This 75th Anniversary Gala will be a particularly spectacular event. The architecture,  the entertainment,  and the food that makes New Orleans one of the top food destinations in the world will contribute to the magic of the evening.  In keeping with our Diamond Anniversary, the highlights of the special silent auction will include diamond jewelry and antique art and the pièce de résistance of our special live auction is a week at an 18th century home in the medieval village of Eyguières, France located in the lovely and picturesque region of Provence.

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and to help us celebrate, a noted singer will keep us company with her music throughout the night. 

       

A number of the Vieux Carré’s  most famous restaurants will be providing their delicious cuisine for the evening and special French wine and champagne will be selected to accompany these renowned chef’s menus.

If you love the French Quarter, please join us for this extraordinary event.  Help us celebrate this special occasion and our history of preserving our neighborhood’s culture and architectural heritage.

75th Anniversary Gala Auction features Le Moulin!

Have you ever dreamt of spending time in a medieval village in Provence, France?  Your dream will come true if you are the successful bidder at our special live auction on the evening of Saturday September 28, 2013 at the Cabildo on Jackson Square at VCPORA’s annual gala, “Vive le Vieux Carré”

The pièce de résistance being offered is a week at an 18th century home in the medieval village of Eyguières, France located in the lovely and picturesque province of Provence. The house was built approximately 250 years ago and is located on two acres on the outskirts of the village at the foot of the Apilles Mountains.

  

The original two story house is shaded by four 250 year old Provencal Plane trees. This main structure has a living room, dining room, library with wifi, and a full gourmet kitchen with attached pantry. The owner’s two bedrooms are on the second floor.  Attached to one end of the main house are the former stables which have been converted into 4 guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There is also a detached former woodshed that has been converted into a guest room which includes a bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area. On the other side of the main house is a two story 100+ year old sawmill which has been completely restored and is used as a grand entertaining room. The mill has a working waterwheel which formerly powered the mill, a dining room table that can seat 12, a large living room couch positioned in front of a fireplace, and a full gymnasium on the mill's mezzanine level. Other Le Moulin amenities include a heated pool with a pool house, and a large outdoor terrace for dining.

  

The house comes with 2 caretakers, 2 Peugeot convertibles, French TV, satellite TV offering news and programs from England, 6 adult and 2 children’s bicycles, and 2 washers and dryers.  Nearby are the towns of St. Remy de Provence, Avignon, and Le-Baux-de Provence.  The beaches of San Tropez are a 2 hour drive away.

Le Moulin is a perfect place for a family vacation or a group of friends to gather. We hope you will bid on this wonderful auction item donated by one of our members who appreciates historic preservation.

If you love the French Quarter, please join us for this extraordinary event.  Help us celebrate this special occasion and our history of preserving our neighborhood’s culture and architectural heritage.

 

 

 

 

   

Elizabeth Becker, author of the bestselling book “Overbooked,” a critical analysis of the tourism industry, will be in New Orleans this week for two speaking engagements.

The first will be on Wednesday, May 29 at Garden District Books (2727 Prytania St.) at 5:30 p.m., where she will do a book signing.  The second will be on Thursday, May 30 at the Beauregard-Keyes House (1113 Chartres Street) from 6 – 8 p.m. where she will do a presentation followed by a question-and-answer segment.  That event is in partnership with the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates.  A light reception will follow.

Ms. Becker is an award-winning former correspondent for the New York Times and former Senior Foreign Editor at National Public Radio, and has travelled extensively.  Her in-depth research and interviews, conducted literally all over the world, give her an unmatched perspective and insight into tourism.

“New Orleans is in many ways a crucible for the modern tourism industry,” says Meg Lousteau, Executive Director of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates, whose group has coordinated Ms. Becker's visit.  “The city has announced plans to increase the number of visitors by 50% in the next 5 years.  Tourism is arguably the city’s biggest industry, and we want it to continue to thrive.  But it’s worth learning about tourism management, public policy, and the pluses and minuses of modern mass tourism.”

“VCPORA is pleased to host this event in partnership with the Beauregard-Keyes House,” says president Carol Allen. “Our respective organizations share an interest in cultivating the kind of tourism that respects New Orleans history and celebrates its authentic culture.  What better place to host it than this historic house museum in the French Quarter.”

For further information on Ms. Becker and the book, please see the following pages.



 Continued  »  

The January At Home in the Vieux Carré has special significance – it’s the kick-off event for our 75th anniversary year!  Please join us at 817 St. Philip, the home of Bryan Drude and Carlos Trujillo, as well as our very special guests, Councilmembers Jackie Clarkson and Kristin Gisleson Palmer.

The At Home will be held on Friday, January 18, 2013, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at 817 St. Philip Street.  Admission is $5/members, $10/non-members, and FREE to those who join that night!  Also, we'll have a specialty cocktail from Cafe Amelie, and divine treats from The Sweet Palate!

We are so grateful to French Quarter Realty, who is in their fourth year of underwriting the At Home events!

   

   

VCPORA Annual Meeting

Monday, November 7, 2011

 Muriel’s Jackson Square

801 Chartres Street

 

6:30 p.m.  Socializing with complimentary wine and cash bar

7:00 p.m.  Annual Meeting and Election of Board

Program with Guest Speaker to follow the Annual Meeting

 

Election of Board of Directors for VCPORA

Message from the President

Program

 Continued  »  

Dear Neighbors and friends,
 
A lot has been written about 1031 Canal Street, at the corner with North Rampart.  VCPORA would like to share with you why this issue should be of interest to all of us who love New Orleans.
 
