Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates and French Quarter Citizens conducted interviews with the major candidates for mayor, council district C, and council-at-large.  Below are links to summaries of those interviews and the text of the mayoral interviews (we'll send the full text of the council interviews in a separate email).

We used a set list of questions for all candidates, although naturally in the course of the interviews other topics were covered.  We attempted to capture the salient points from these interviews, and in cases where we quote the candidates directly, we’ve used quotation marks.

Click here to read the mayoral interviews.

Click here to read the district C interviews.

Click here to read the council-at-large interviews

VCPORA and FQC thank all the candidates for their time and for their energy.  Now it’s up to us, as citizens, to study the candidates and their positions, and make informed votes.

Remember, early voting continues until this Saturday.  It's fast and easy - click here to see where and how.
   

IT’S BAAACCK….

 

The Controversial, Cosmopolitan Condo-tel

proposed for 121 Royal Street…

 “THE TOWER

THAT ATE ROYAL STREET”

See for yourself.  Click on pictures below…

 

Don’t laugh -- Something is seriously wrong when developers need a 26-story building -- to restore a single five-story building!

 In the first picture below (all from developers’ architect), see the proposed skyscraper towering over original five-story Royal St. building…

http://www.themarketingcenter.com/vcp/Tower.Royal-front.jpg 

 

 The view from historic Canal Street -- See how much higher it is than anything else on the block!...

http://www.themarketingcenter.com/vcp/Tower.Canal.jpg 

 

 Next, notice the grey box in rear.  That’s a hotel that was sued because it was 159.5 feet.  The rules allow 85 feet.  The height of this project busts through at 268 feet!

…And, don’t forget to compare the height of neighboring buildings on this Royal Street block!

http://www.themarketingcenter.com/vcp/Tower.Royal.jpg

 

Please take a moment to e-mail or phone your New Orleans City Councilpersons…  click below for contact information, and for more details on this important issue!

 

 Continued  »  

   

On Thursday, October 29, VCPORA bid a fond farewell to our departing board members, including outgoing president Mike Moffitt.  We also welcomed our new and returning board members, including Ann Masson, VCPORA's new president!  To see a list of the 2009-10 VCPORA board members, click here.  And to read the remarks and thanks of our outgoing president, click below.

We are prepared for another year of challenges and successes in protecting and preserving the Vieux Carre, and thank our board members and our membership for their dedication and support!
 Continued  »  

Below is a letter sent by VCPORA as well as French Quarter Citizens and the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association regarding the proposed rezoning of riverfront land for the "Reinventing the Crescent" park.  While we wholeheartedly support the creation of the park, we have some specific concerns about this proposal, and have asked the Council to defer the matter until key questions have been answered.  Click below to read the letter.  Continued  »  

On Friday, October 9, Judge Robin Giarrusso denied the owners of the business at 711 Bourbon (aka Bourbon Lights) their request for a preliminary injunction. 


The plaintiffs had sought a court action that would have allowed them to continue operating, despite the fact that permits were not obtained for virtually any of the work on the premises; despite the flouting of four stop work orders issued by the city; despite the fact that no structural permits or inspections have ever been conducted; and despite many other violations of building, preservation, and life safety codes. 

The bar owners had argued that any violations were the responsibility of the building owners, and that they as tenants shouldn't be punished because a third party didn't follow the rules.  But the city attorneys rightfully pointed out that the bar owners had both directed and benefited from the work, and had "unclean hands" and committed "bad acts."  They also countered the plaintiff's claims that the violations were "technicalities." 


We are grateful to our attorney, Alan Alario of Smith Stag, and to city attorneys Thomas Robichaux, Nolan Lambert, and Dawn Segura, who prepared the brief and successfully argued the case today.

This is a huge victory for the French Quarter, but for other neighborhoods as well.  When the importance of process is upheld, and everyone is compelled to follow the same rules, then all neighborhoods win!

Thank you, FQC members and friends, for your tremendous outpouring of support and justified outrage in this case.    

   

The bar at 711 Bourbon Street has obtained a court order to reopen!  VCPORA needs your help in getting city officials to enforce the law and protect our irreplaceable Vieux Carre!  Click below to read more!  Continued  »  

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!  Continued  »  

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.

CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS AND READ MORE!!!  Continued  »