The City Planning Commission (CPC) announces the opening of a Master Plan amendment application period. According to the City Charter “at least once every five years, but not more often than once per calendar year… the Commission shall review the Master Plan and shall determine, after one or more public hearings, whether the plan requires amendment or comprehensive revision.” This year’s application period will run through August 5, 2011. The Master Plan can be reviewed and downloaded from the CPC website or the Master Plan website: www.nolamasterplan.org. Please review the following information pertaining to the amendment process.

1. What are the different types of amendment requests?

Proposed amendments may include changes to policies, the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), appendices or other components of the Plan.

2. Who may propose an amendment?

Anyone may propose an amendment to the Master Plan’s text. However, changes to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) must be submitted by the owner of the property for which the change is requested. More sizable areas for possible amendment may be requested by a City Councilmember. An application form can be obtained from the City Planning Commission at 1340 Poydras Street, 9th Floor NOLA 70112.

3. When must a proposed amendment be submitted to the City?

According to the City Charter, the City Planning Commission may consider plan amendments once every year. As part of the first annual review, Master Plan amendments will be accepted June through August 5, 2011.

4. How is an amendment submitted?

A proposed amendment is submitted in writing to the City Planning Commission. A pre-application conference is required prior to submitting an amendment request to confirm that the request is germane to the Master Plan.

The proposed amendment must consist of at least:

a. A reference to the Master Plan chapter that is proposed for amendment and/or a map of the boundaries

b. Proposed amendment language

c. An explanation of why the amendment is being proposed

For more information on submittal requirements view the application packet HERE.

5. What is the cost for filing an amendment?

In 2011, the first year of accepting applications, the City Planning Commission will not charge a fee for amendment requests or submissions.

6. What will happen once the amendment is proposed?

Once the amendment application packet is submitted for review, the City Planning Commission will schedule a public meeting and publish a notice a local newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen days in advance of the meeting. For public benefit and convenience, these meetings may be combined with meetings to revise the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. In addition to the public meetings, the City Planning Commission will hold a formal public hearing. A staff report evaluating the requests according to criteria noted in the application will be available to aid the discussion. The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final disposition.

Yesterday, June 8, 2011, the Louisiana House of Representatives UNANIMOUSLY passed BOTH rehab tax credits bills by Rep. Walt Leger — HB 348 and HB 349. Learn more about the tax credits HERE.

Monday is going to be a busy day! SB 63 by Sen. Murray, the companion bill for HB 349, will be debated on the House floor. Further, the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee will likely consider HB 348 and HB 349.

ACTION NEEDED! Here’s what you can do:

– Click HERE to find your representative — please send emails again and ask for him/her to support SB 63 by Sen. Ed Murray, which, like HB 349, extends the sunset date for the tax credit for commercial rehab projects until 1016.

– CLICK HERE to email Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee members in support of the HB 348 and HB 349 by Walt Leger! We have 3 senate co-authors – all senators need to hear from you! Click HERE if you would prefer to call committee members.

Remember: Preservation is something we do well in Louisiana. Our historic built environment is an abundant economic resource – we must utilize our track record and this abundant resource. By preserving our built environment, we are preserving our heritage, culture, and we are saving the environment!

ALSO: The healthier our neighborhoods, with more homeowners, increasing population and beautiful restored properties, the easier it is to attract business investment.

AND AS ALWAYS: Preservation tax credits pay for themselves with tax revenues and jobs!

Click HERE for additional talking points on the rehab tax credits. Plus, note the impressive list of 44 co-authors below from throughout the state!

Rep. Walt Leger, III (Primary Author) – NOLA

SENATORS
David Heitmeier – NOLA
Jean-Paul “JP” Morrell – NOLA
Cynthia Willard-Lewis – NOLA

REPRESENTATIVES
Christopher J. Roy, Jr. – Alexandria
Herbert B. Dixon – Alexandria
Hunter V. Greene – Baton Rouge
Stephen F. Carter – Baton Rouge
Patricia Haynes Smith – Baton Rouge
Reed S. Henderson - Chalmette
Jack Montoucet – Crowley
Billy R. Chandler – Dry Prong
Sam Jones – Franklin
Joe Harrison – Gray
Ricky J. Templet – Gretna
Girod Jackson III – Harvey
Henry L. Burns – Haughton
Thomas H. McVea – Jackson
John E. Guinn – Jennings
Rickey Hardy – Lafayette
Joel C. Robideaux – Lafayette
Jerry Gisclair – Larose
James K. Armes III – Leesville
Anthony V. Ligi, Jr. – Metairie
Jean M. Doerge – Minden
Rosalind D. Jones – Monroe
Rickey L. Nowlin – Natchitoches
Taylor F. Barras – New Iberia
Neil C. Abramson – NOLA
Jeffery “Jeff” J. Arnold – NOLA
Austin J. Badon, Jr. – NOLA
Damon J. Baldone – NOLA
Jared C. Brossett – NOLA
Walker Hines – NOLA
Helena N. Moreno – NOLA
Charmaine Marchand Stiaes – NOLA
Nick Lorusso – NOLA
Gary L. Smith, Jr. – Norco
Lowell C. Hazel – Pineville
Kirk Talbot – River Ridge
Roy A. Burrell – Shreveport
Thomas G. Carmody, Jr. – Shreveport
Patrick C. Williams – Shreveport
Richard T. Burford – Stonewall
Jerome Richard – Thibodeaux

Thanks to Rep. Leger and Sen. Murray taking the lead on the rehab tax credit bills! And thanks to the co-authors of HB 348!

