3636 Saint Charles Ave.

Description: Appeal of ARC recommendations for the renovation of a Non-Contributing rated, two-story, commercial building.

Previous ARC Recommendations:

08/18/26: The ARC recommended conceptual approval with the details to be worked out at the staff level.The ARC recommended the following: 

• Option 4 was determined to be the preferred option.

• The balconies are approved at a maximum depth of 4 feet and shall not exceed this depth.

02/24/26: The ARC recommended conceptual approval with the details to be worked out at the staff level. The ARC recommended the following: 

•  Extend the brick façade along Saint Charles Avenue to the corner to match in height and  language. Continue that same brick treatment around the corner onto Antonine Street so the corner clearly matches and reads as a seamless extension of the Saint Charles Avenue façade. 

•  Revise the corner design so that it does not read as a separate third element, but instead as a continuation of the primary brick façade. 

• Paint the brick to match the existing building, or alternatively, stucco the brick to match the existing façade. 

 01/20/26: The ARC recommended conceptual approval with the details to be worked out at the staff level. The ARC recommended the following: 

• Option 2 for the corner condition is preferred, without a railing.

• Extend the brick façade fully to the corner, or revise the Antonine Street columns so they are consistent and extended to the corner.

• Remove railings in areas where there is no balcony.

• Simplify the railing design and remove decorative posts.

• Limit balcony projections to a maximum depth of 4 feet. 

Staff Recommendations: 

At the August 18, 2026, ARC meeting, the applicant presented several design options. Option 4 was selected and approved, with a maximum balcony depth of 4 feet. The applicant is now appealing the ARC recommendations: the approval of Option 4 and the maximum 4-foot balcony depth. The applicant is requesting approval of Option 3 and balconies with a depth of 4 feet 7 inches.

The corner design was previously discussed at the February 24, 2026, ARC meeting. At that time, the ARC recommended extending the brick façade along Saint Charles Avenue to the corner and continuing the same treatment onto Antonine Street so the corner would read as a seamless continuation of the Saint Charles Avenue façade. The ARC also recommended that the corner not read as a separate third element.The ARC selected Option 4 because it maintains the building as two cohesive elements rather than creating a third distinct element at the corner. Option 3 creates a stronger separation at the corner and causes it to read as a third element, which is contrary to the ARC's previous recommendation.The applicant has indicated that the preference for Option 3 is, in part, related to accommodating a temporary Mardi Gras viewing stand. The stand is only in place for a short period each year. A change to Option 3 is not necessary to accommodate the stand, as Option 4 leaves the area open for the temporary viewing stand as it has been placed in previous years. The temporary use does not warrant changing the overall design or introducing a third element.

Balcony Depth

The applicant is also requesting to increase the balcony depth from the 4-foot maximum approved by the ARC to 4 feet 7 inches. The proposed balconies are cantilevered steel channel balconies, painted to match the building, with black metal railings to match the existing Antonine Street railing and composite decking.The HDLC Guidelines note that balconies generally project 3 to 4 feet from the face of a building and typically do not include a roof structure above. The Guidelines also state that a balcony should not be constructed on a building type or style that typically would not have included one, or in a configuration or location that is not appropriate for the building type.The ARC initially recommended a 3-foot balcony depth and allowed the applicant to increase the depth to 4 feet. The ARC determined that balconies exceeding 4 feet would not be appropriate for this building.The applicant provided photographs of balconies located further down the street as precedent to the requested 4-foot-7-inch depth. However, the balconies shown in the photographs were constructed in deviations of the approved plans. Staff have included the photographs for the Commission's consideration but do not find sufficient justification for increasing the balcony depth beyond the maximum 4-foot.

Staff recommends upholding the ARC's approval of Option 4 and limiting the balconies to a maximum depth of 4 feet. 

Context Photos:

Current Options:

Current Drawings:

Previous  Drawings - 08/18/26:

Previous  Drawings - 02/24/26:

Previous  Drawings - 01/20/26:

Street View: