Name: NOFD chief orders historic buildings near Hard Rock torn down, clearing way for hotel demolition
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NOFD chief orders historic buildings near Hard Rock torn down, clearing way for hotel demolition

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You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Workers perform a controlled demolition of two construction cranes at the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, La., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Fire Chief Tim McConnell ordered the demolition of three historic properties next to the Hard Rock hotel as part of the developers' plan to tear down the collapsed building.Two cranes fall in a controlled, explosive demolition at the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Demolition of the cranes at the Hard Rock Hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans on Sunday, October 20, 2019.Crowds wait as workers prepare to perform a controlled demolition of two construction cranes at the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, La., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans on Saturday, October 12, 2019.Workers perform a controlled demolition of two construction cranes at the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, La., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Two cranes fall in a controlled, explosive demolition at the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Demolition of the cranes at the Hard Rock Hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans on Sunday, October 20, 2019.Crowds wait as workers prepare to perform a controlled demolition of two construction cranes at the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, La., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans on Saturday, October 12, 2019.New Orleans Fire Superintendent Tim McConnell issued a demolition order for three buildings surrounding the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel, removing the final hurdle to bringing down the hulking wreckage.The order comes a day before the Central Business District Historic District Landmarks Commission was set to decide whether to allow the demolition of the buildings, two of which are considered historically significant structures.McConnell's order, issued under an emergency declaration put in place when the Hard Rock collapsed six months ago, preempts any decision that would have been made by the board."This is necessary to facilitate the safe demolition of 1031 Canal," McConnell said, referring to the Hard Rock by its address. "It has been looked at from every different angle and to lessen the threat to human life and public safety it needs to be done."Preservationists have expressed concern about the demolition of the buildings surrounding the Hard Rock site, both because of their own historic value and because they are owned by two of the partners in the Hard Rock development. That, critics say, could leave the development team with a larger plot of land that they could profit from after the wreckage is cleaned up.But Mayor LaToya Cantrell said both the developers and the city's independent engineers had agreed the demolition could not be safely conducted while they were still standing."From my perspective there are no more excuses from (the developers) as to why they cannot move forward with the demolition and move forward immediately," Cantrell said.&nbsp;The Hard Rock was under construction when its upper floors collapsed in October, killing three workers. The remains of two of the victims are still trapped in the rubble.For the past six months little has been done to the site as the city and the developers, a consortium led by Mohan Kailas known as 1031 Canal Street Development LLC, have been at odds over how to bring down the 18-story building. Those discussions have frequently resulted in impasses between the two sides, but those issues were cleared last week when the city issued a demolition permit that allows the developers to take the building apart with cranes.McConnell, on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, said he issued the order to take down the buildings surrounding the site because engineers and crane experts for both the developers and the city said they would need to come down to provide a clear line of sight from the cranes to the Hard Rock and provide an area to stage the cranes and allow debris to fall.Preservationists have noted that the two buildings at 1019-1025 and 1027 Canal Street&nbsp;are key structures from the early 20th century. One housed the Alamo Theater, which was designed by the same architect who would go on to design the Saenger Theater nearby and Touro Synagogue. The other building had a variety of tenants including theaters.&nbsp;Both buildings hosted early jazz acts.&nbsp;HDLC Chairman John Boyd did not respond to a message about the decision on Tuesday.&nbsp;The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today.In reports prepared for Wednesday's meeting, HDLC staff urged caution, noting that both buildings are more than 100 years old and have connections to the heyday of the thoroughfares.&nbsp;"Staff has concerns about the precedent that would be set by the demolition of this structure, as well as the effect on the character of historic Canal Street that would result with future large scale developments," according to the report. "Unless the applicant can sufficiently demonstrate that all options have been exhausted and the safe demolition of 1031 Canal St. is impossible using any other means, staff recommends denial of the demolition request."HDLC staff did not raise any concerns about demolishing the third building at 1022 Iberville Street, which is newer.Mayor LaToya Cantrell said on Tuesday that she supported the order because she did not want to take the families of the victims "through any more obstacles to getting these buildings down.""Going through the normal process, the HDLC, is not an option because this is not a normal situation," she said.Both Cantrell and McConnell said they had not had any conversations with members of the HDLC about the order.One critical voice has been the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates, which opposed the original plans for the Hard Rock and more recently raised concerns about the demolitions. On Tuesday, Executive Director Erin Holmes said the group was pushing to at least save architecturally valuable portions of the buildings, some of which have been covered by facades for decades."We don’t want to stand in the way of the demolition of the failed project," Holmes said, referring to the Hard Rock. "We just want it down."The fact that two of the buildings are owned by Kailas and a third is owned by Todd Trosclair, a partner in the Hard Rock project, also raises some concerns. After the demolition is complete, Holmes worried the developers — or whoever purchases the property from them — could come back and try to build a bigger project that would cover all four of those parcels.&nbsp;Neither Kailas nor Trosclair has sought permission to demolish the buildings in the past, though the development team was cited for "demolition by neglect" on the two properties fronting Canal Street. One of the buildings was also damaged when the developers were demolishing the Woolworth's that previously stood on the Hard Rock site.&nbsp;McConnell's order is essentially the last major step needed before demolition can commence. Crews could be on site and starting that process by early next week, McConnell said.&nbsp;The developers' plan calls for the piecemeal demolition of the Hard Rock using cranes. Under their plans, the bodies inside the building could be removed in about 30 days and the upper floors could be brought down by mid-July, before the peak of hurricane season.That would leave the more structurally sound lower eight stories of the building, which could be cleared in about six months.© Copyright 2022 , 840 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA&nbsp;| &nbsp;|Powered by from .

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Workers perform a controlled demolition of two construction cranes at the site of the partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, La., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Fire Chief Tim McConnell ordered the demolition of three historic properties next to the Hard Rock hotel as part of the developers' plan to tear down the collapsed building.Two cranes fall in a controlled, explosive demolition at the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.Demolition of the cranes at the Hard Rock Hotel on Canal Street in New...

NOFD chief orders historic buildings near Hard Rock torn down, clearing way for hotel demolition

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