NEW ORLEANS HISTORIC DISTRICT LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Hearing Results on Proposed Demolitions Considered June 9, 2011

OLD BUSINESS DEMOLITION APPLICATIONS

440 Newton Street/923 Nunez Street: DEFERRED 60 days to give the owner time to find a buyer that might restore this corner store building.

2118 St. Ann Street: Proposal to demolish for Carver Theater development. – DEFERRED 30 days at the request of the applicant. HDLC voted that they will NOT defer on this demolition request again.

2126 St. Ann Street: Proposal to demolish Carver Theater development. - DEFERRED 30 days at the request of the applicant. HDLC voted that they will NOT defer on this demolition request again.

2431 St. Ann Street: DENIED. This building is in poor condition, but since it has been sited for blight, the City can move the property to “Sheriff Sale” quickly. If the house were demolished, it would take much longer for a new blighted process to start.

1420 N. Robertson Street: DENIED. The owner has identified a buyer and is no longer interested in demolishing the house. Thanks to all that have helped this owner find a win-win for the owner, the neighborhood and the preservation community.

If you have an opinion on any of the demolitions that were deferred, CLICK HERE to email the HDLC. View the full HDLC agenda HERE.

Thank you so much for making your calls in support of HB 348 and HB 349 (the companion bill to latter, SB 63, has already passed the Senate – fantastic!). Please see the growing list of co-authors for HB 348 below. Of course, more would be welcome – 70 votes are needed for it to pass the House, and it will be heard in the House TODAY (Wednesday, June 8), so emails and phone calls to any representatives not listed below would have an impact. Find your Representative online on the Legislative website HERE.

Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs will consider the tax credits next week if the bills pass the House today — CLICK HERE to email Senate committee members! We have 3 senate co-authors – all senators need to hear from you! We will let you know as soon as we hear about the schedule in the Senate, but please start calling and emailing now. Click HERE for a list of phone numbers for committee members. CLICK HERE to email Senate committee members! One more click – HERE for talking points on the tax credits.

Remember: Preservation is something we do well in Louisiana. Our historic built environment is an abundant economic resource – we must utilize our track record and this abundant resource. By preserving our built environment, we are preserving our heritage, culture, and we are saving the environment!

ALSO: The healthier our neighborhoods, with more homeowners, increasing population and beautiful restored properties, the easier it is to attract business investment.

AND AS ALWAYS: Preservation tax credits pay for themselves with tax revenues and jobs!

HB 348: Walt Leger, III – primary author – NOLA

REPRESENTATIVES:
Neil C. Abramson – NOLA
Jeffery “Jeff” J. Arnold – NOLA
Austin J. Badon, Jr. – NOLA
Damon J. Baldone – Houma
Taylor F. Barras – New Iberia
Jared C. Brossett – NOLA
Roy A. Burrell – Shreveport
Billy R. Chandler – Dry Prong
Hunter V. Greene – Baton Rouge
Reed S. Henderson – - Chalmette
Walker Hines – NOLA
Girod Jackson III – Baton Rouge
Helena N. Moreno -NOLA
Rickey L. Nowlin -Natchitoches
Christopher J. Roy, Jr. -Alexandria
Charmaine Marchand Stiaes – NOLA
Ricky J. Templet – Gretna
SENATORS
David Heitmeier – NOLA
Jean-Paul “JP” Morrell – NOLA
Cynthia Willard-Lewis – NOLA

NEW ORLEANS HISTORIC DISTRICT LANDMARKS COMMISSION
JUNE 9, 2011 AT 9:30AM
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1300 PERDIDO STREET

The order in which the applications will be heard is subject to change without notice.

View the full HDLC agenda HERE.

If you have an opinion on any of these proposed demolitions, CLICK HERE to email the HDLC.

OLD BUSINESS DEMOLITION APPLICATIONS

440 Newton Street/923 Nunez Street: TMS Investments, LLC, owner/applicant. Proposal to demolish.

2118 St. Ann Street: Orleans Medical Group, owner; Morris Kahn, applicant. Proposal to demolish for Carver Theater development.

2126 St. Ann Street: Orleans Medical Group, owner; Morris Kahn, applicant. Proposal to demolish Carver Theater development.

2431 St. Ann Street: Gilbert Lewis, owner; Herbert Meyers, applicant. Proposal to demolish.

1420 N. Robertson Street: Gloria Perriatt, owner/ applicant. Proposal to demolish.

NEW ORLEANS – A coalition of preservation, neighborhood, and planning groups applauded the City of New Orleans for a key modification of city policy and practice that will encourage the preservation-rather than demolition-of hundreds of homes across the city. The policy shift was first announced at the city’s BlightStat meeting on Thursday, May 19, 2011.

