federal mandates loom
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s..._river_default

The building craze that has marked Landrieu's tenure in City Hall is likely to continue through 2014, according to the $247 million capital projects plan Deputy Mayor Cedric Grant unveiled before the Council on Tuesday. That latest installment brings the total spending on construction under the current mayor to more than $1 billion, Grant said.

The bulk of the money earmarked for next year - $153 million - is intended for road work, including $95 million in FEMA reimbursements for the second phase of the "Recovery Roads Program." That project has the Public Works Department repairing streets damaged during the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina.

But beyond lingering repairs from the 2005 storm, Landrieu wants to break ground on several headliner projects that would stretch well beyond his first term, which ends this spring. Included in those are $23.7 million for a new terminal at Louis Armstrong International Airport and another $20.3 million to revamp dormant Charity Hospital.

I ain't gonna put his mug up here again but I thought this was interesting... More on the Charity plans at the link. As we've seen with other plans, Charity redevelopment could, of course, be huge.

Edit 2: Buyer has franchise hopes for Tulane Avenue hotel (subscription required)
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...-avenue-hotel/
The Tucson, Ariz.-based company that has operated the Mid-Town Hotel on Tulane Avenue since 2010 has taken ownership of the property.
Realtor Graham Little of Coldwell Banker Commercial Realtors, who handled the transaction, said M&S Hospitality LLC purchased the 102-room hotel for $1.7 million...

Little said M&S Hospitality, whose officers include Marvin Dodd and Debby Levine according to state
records, signed a 10-year management lease on the hotel in early 2010 and have been working to purchase the property since that time.
The group also operates the Sweet’s Inn Motel at 3610 Tulane Ave.
Little said the new owners plan to maintain the property as a hotel and make substantial improvements in hopes of franchising the property under a national hotel brand....

The hotel has been identified in the past by the New Orleans Police Department as a haven for prostitution and other crimes.

[tennis1400]

821 Baronne St, Ste C·Change of Use ·Permit #13-40809-CUSE ·Ref Code: RNXMTW
Download (2) Print Summary Add to Watch List
Type:
Change of Use
Applicant:
Jacques Couvillon
Status:
Permit Issued
Date Filed:
10/11/2013 12:20:23 PM
Closed:
No
Description
Conver vacant commercial space, #C, to retail as per sketch, and State Fire Marshal approval.


636 N Carrollton Ave·Change of Use ·Ref Code: 115CSD
Download (1) Print Summary Add to Watch List
Type:
Change of Use
Applicant:
KATHLEEN TURPEL
Status:
Zoning Review
Date Filed:
10/10/2013 11:59:21 AM
Closed:
No
Description
Convert vacant commercial space to offices (636 A&B) as per plans.


3817 Chartres St·Change of Use ·Ref Code: WLVJFN
Download (1) Print Summary Add to Watch List
Type:
Change of Use
Applicant:
Mark R Segreto
Status:
Application Review
Date Filed:
10/10/2013 11:42:55 AM
Closed:
No
Description
Convert 2828sf of existing office space into a fitness center (Anytime Fitness) as per plans and HDLC C/A???.


4001 General De Gaulle Dr Suites E & F·Change of Use ·Ref Code: QY8N1P
Print Summary Add to Watch List
Type:
Change of Use
Applicant:
Gold's Louisiana LLC
Status:
Application Review
Date Filed:
10/10/2013 10:02:57 AM
Closed:
No
Description
Convert retail space into a gym (Gold's Gym Express) as per plans.


4021 Behrman Hw, #G·Change of Use ·Ref Code: UCV2K6
Download (1) Print Summary Add to Watch List
Type:
Change of Use
Applicant:
Ty Lee
Status:
Zoning Review
Date Filed:
10/8/2013 3:24:33 PM
Closed:
No
Description
Convert vacant restaurant to nail spa as per plans. (Suite G)

[tennis1400]

Went to DDAY MUSEUM meeting and thought the plans were really nice. SAid they should be going out to bid in March or April next year.

[Blitzen]

So according to this article, http://www.louisianaweekly.com/the-r...bayou-st-john/, the Wisner Boulevard overpass that bridges over I-10 and the traintracks, is getting replaced! I confirmed it by looking at the RPC's list of road improvements for FY2014 (http://www.norpc.org/assets/pdf-docu...-11-14_orl.pdf).

I hope they do something unique, grand, modern, and pedestrian friendly. It's a great opportunity.

[typo86]

^It bridges over I-610, but this is interesting...

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by typo86

^It bridges over I-610, but this is interesting...

I stand corrected. ...er, rather, I'm already anticipating the demolition of the Claiborne Overpass and I-610 being re-routed as I-10.

[ardecila]

Yeah, that overpass is the missing link in the Wisner Trail. I don't know if we have the money for grand, but I'm hopeful. There are lots of low-budget things they can do to improve the appearance... black streetlights instead of unpainted metal, black railings, concrete formliners on the piers, etc. Maybe they could use precast U box girders for the bridge deck, which creates a really clean look on the underside.

The state may need to widen 610 if I-10 comes down, but I've always thought it needed sound barriers through City Park. It's ridiculous that subdivisions in Metairie get barriers while even denser city neighborhoods have to deal with massive amounts of noise. There is even glass sound barrier technology now, so the walls don't block views.

