715 Louisiana Ave.

District: Irish Channel - Full Control

Owner: LCD Investment Group LLC

HDLC Staff: Wendy Cargile

Rating: Contributing

Applicant: Legacy Construction and Development LLC

Permit #: 25-24811-HDLC

HDLC Guidelines: 

Section 12, Pages 23-24 of the Guidelines for New Construction, Additions and Demolition states that the demolition of all or portions of historic resources within a local Historic District or Landmark site are considered drastic actions, since they alter the character of the area. Once historic resources or buildings that contribute to the heritage of the community are destroyed, it is generally impossible to reproduce their design, texture, materials, details and their special character and interest in the neighborhood. When reviewing demolition applications at properties located within a Historic District or at a Landmark site, the HDLC uses the following criteria in its evaluations:

• The historic or architectural significance of the building or structure as designated by its “rating”: Contributing

• The importance of the building or structure to the tout ensemble of the area: FEMA survey research estimates the single shotgun was constructed between 1870-1880 and first appears on the 1893 Sanborn map. The building maintains very little of its historic integrity, with a large side addition being built sometime after the 1957 Sanborn map and an infill room being constructed at the front of the building. 

• The alternatives to demolition that have been explored by the applicant: None

• The difficulty or impossibility of reproducing such a building or structure because of its design, texture, material or detail: It may not be cost prohibitive to replicate the massing but it would be highly unlikely that the historic details would be replicated.

• The special character and aesthetic interest that the building or structure adds to the local Historic District: In its current form, the building does not add any historic value to the neighborhood.

• The condition of the building or structure: An interior and exterior inspection was conducted on August 21, 2025 and the Inspector found the building to be in poor condition.

At the exterior, the building had been stripped of most of its architectural elements and appeared to be heavily modified. The building was clad in vinyl siding, had no original windows remaining, and the asphalt shingle roof appeared to be in poor condition. The building appeared to be plumb and straight. The wood corner boards, soffit/fascia, and gutters all had signs of deterioration. The side addition appeared to be in a similar condition.

At the interior, the building’s ceiling and walls were cracked and showed evidence of mold and water marks throughout the building. The floor system was significantly failing throughout. Soft spots were present throughout the interior, indicating compromised structural integrity. The side addition showed significant signs of water intrusion, as evidenced by water stains on the failing ceiling tiles.  A secondary inspection was conducted on August 25, 2025  after interior exploratory demolition. This inspection revealed that several ceiling joists collapsed when the gypsum sheetrock was removed.

Staff Recommendations: 

The overall condition of the building is poor and there are very few historic architectural elements left on the building besides the wall and roof framing. It is always unfortunate to lose a building of this age, but a renovation would leave little, if any, historic fabric left. As such, Staff has no objection to the demolition, with the proviso that the CofA for demolition will not be issued until redevelopment plans have been approved.

• Recommendation: No objection, with proviso.