Impressions on Process

Anthony DelRosario Introduction to Historic Preservation Professor Catherine Barrier Master in Preservation Studies Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

Preservation in Action
The Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) is the City's regulatory agency for local historic districts outside of the Vieux Carre. Established in 1976, this agency provides the staff and office space for the two Commissions, the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission and the Central Business District Historic District Landmarks Commission. The two Historic District Landmarks Commissions safeguard the heritage of the City by preserving and regulating historic landmarks and districts which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history. They preserve and enhance the quality of neighborhoods, strengthening the City's economic base, stimulating the tourist industry, improving property values, fostering economic development, and encouraging growth. (cityofno.com) I attended the Friday October 10, 2008 meeting of the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission in City Council Chambers of City Hall at 1300 Perdido Street. The meeting starting time was scheduled for 9:30 a.m.; however, due to the tardiness of the camera operator, the meeting did not start until 9:55 a.m. because the meetings must be recorded for public record. The meetings are also broadcast live on the local government channel on Cox Cable, but I am not sure if live broadcast is a necessary condition of public record as the recording of the meeting is. The meeting began with a roll call of the members of the commission. A simple majority of the existing members constitutes a quorum. Next, the chairman of the commission gave a brief description of the HDLC and explained a couple of rules of the meeting, a three minute speaking time limit and non-applicants must fill out a card to

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

speak. A staff member then read the minutes of the previous meeting on September 12, 2008. The chairman then read a letter of thanks from someone, spoke briefly about a brochure about the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), and announced that the HDLC Executive Director Elliot Perkins would later address the commission with a report of the HDLC appeals of city initiated demolitions to the City Council. Then the commission began discussing the agenda items. The process began by asking if the applicant was present and a staff member reading a description of the building. If the applicant or a representative of the applicant were present, the applicant or representative would have three minutes to speak and the commission would then begin discussion. If the applicant or representative were not present, the commission could proceed with discussion or defer a decision to the next meeting. The commissioners were very considerate towards the applicants. The audience and the applicants were well-behaved except for one instance when an audience member made a loud comment and the chairman asked the audience to keep decorum. Most of the applicants represented themselves and were fairly well prepared. For some of the larger issues, to represent them applicants had an architect who was very well prepared. Often, if an architect were present for representation, the discussion on the agenda item would be about thirty minutes. The first order of business on the agenda was four old business work applications. Three of the four applicants were not present. Two of these three were deferred for a second time. One item for which the applicant had failed to appear for a

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

second time was denied. For the one item which the applicant was present, the applicant requested and was given a thirty day deferral. Next on the agenda were five new business work applications. The first two items were approved with short discussion. The final three items required quite more time; two were discussed for about 20 or 25 minutes each and were the two most interesting items. The owners of the Superior Grill applied to renovate what used to be Copelands at the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon in the St. Charles Avenue district. The HDLC staff read the ARC suggestion that less is more. The owners design included the garage door-style windows like the ones at Superior Grill on the side street elevation and included a bar area on the Napoleon side. The chairman of the commission was not very fond of the garage door-style windows, especially on such a major intersection. Two members of the public spoke against the application. One was concerned with several issues including parking (the five or six current off-street parking spaces block the sidewalk of Napoleon). The other was very concerned with the trash area of the building which just a few feet away from his apartment building and the resulting monumental rat problem. The commission discussed the bar area and determined that having doors which open completely would encourage spill-out to the street like at the Superior Grill. The owners had spoken to City Council member Stacy Head who suggested going to the HDLC before going to the neighborhood association. The commission decided to defer action so that the owners could present the design to the neighborhood association. Next, the owners of a green rated house at Esplanade and Broad in the Esplanade Ridge district applied for construction of an addition to front of the building to create a closet on the second floor. The owners said that the building

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

had been multiple apartments and that they wanted to convert to a single family residence but the current design did not allow for closet space by the master bedroom on the second floor. The term massing was used but a few of the commissioners were unclear of the term. The HDLC staff suggested to deny the construction as it would be changing one of the few original aspects of the house. After discussion, the commission approved the construction. The next day I saw one of the owners at the second line parade for local photographer Michael P. Smith. I told him that I saw his review at the HDLC and he said that he had not been very worried that the application would be denied. I left the meeting after a couple more items but I had recorded the meeting broadcast on Cox Cable. Next on the agenda were demolitions. The commission was very concerned about what would happen with the lot after demolition rebuild a home, fence off the lot and care for grass and weeds, or threat of becoming a parking lot. After demolitions, retention applications were discussed. Several applicants were retired and/or on fixed incomes. The commission was very understanding in these cases by giving suggestions or allowing a longer time period to make corrections. Several times the commission suggested that an applicant from the Holy Cross district or the Esplanade district apply for an upcoming grant program. There were a couple of interesting items of retention discussed. An owner of a restaurant on Frenchmen applied to retain an internally illuminated sign. A member of the neighborhood spoke against the sign saying that this was another case of asking for forgiveness instead of permission. This application of retention was denied. Another item concerned a blue rated nominated landmark building in which vinyl windows had been installed. Since

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

the building is blue rated, the commission was very concerned about having the correct windows installed so a year was given to make the corrections. Several applicants said that their contractor failed to go to the HDLC staff to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA). Also, several applicants said that they had used Window World which sold them the inappropriate vinyl windows. The next section of the agenda was demolition by neglect. These went very quickly since all but one of the owners were not present. For the one item which owner was present, a neighborhood member spoke for the demolition by neglect citation which was approved. The next section of the agenda was city initiated demolitions. HDLC Executive Director Elliot Perkins was to speak on this issue but he was called to other business. The commission discussed for about thirty minutes on how to handle these since Mr. Perkins was not able to speak. One major concern was that the window for FEMA funded demolitions was quickly coming to an end. The commission was also concerned with having a blighted building versus potentially having a blighted empty lot. The commission decided to address items for which applicants or speakers were present. One was a reconsideration of landmark nomination for 4800 Canal Street. Two people spoke for reconsideration and there were seven letters for reconsideration and one letter against reconsideration. The commission voted for re-nomination and a formal study will be conducted with a decision for designation to follow. The commission eventually decided to defer decision on city initiated demolitions in Treme, Esplanade Ridge, and Holy Cross. A couple of city initiated demolitions were granted since neighbors were in favor. A couple of demolitions were denied since there were

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

PRST 6710 - Introduction to Historic Preservation Catherine Barrier October 23, 2008

interested buyers. One in Algiers Point was denied and placed on demolition by neglect list. The meeting ended at 4:15 p.m. and there had been only two short breaks one around mid-day and one when city initiated demolitions were about to be discussed and someone checked to see if Mr. Perkins would be able to come back.

Anthony DelRosario Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture