Big changes coming to CBD area around Poydras and Loyola (1 Viewer)

[daybreaker]

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2010/12/developer_plans_new_complex_of.html


Four existing parking lots around the Loyola/Julia area are now under contract to be developed into 8-14 story mixed-use apartment and retail buildings. I dont know how finalized this is, or what the time frame is, but this is an exciting time for the area near the Dome.

We already have plans moving ahead for a streetcar line going down Loyola, as well as the Hyatt re-opening in Fall 2011. A large Rouses will be opening in the area in time for football season next year as well. The article also mentions the Plaza Tower has been purchased and is going to be undergoing renovations. Also, Walk Ons will be opening in the Smith & Wollensky building on Poydras. Not to mention the proposed Sports Entertainment District that will be opening before the Superbowl...

By 2013, the area around the Dome could be an active and lively place!

 

[Sarcastic]

I'm confused. There's another thread that says they're taking all our talegating away for stoopid places for peeple to shop and live, and we shoud do somethin to stop it!

Now you're telling me this is a good thing.

Who am I supposed to believe?

 

[daybreaker]

We are creative people- we will find tailgating space. Anything that can bring in more people and revenue to our city is better than a slight tailgating inconvenience 8 days a year.

 

[buzd]

We are creative people- we will find tailgating space. Anything that can bring in more people and revenue to our city is better than a slight tailgating inconvenience 8 days a year.

10


But I agree.

 

[The Mongoose]

I'm all for the development, but office parking is tight downtown as it is. These buildings will remove a huge swath of downtown parking, and there is really no place to recreate it.

Srsly, go try to park in one of those lots Mon - Fri during work hours. Chock full.

 

[jrdbrn]

Tailgate at Home Depot across the train tracks! HELLLS YAAAA!

 

[blackadder]

I'm confused. There's another thread that says they're taking all our talegating away for stoopid places for peeple to shop and live, and we shoud do somethin to stop it!

Now you're telling me this is a good thing.

Who am I supposed to believe?

You are not supposed to tailgate.

You are supposed to go to Champions Square and send money there.

 

[Fun Bunch]

I'm all for the development, but office parking is tight downtown as it is. These buildings will remove a huge swath of downtown parking, and there is really no place to recreate it.

Srsly, go try to park in one of those lots Mon - Fri during work hours. Chock full.

Capitalism.

If there is a need, people will build it. In other words, I guarantee there will be some large parking garages built downtown to compensate.

 

[GameBreaker]

I'm confused. There's another thread that says they're taking all our talegating away for stoopid places for peeple to shop and live, and we shoud do somethin to stop it!

Now you're telling me this is a good thing.

Who am I supposed to believe?

 

[neworleanshoo]

I'm all for the development, but office parking is tight downtown as it is. These buildings will remove a huge swath of downtown parking, and there is really no place to recreate it.

Srsly, go try to park in one of those lots Mon - Fri during work hours. Chock full.

that's easily solved - more garage parking can be built (and i'm sure there is some in this plan). there's one on howard next to the WDSU building that's super cheap and rarely used, and i'm pretty sure they offer a shuttle to downtown.

there's no place for blocks & blocks of surface parking in a vibrant downtown area, period. this project is excellent news.

side note - I was SHOCKED to read that the plaza is now "under contract" (again). that's the asbestos-filled monster on the corner of howard & loyola. if anything ever comes of that thing, it'll be a miracle.

 

[mb504]

I'm confused. There's another thread that says they're taking all our talegating away for stoopid places for peeple to shop and live, and we shoud do somethin to stop it!

Now you're telling me this is a good thing.

Who am I supposed to believe?

Nice. I actually saw the other thread first.

I agree that it might make parking a little tighter at first, unless these buildings will also incorporate parking garages like the new apartments at 930 Poydras. But it's hard to argue that surface parking lots are really the best use for what should be prime downtown real estate.

 

[The Mongoose]

Capitalism.

If there is a need, people will build it. In other words, I guarantee there will be some large parking garages built downtown to compensate.

I see where you're coming from, but there isn't much land around there that isn't improved with a huge high rise, which no capitalist would ever tear down to build parking. The few spots that aren't high rise office towers are protected by the DDD as historic.

So, essentially, there is no place to recreate the parking.

The only place that might make sense is the current City Hall location, if City Hall ever moves to Chevron Place or 1010 Common, which is possible, if not likely. But parking has to exist somewhere, or the neighboring buildings will be in trouble.

Energy Centre has its own garage, but it's not enough to service the entire building. 1250 Poydras has one, and the Superdome has daytime parking, but those two aren't close enough to really replace the Loyola lots - those mostly serve 1515, 1555, the Freeport Building, and the Amaco Building.

Energy Centre, LL&E (909 Poydras), One Shell Square - they need these lots, as do all the smaller buildings around Girod and on the Uptown side of Poydras. Those are some of the nicest buildings downtown.

That said, I can't see such a project getting this far along without accounting for the parking issue (though stranger things have happened, depending on who's in bed with who). I just haven't seen it talked about, and it's a huge issue.

 

[The Mongoose]

side note - I was SHOCKED to read that the plaza is now "under contract" (again). that's the asbestos-filled monster on the corner of howard & loyola. if anything ever comes of that thing, it'll be a miracle.

It's been completely remediated and is basically a shell. The group that owns it planned on doing mixed use housing there, but their plans fell through.

It didn't make much sense before. But if this planned development takes off, then the Plaza Tower as residential units makes lots of sense.

And it was mold that shut the building down. It may have also had asbestos, but that wasn't the problem that forced the state to leave the building so quickly.

 

[LafourcheSaint]

The Walk-On's in BR is pretty cool. I've only been a couple of times, but it was all right.....Really crowded though. But the article said this one will be 11,000 sq feet compare to 1,400 in BR so that will make a difference. Happy's is pretty cool too, but being spoiled with The Bull Dog and Cooter's will make their large draft selection look small.

Good news all around!

 

[dtc]

I'm all for the development, but office parking is tight downtown as it is. These buildings will remove a huge swath of downtown parking, and there is really no place to recreate it.

Srsly, go try to park in one of those lots Mon - Fri during work hours. Chock full.

Doesn't the code require them to offset the loss of parking with lower floor garages or something?