By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer |

The city committee charged with reviewing requests for demolition will meet today to consider knocking down a former Popeyes outlet near Riverbend area, the closed Gem theater on Thalia Street and 50 other properties.

This long-neglected former Popeyes on South Carrollton Avenue may soon be torn down. Photo by Karen Gadbois

No redevelopment plans were submitted to the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee with the request to tear down the Popeyes, on South Carrollton Avenue near Willow Street.

More than 50 properties on the swollen agenda. Most are requested by the city’s Code Enforcement office, though some are applied for by property owners.

The former Gem theater on Thalia Street has fallen form its former grace. Photo CreditCharles L. Franck / Franck-Bertacci Photographers Collection, The Historic New Orleans Collection

The theater on Thalia was deemed a local historic landmark by the Historic District Landmarks Commission in February 2010. It has an active renovation permit, and electrical work passed inspection in January.

The Gem Theater opened in 1948, during the Jim Crow era, as a theater for African Americans. It closed in 1961.

The Gem today. Photo by Karen Gadbois

It is likely that The Gem will be taken off the agenda.

Monday’s meeting begins at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers we will be tweeting from the meeting @gadboislensnola #NCDC

Karen Gadbois co-founded The Lens. She now covers New Orleans government issues and writes about land use. With television reporter Lee Zurik she exposed widespread misuse of city recovery funds and led...