UPDATE: Full Landrieu Letter - A 45-day Halt to LSU Footprint Street Closure

This is indeed good news.

Here is the letter from Mayor Landrieu in full:

June 17, 2010
Timmy Teepell
Chief of Staff
Office of the Governor
Louisiana State Capitol
Baton Rouge, LA 70802


Dear Mr. Teepell:
As you know, as Mayor of the City of New Orleans, I have an obligation and a deep commitment to ensure that as we rebuild from Hurricane Katrina, we create the most livable and economically vibrant City possible. That is why I am appreciative of your support for my administration’s effort to undertake a short 45-day architectural peer review to improve the design of the LSU University Medical Center and to suggest improvements that will increase its functionality as a medical center, improve its integration into the urban landscape, and ensure its success as an economic engine for the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana.


I have instructed the New Orleans City Planning Commission to ask their contractor, Goody Clancy along with a small group of highly regarded architects and planners, including those with experience designing medical and research centers, to review the current design plans for the LSU University Medical Center and make suggestions for how they can be improved in ways that are consistent with the New Orleans Master Plan and the development of our Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.


I look forward to working with Jerry Jones and his architects and would ask that you direct them to cooperate fully with my design review team so the process can be done as quickly and efficiently as possible.


Thank you for your commitment and service to our State.


Sincerely,


Mitchell J. Landrieu
Mayor, City of New Orleans

Now...hopefully the design review team considers what would be the best option if the old Charity building is not in play...consolidation of the yet unbuilt VA medical center and the LSU center on the LSU site.  That option would keep many historic homes in the dense VA site from being demolished and it would keep development below S. Galvez Street, which just makes sense.

ADDED: Several hours later, the Times-Picayune catches up with a story on the news.