Isn’t redevelopment of that corner good?  OF COURSE!  VCPORA wholeheartedly supports redevelopment of that parcel, as I’m sure you do!
 
So, doesn’t that mean that we have to accept this proposal?  As a community, we can do much better.  With the reopening of the Saenger and Joy Theaters, the coming Rampart Streetcar, and the redevelopment of the Iberville Housing Development, the only thing that might stop that corner from redeveloping is, frankly, greed.  That area is so prime for development, it’s hard to believe that someone will not develop it.
 
Fairness – and the Master Plan – dictate that the rules should be followed.  As a community, New Orleans citizens voted to change the Master Plan because we wanted to stop the project-specific “spot zoning.”  Why would should this developer be given a pass to good public policy?
 
Is that corner part of the French Quarter?  The boundaries of the National (note, not city) Historic Landmark district go to the center of Canal Street – and that designation is the most important that this country can bestow on a site.  (Other National Historic Landmarks include the Brooklyn Bridge, the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, and the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe.)
 
What’s wrong with tall and dense buildings?  The important thing is context.  Virtually all respected urban planners agree that the low rise of the old French Quarter should gradually slope up in height and density as you go farther away from the French Quarter.  That’s why unlimited height is allowed on Poydras Street, not Canal.  Planners urge that there NOT be a cliff of non-historic high rise buildings at the edge of the Quarter.  Transition matters.
 
Can’t we just grant an exception here?  Why do the rules apply to some and not to others?  Fairness matters. When the public voted for the city charter change for the Master Plan, they said, “Stop the ‘spot zoning.’  Stop changing the rules for one developer at a time.”  That’s exactly what the current 1031 Canal Street proposal would do.  It’s not fair to others who do play by the rules, and it is blatant disregard for the Master Plan. This would be a terrible precedent.  It’s the “old way” of city government.  We are hopeful that our current leaders recognize that planning = fairness = progress.
 
Why turn down an investment like this?  Experts agree that in the long run, these kinds of exceptions are harmful to the real estate market because they encourage speculation, which can lead to vacancies and blight.  But don’t take our word for it – listen to David Dixon of Goody Clancy, the nationally respected planning firm who headed the Master Planning process for our city:  When in New Orleans, he explained that when a city is well known for giving massive variances to the Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance, this actually pushes up the value of the properties in those areas, which then pushes up the cost of buying these properties, which then pushes up the developers’ demands (like height and mass) needed to “make the numbers work.”
 
He continued, if you have a city system in which the rules are known in advance, and everyone plays by the same rules, not only is it more fair, the market finds its own balance and you’ll find MORE projects being developed.  In other words, this “greed temptation”, if you’ll excuse our phrase, actually leads to lack of development!
 
Why should 1031 Canal matter to you?  This is the first major challenge to the Master Plan since its adoption.  Let’s continue the progress made by this city since Katrina.  Let’s not go back to the old way of doing business here.  I hope you’ll agree with me, we can do better, and we must do better.
 

Carol Allen
President
Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents & Associates, Inc.
July 24, 2011    

          



 

•     A 2 night stay at the Monmouth Plantation in Natchez   
•     Wine tasting for 6
•     New Orleans Athletic Club membership
•     An exquisite brunch or dinner at the Bourbon Street home of Anthony Marino

   
                        Monmouth Plantation                  New Orleans Athletic Club               Marino Kitchen
 
But there’s even more!  You could:

•  Treat your pet to a spa grooming treatment, or a visit to the French Quarter Vet.
•  Invite friends and neighbors over to enjoy hand rolled cigars after a night at the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
• Get creative with professional design consultants who have an eye for fine detail.  They'll help provide you with a personalized interior design and garden/patio consultation.
• Antiques, antiques, antiques..a chandelier, Cheng Dynasty platter, Beleek vase...and many more!

  

 Continued  »  

As members and friends of VCPORA, we all play a part in protecting the French Quarter – we keep abreast of preservation and governance issues;  we respond to calls for action by making calls and attending meetings; we work with the Vieux Carré Commission to maintain the neighborhood’s integrity; and we offer our thanks to those who help us. 

We also have to deal with a multitude of legal issues, ranging from the simple to the complex.  And in many cases, that requires professional legal minds to guide us and to take action.

For years, VCPORA has been able to count on a man who’s led innumerable legal battles on our behalf, and on behalf of the Quarter - and done all of it pro bono.
 
That man is Stuart H. Smith – our neighbor, our benefactor, and a man of courage and capability who’s been a passionate advocate on behalf of the Vieux Carré.

Stuart was the unanimous choice to be the recipient of this year’s Schwartz Gage Preservation Award.  The award, which VCPORA bestows on someone who’s shown exemplary dedication, leadership, and commitment to the French Quarter, is given out only once every two years.  It’s named for two remarkable sisters, Eugenie Schwartz and Grace Gage, whose decades of work to protect and preserve the Vieux Carré left a legacy that still benefits us today.


For tickets or information, please call 504.581.7200 or email info@vcpora.org