Street Closures Approved

Yesterday, the City Planning Commission approved the eventual closure of a number of the streets inside the planned VA footprint.  The Times-Pic article on the subject does not say when the closures would actually begin - seemingly a crucial fact.

The City Council vote on the matter is the next step.

Tomorrow, February 23

The New Orleans City Planning Commission is slated to consider, at the least, the closure of cross-streets inside the VA footprint:

In question are the cross streets bounded by South Rocheblave Street, Tulane Avenue, South Galvez Street and Canal Street. Thoroughfares on the state site -- across Galvez to South Claiborne Avenue, also bounded by Tulane and Canal -- are not on the agenda.

The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers.

Interesting

I noticed a hyperlinked ad atop the Nola.com homepage that linked to Canal Housing, a company that owns and rents a number of small properties inside the footprint, all apparently restored after Katrina.

Strangely, the company, in advertising for its various properties, does not once mention the fact that some of its properties will likely face expropriation and destruction within the next six months.  While I feel sorry for the company, it seems unfair to fail to give prospective residents notice.

A Zulu King in the Footprint

The Federal Suit

Here's the rundown on the footprint-related suit in federal court here in New Orleans:

A lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation claims that government parties violated the National Environmental Policy Act when they fast-tracked the required pre-construction review to bypass a comprehensive "environmental impact statement." Among other counterarguments, Veterans Affairs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency say they are due the court's deference when considering the methodology used in satisfying the rules that govern all construction projects financed with federal tax money.

I wasn't able to attend the summary judgment hearing on Tuesday, but I'm interested to see how Judge Fallon ultimately rules on the motions. 

The Many-Windowed Camelback

Strange Shapes

Metamorphosis

Remember this one?

Well, here's the new and improved version, which must have emerged in the past month or so, part of the strange mini-trend of rehabilitating buildings Inside the Footprint on the eve of destruction:

It's really a bittersweet phenomenon - the buildings, like this one, look amazing after a bit of paint and demonstrate the potential for the area.  Ironically, though, as we've heard, some owners are only doing the upgrades in order to get a better price from the state in the buyout.