1837 State St.

Staff Recommendations: 

In 2020 an application was filed to remove 100% of the existing roof and more than 50% of exterior walls.  This eclectic style raised basement home was constructed sometime between 1920 and 1930, within the period of significance for the local historic district. HDLC Staff recommended the denial of the application. At the Commission meeting held May 6, 2020 the Commission was unable to reach a majority decision resulting in a de-facto denial. An appeal was made to New Orleans City Council and the demolition of 100% of the existing roof and more than 50% of exterior walls was approved on June 18, 2020.

On February 23, 2023 visual inspection by HDLC Staff noted that the current demolition exceeded the approved drawing set. A stop work was not issued and the General Contractor and Owners were notified immediately by HDLC Staff. In the course of the discussions another in-depth inspection was requested by the applicant and performed by HDLC Staff.

The conditions at the front façade were poor and had a mixture of materiality comprised of wood, concrete and brick. The mixture of these materials in the way they were used, coupled with termite damage, gave little structural integrity to the walls above. 

The level of demolition approved by New Orleans City Council was not a tenable reality from the beginning of this project. The Staff recommends the approval of the demolition of more than the approved scope of work in deviation of a Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA).