UPDATE on Illegal Bar at 711 Bourbon
Last night, we got word that the bar was open. Representatives of VCPORA and French Quarter Citizens met with Maj. Hosli, commander of the 8th District, at 711 Bourbon at about 9 p.m. Word of our impending visit had apparently reached the bar operators, because by the time we arrived, the bar was closed! We will be checking again tonight.
CLICK TO READ MORE!We've also heard back from the State Fire Marshal Butch Browning, who emailed a thank you to everyone for their concern and passion for our treasured French Quarter. He explained that his team had visited the site and determined that the first floor meets fire code, but that they'd issued a "cease and desist" order for activity on the 2nd and 3rd floors. However, we'd like to point out that the Department of Safety and Permits has not received any plans or even applications, so the major structural work that has been done has not been inspected or approved. Also, the operators have not obtained a use and occupancy permit, which means that the bar cannot open legally.
And in case you missed Saturday night's WWL story on this issue, here it is:
Group charges that historic Bourbon St. building being damaged by new owners
01:07 PM CDT on Saturday, September 26, 2009 |
Dennis Woltering / Eyewitness News dwoltering@wwltv.com |
NEW ORLEANS - The owner of a Bourbon St. bar is doing business without proper permits and has caused serious damage to a significant piece of the French Quarter's historical architecture, according to a city agency and members of the neighborhood’s leading property owner/resident association.
The Vieux Carre Commission says 711 Bourbon, the old Tricou House, was built in the 1830s by renowned architects. According to the VCC and other specialists, it is an important piece of history and architecture.
“It's just one step below the Cabildo and the Presbytere,” said Meg Lousteau, executive direct of the group Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates. “So the architecture is historically significant.”
That's why Lousteau said "the severe modifications" the new property owners are making to the building could be so damaging.
“According to the Vieux Carre Commission, there was a wall in front of the open carriageway that was just removed and replaced with some steel supports,” Lousteau said.
Lary Hesdorffer, the Vieux Carre Commission director, said "None of that (work) was supported by any permits by the Vieux Carre Commission or the department of Safety and Permits." He adds that work "has brutally damaged or altered a very fine structure."
This is the third set of "stop work" orders posted on the doors at 711 Bourbon as well as on the owner’s adjoining property around the corner at 814 Orleans Ave.
The work has allegedly taken place despite those previous "stop work" orders from both the Vieux Carre Commission and the city department of Safety and Permits.
VCPORA says the operators of 711 Bourbon have ripped down several stop work orders and continued making renovations without city permission.
Neighbors behind the 711 Bourbon property say they have heard the work going on.
“They’ve been told to stop and they just sneak in there to do it,” said Kimberly Ray.
“And they just keep doing what they want to do,” added Chuck Singleton.
Lousteau calls the situation a flagrant disregard for the law. Her group and the VCC are also concerned that the owner of 711 Bourbon plans to use his property at 814 Orleans for his business, spreading commercialism into an area zoned residential.
According to Lousteau and the Vieux Carre Commission, 711 Bourbon has been operating a bar in apparent violation of the law.
The department of Safety and Permits says the property does "not have a certificate of use and occupancy," which is required to open for business.
A woman inside the door at 711 Bourbon refused comment Friday and refused to give WWL a way to contact the business owner. He is identified on the stop work order as Angelo Farrell.
On Friday, the state Fire Marshal's office said it told the bar operators it could not have more than 49 people in the place, and only in the front bar area. But without the city "use and occupancy" certificate, a city spokesman says the place is not allowed to open for business.