[WesternSon]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yeah, that overpass is the missing link in the Wisner Trail. I don't know if we have the money for grand, but I'm hopeful. There are lots of low-budget things they can do to improve the appearance... black streetlights instead of unpainted metal, black railings, concrete formliners on the piers, etc. Maybe they could use precast U box girders for the bridge deck, which creates a really clean look on the underside.

The state may need to widen 610 if I-10 comes down, but I've always thought it needed sound barriers through City Park. It's ridiculous that subdivisions in Metairie get barriers while even denser city neighborhoods have to deal with massive amounts of noise. There is even glass sound barrier technology now, so the walls don't block views.

Yeah, I am not gonna complain about Jefferson Parish getting the sound walls...most of Kennetry is best left unseen by visitors and those just passing through.

[ardecila]

You can say the same thing about Gentilly, NO East, etc.

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by WesternSon

Yeah, I am not gonna complain about Jefferson Parish getting the sound walls...most of Kennetry is best left unseen by visitors and those just passing through.

Instead of sound barriers, I'd dump soil ~15' high with trees and grass on top along I-610 through City Park. The elevation would be pretty, sound-absorbing, and probably just as expensive as the concrete walls in Metairie.

Edit: Then I'd systematically replace every bridge over Bayou St. John with an arch-shaped one, to allow for kayaks and boats to pass more comfortably below.

[v-chop]

Update on deal with WTC developer, Gatehouse Capital.

What has gotten little attention is that Gatehouse would have the right to sell the 280 apartments as condos five years after completing their construction. That could yield Gatehouse a windfall, real estate industry officials say. As part of the negotiations, city officials could demand that the public get a cut of those profits.

280 Luxury apartments planned by Gatehouse|$135 million Could be raised by selling them as condos

http://thelensnola.org/2013/10/15/a-...-trade-center/

[Eightball]

^^very interesting. If they can make luxury condos work there in five years, more power to them. The WTC has been one failed attempt at redevelopment after another, let's not make it overly complicated.

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by ardecila

The state may need to widen 610 if I-10 comes down, but I've always thought it needed sound barriers through City Park. It's ridiculous that subdivisions in Metairie get barriers while even denser city neighborhoods have to deal with massive amounts of noise. There is even glass sound barrier technology now, so the walls don't block views.

They'd be better off just landscaping it. There not going to build walls if there if there's nothing to shield noise from and by specs the more people concentrated in an area the shorter the height requirement for the walls anyway.

I think that the city and state should just make a larger effort to landscape and beautify area highways. Take Houston, Atlanta, and cities in Florida for example or the Dan Ryan. The landscaping or design of the road is so nice at times that you don't even notice the slums on the other side of the ROW. Even Baton Rouge has shrubbery, hedges, and masonry as such. Not to mention they let planted vines along their concrete walls.

[ardecila]

Houston's not much better than New Orleans. Part of the problem is the ongoing growth of mold and mildew on concrete surfaces... it makes everything look ugly in only a few years.

I assume there are certain coatings that solve the problem, since the newer sections of the Pontchartrain near the bridge are pretty nice. The West Bank Expressway is gorgeous but it's already seeing some mold in spots.

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Houston's not much better than New Orleans. Part of the problem is the ongoing growth of mold and mildew on concrete surfaces... it makes everything look ugly in only a few years.

I assume there are certain coatings that solve the problem, since the newer sections of the Pontchartrain near the bridge are pretty nice. The West Bank Expressway is gorgeous but it's already seeing some mold in spots.

They actually have a theme (including structural design, vegetation, and colorway) for each freeway that all current and new construction has to meet. You can't deny that they make a much larger effort than anyone here.
i.e. North Fwy = greens, pine trees, etc.;Gulf Fwy = pale blues, palm trees, etc.

Southwest
Gulf
W Loop
Bellaire

On that note, both concrete and steel oxidizes. There's no way around it. You can only retard it for so long or you can paint over it.

[Eightball]

Hotel Buying Spree Continues in NOLA (Scrip rqrd)
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...inues-in-nola/
As the New Orleans area continues to regain its footing as a top destination for tourists, conventions and major events like the Super Bowl, real estate analysts say the city has become a targeted market for major hotel acquisitions...

Real estate analyst Wade Ragas notes that New Orleans has been among the top three U.S. tourist markets over the past year in revenue per hotel room, a standard industry performance measure. Based on that performance, investors are paying a premium to acquire New Orleans hotels.
He cited deals for the W French Quarter Hotel and five Marriott hotels that sold for an average of more than $164,000 per room.
“Purchase prices for these properties are among the highest that the market has ever seen,” Ragas said...
Outside developers are behind those projects, but locals are tackling the $100 million conversion of a vacant 31-story office building at 225 Baronne St. and an adjoining building into an Aloft Hotel, part of the Starwood chain.
“More investors are finding it is not economically feasible to put the necessary money into a property to convert it into a hotel,” Lair said. “Investors are looking for existing hotels ready to be unloaded, and New Orleans has been like a Monopoly board. Buyers are willing to pay the price, and sellers are seeing great opportunity.”...