420-428 Julia St.

Staff Recommendations: 

In 2022, the CofA was issued for the new construction of a multi-story boutique hotel and the adaptive reuse of the existing Landmark building at 420 Julia. A final inspection for the new construction and renovation was conducted in June of 2024. At this time, it was found that the windows installed at the new construction portion of the building were installed with half-screens. The HDLC Guidelines do not permit the installation of half-screens and the HDLC approved window specs from 2022 specified that half-screens were not permitted. 

The applicant is requesting retention of the half-screens as installed, including those that are street facing on Tchoupitoulas St. Staff recommends denial of the half-screens at the street facing elevations, as it was clearly communicated that the half-screens were not approved by the HDLC, they do not meet the Guidelines, and the street facing windows are visually prominent. However, Staff recommends that the retention be granted at the interior courtyard elevation, as these are minimally visible.