ILLEGAL BAR on Bourbon Street!
Dear VCPORA members and friends:
Earlier this week we told you about a special VCC meeting to address ongoing alleged violations at 711 Bourbon and 814 Orleans. We attended the meeting, and were astonished by what we saw in the staff presentation. And since then, there have been even more developments. For many of us who've been involved in preservation issues for decades, this is the most egregious flouting of historic, building, zoning and life safety codes we have ever witnessed.
Dear VCPORA members and friends:
Earlier this week we told you about a special VCC meeting to address ongoing alleged violations at 711 Bourbon and 814 Orleans. We attended the meeting, and were astonished by what we saw in the staff presentation. And since then, there have been even more developments. For many of us who've been involved in preservation issues for decades, this is the most egregious flouting of historic, building, zoning and life safety codes we have ever witnessed.
THE BUILDINGS
711 Bourbon is also known as the Tricou House. It is an important Creole townhouse with a central carriageway, and was built between 1832 and 1834 by architects Gurley and Guillot. It is a blue rated building, which is the second highest designation given by the Vieux Carre Commission. (Only buildings such as the Cabildo and Cathedral are rated more highly).
814 Orleans is a single masonry shotgun. It is located on a quiet, completely residential block around the corner.
The courtyards of these properties abut to form an L-shape, but the properties are legally separate parcels and are zoned differently.
VCC, ZONING, BUILDING and LIFE SAFETY VIOLATIONS
We were first alerted to potential problems by neighbors, who were very concerned that the owner was attempting to convert 814 Orleans into a giant storage unit for supplies for the bar at 711 Bourbon. That, of course, would be illegal, given the residential zoning of 814 Orleans. Since the special VCC meeting, however, there is much more cause for concern about both the Orleans house and 711 Bourbon itself. Below is a brief (and not exhaustive) catalog of the alleged violations:
Architectural
- The left wall of the carriageway has been removed. This had been an open air carriageway and as such was under the jurisdiction of the VCC. The orange lines illustrate where the wall had been.
- The formerly open archway at the end of the carriageway has been filled in with an improperly sized French door set with the gap filled with a poorly crafted, unmatching brick infill
- The courtyard in the fountain has been removed
- Some kind of structure (perhaps an outdoor bar or a bandstand) was being built in the courtyard
Building code
Despite the fact that the Department of Safety and Permits has issued no permits, the owner/contractor has:
- Run electrical lines throughout the building
- Constructed a staircase to the second floor
- Constructed a bar on the second floor
- Removed what appears to be a load bearing wall (see above photo) and replaced it with steel I-beams and pipe colums
Fire code
No application has been made to the State Fire Marshall. That means that there is no way of knowing if any of the changes made to the building meet fire safety codes for egress, exit signage, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems, etc.
Use and Occupancy
This permit has not been issued by the city. And yet the bar has been open and engaging in business, as you can see in this photo taken Monday night:
In sum, this building has not been permitted or inspected, so there is no way to know if it is safe for those who enter it.
Illegal removal of Stop Work Orders
As of this morning, the owner/contractor had violated THREE stop work orders issued by the VCC. There has been no action by Safety and Permits; however, Safety and Permits Director Paul May asserted at the VCC hearing that his department did not take action because VCC orders have the force of law and additional action would have been redundant.
CURRENT STATUS
The VCC has made a request to the City Attorney’s office to file a Temporary Restraining Order against the owner/contractor, but as of today, no TRO has been filed.
When VCPORA representatives were at the site earlier today taking photographs, we saw that the State Fire Marshall was there. No official word on what actions they may be taking.
The VCC inspector and several neighbors observed work in progress this morning, despite the three stop work orders! VCC inspectors (and the neighbors) will be monitoring this site over the weekend.
VCPORA is evaluating our options, legal and otherwise.
The public must demonstrate that we will not tolerate anyone who makes a mockery of the city's laws, and destroys our architecture and history in the process. We must also make it clear that we expect the proper governmental agencies to take action. Therefore, we ask that you email Mayor Ray Nagin, and cc the City Council, S&P Director Paul May, VCC Director Lary Hesdorffer, 8th District Commander Major Ed Hosli, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning (and include VCPORA!), and insist that he take action!
Email addresses are below so that you can cut and paste into your "to" box. Also below is suggested text, although emails are always more powerful when they are personalized so we encourage you to get creative.
Ray.Nagin@mayorofno.com, jcarter@cityofno.com, jbclarkson@cityofno.com, afielkow@cityofno.com, shead@cityofno.com, smidura@cityofno.com,chmorrell@cityofno.com, cwlewis@cityofno.com, pmay@cityofno.com, lhesdorffer@cityofno.com, ehosli@cityofno.com, butch.browning@dps.la.gov, info@vcpora.org
Dear Mayor Nagin:
In the case of 711 Bourbon and 814 Orleans, the city is allowing the destruction of one of the French Quarter's architectural jewels, exposing itself to tremendous liability, and making a mockery of our preservation, zoning, building, and life safety rules and regulations.
I ask that you take immediate action to prevent the further abuse of this building and of our laws.
VCPORA will be monitoring this situation over the weekend, and we ask anyone with information of ongoing violations to document (with photographs, if possible), and to notify us immediately.