The potential buyers of a small apartment building that once housed a typical New Orleans corner store along Nashville Avenue did not walk away from a city hearing this week with a hoped-for demolition permit.

If they want to try again on their plan to knock down the two-story building at the corner of Patton Street and replace it with two single-family homes, the would-be buyers can now appeal to the City Council.

Representing the prospective purchasers, Robert Carroll appeared before the Historic District Landmarks Commission and said the existing building was out of character with the neighborhood. He said the plan for two new homes would be an improvement.

Deputy Director Eleanor Burke responded: “To say it is out of character with the neighborhood isn’t true. It is absolutely in character with the neighborhood.”

Neighbor Amy Coyle opposes the demolition and spoke against it.

“I am an architect, I live next door and it needs to be preserved,” she said.

Carroll said the buyers can’t make a purchase work financially without the demolition and proposed rebuilding.

A motion to deny the demolition did not muster enough votes to pass — nor did a subsequent  motion to allow the demolition. Therefore, the permit was denied.