Update: The council approved the rezoning by a vote of 5-1. Read the live blog below for details.
The highly controversial Holy Cross condo project is set to go before the New Orleans City Council today.
Perez, APC is seeking a zoning change that would allow for the construction of two towers along the river in the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood of Holy Cross.
The company first proposed a 135-foot high development, then dropped it to 75 feet in response to complaints that it would tower over the neighborhood of shotguns and cottages.
The current proposal is for two 60-foot buildings. That’s still higher than the current zoning allows, but it’s in line with the city’s draft zoning rules for the area.
The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association has maintained consistent opposition to the project and has complained about Perez’s tactics — including a petition with questionable signatures — in trying to gather support for the project.
Councilman James Gray, who represents the neighborhood, has spoken in favor of the development. Tuesday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said he supports the current plan.
Both NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate have published opinion pieces critical of the proposed development.
This will be the first regular meeting of the newly elected council. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.; the Holy Cross proposal is supposed to be heard around 11 a.m.