Land Use

NORA offers Road Home properties to businesses, churches under little-known program

Three years ago, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority created a program called Near Miss, which opened the door for non-residential property owners to buy Road Home lots. So far, 59 properties have been acquired. But the City Council never approved the program, and most of those properties have not been zoned for commercial use.

By Karen Gadbois 17 hours ago 1 comment

Could the Algiers-Canal ferry become New Orleans’ newest party boat?

About $440 raised so far; $2,999,500 million to go.

By Della Hasselle June 13, 2013 5 comments

Adjudication of non-blight code violations resumes after unexplained year-long hiatus

This owner who turned a Garden District front yard into a parking pad has been ordered to rip out the paving and pay a fine.

Illegally paved yards, short-term rentals and demolition by neglect draw One Stop Shop scrutiny; Spotted Cat gets go-ahead.

By Karen Gadbois June 7, 2013

City’s code-enforcement court to meet for first time in a year

The city's focus on blight means no hearings have been held to deal with code violations such as illegal short-term rentals and front-yard paving.

By Karen Gadbois June 6, 2013 2 comments

Even a chain restaurant like proposed Habana Outpost creates commerce

Developers would replace the defunct French Quarter gas station with a large chain restaurant.

What if a Pizza Hut went up at that abandoned gas station in the Quarter?

Opinion By Jean-Paul Villere May 30, 2013 5 comments

The ‘economic development’ that nearly doomed New Orleans tourism

A rendering from the time shows the planned expressway towering over the French Quarter.

In an era when highways and “urban renewal” were ripping cities apart, Section 106 was a tool useful to local preservationists and as a way to force federal agencies to stop destroying irreplaceable remnants of American history.

Opinion By Milford Wayne Donaldson April 30, 2013 6 comments

Volleyball courts on the bayou? Neighbors worry about toilets, ads and parking

Donated sand is destined for the courts, wherever they wind up.

Neighborhood leader says the parking that would come with the courts would destroy the bayou's beauty.

By Karen Gadbois April 23, 2013 9 comments

Hotels want new tax on guests to promote expected riverfront development

Legislature to consider room tax, perhaps 1.5 percent, to benefit organizations marketing the city.

By Tyler Bridges April 22, 2013 1 comment

City unveils competing proposals to redevelop World Trade Center site

Hotels are part of two proposals. Two envision tourist attractions: a "Sky Wheel" or "Tricentennial Tower."

By Steve Myers April 22, 2013 5 comments

Convention Center officials envision iconic sculpture on former World Trade Center site

convention center expansion 1presentation 2-crop

According to a document obtained by The Lens, the shuttered, 33-story World Trade Center would be demolished, and a towering sculpture and a park – meant to become a tourism icon for the city of New Orleans — would be built in its place at the foot of Canal Street.

By Tyler Bridges April 19, 2013 8 comments