According to Jeff Hebert, Director of Blight Policy, the city will no longer send blighted properties located in local historic districts directly to the Historic Districts Landmarks Commission (HDLC) for demolition approval. Instead, properties located in local historic districts will first be offered for sheriff’s sale. Only if a property does not sell at sheriff’s sale will it then be sent to the HDLC for demolition approval.

The City of New Orleans deserves praise for this policy shift, which will help preserve the city’s historic architecture, maintain property values, and retain historic streetscapes so important to our neighborhoods. It will also help to prevent a rise in the number of overgrown vacant lots that continue to eat away at the fabric of our neighborhoods.

“With this change, the city has shown that it understands the longstanding arguments of preservation advocates, city council members, and demolition approval committees themselves – namely, that demolition should not be the first means of addressing many of the blighted properties here in New Orleans,” said Brad Vogel, a fellow with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s New Orleans Field Office. “The city is trying an alternate approach that we believe will pay dividends in the long run. The new policy allows one last opportunity for attracting third party investment dollars to renovate properties before governmental entities expend tens of thousands of dollars on demolition.”

“We commend the City of New Orleans on this wise change in blight policy,” said Michelle Kimball, Senior Advocate with the Preservation Resource Center. “While pursuing the sheriff’s sale route is a more time consuming undertaking that requires additional effort, we believe it is a crucial step in moving the city into a period of thoughtful, targeted decision making about demolitions. We will continue to work to help advertise the upcoming rounds of sheriff’s sales.”

While the policy does not include the thousands of properties under the jurisdiction of the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee (NCDC), the coalition of organizations is encouraging the city to consider applying the new policy to properties in local AND national historic districts if the experiment with properties in local historic districts bears fruit. For example, the Mid-City neighborhood is currently within a national historic district, but not within a local district. Thus, it will not benefit from the latest change in policy.

COALITION MEMBERS

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Preservation Resource Center
Foundation for Historical Louisiana
Louisiana Landmarks Society
Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation
Smart Growth for Louisiana
Bywater Neighborhood Association
Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association
Irish Channel Neighborhood Association
Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

CONTACT: Michelle Kimball, PRC and Brad Vogel, NTHP

The House Ways and Means Committee discussed the extension of the State Historic Tax Credits today, May 10.  Both the Homeowner Rehabilitation Tax Credit and the Rehabilitation Tax Credit for income-producing properties were thrown into the “bone pile” — they were tabled for today and will be considered in comparison to the many other tax credit proposals this later this legislative session. SB 63 was passed favorably by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee yesterday and will be considered by the full Senate in the near future.

YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY IS NEEDED! Your advocacy will help keep these tax credits at the TOP of the “bone pile!” Please take these three action steps:

• CLICK HERE to contact the House Ways and Means Committee and share your support for House Bills 348 and 349.
• Contact your State Senator and ask him/her to support SB 63, the tax credit for income-producing properties.
• Contact your legislators, Senators and Representatives, and ask them to co-author these bills.

The rehabilitation tax credits are crucial for preservation efforts in Louisiana and encourage new investment in our older and historic properties.  If these credits are not extended, they will sunset and important rehabilitation projects will be in jeopardy.

To learn more about House Bills 348 and 349 as well as Senate Bill 63, which extend tax credits for owner-occupied and income-producing rehab projects, read our previous blog posts about the State Historic Tax Credits and a more detailed description of the residential tax credit.  You can also read the City Business op-ed in support of revising the rehab credits by clicking here.

PRC supports the extension of the State Historic Tax Credits until 2016. We’re appreciative of Rep. Walt Leger’s leadership on the tax credit for owner-occupied structures, which we posted about HERE. Below are details on the tax credit for income-producing properties.

TAKE ACTION! Contact your Legislators and ask them to co-author House Bills 348 and 349. Locate your Legislators HERE.

FACTS ON THE STATE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT (S-HTC)

THE STATE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT (S-HTC) IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT:

• Transforms dilapidated aging structures into productive historic buildings
• Cleans up neighborhoods
• Create jobs
• Stimulates tourism
• Preserves Louisiana’s special Culture and History
• Significantly increases the tax base

***The State Historic Tax Credit Program for Commercial Property Expires at the end of 2011***

NEED: Four-year extension of the existing Historic Building Rehabilitation programs, which sunset at the end of this year

BACKGROUND: Louisiana is one of 31 states to offer a Commercial Historic Tax Credit.  The 25% tax credit was first enacted in Louisiana in 2002. It has already been extended twice, and a consortium of preservationists, Downtown Development groups and other interested parties is asking for an additional 4-year extension during this current legislative session. This effort will be bi-partisan and statewide. Without that extension, the commercial Historic Tax Credit will sunset (end) in December of this year. The tax credit for owner-occupied structures, which we posted about HERE, will expire in December 2012 unless it is extended this session.

WHAT’S ELIGIBILE FOR THE COMMERCIAL S-HTC?

• Most buildings constructed in 1960 or before in Downtown Development District and Cultural Districts are eligible for Historic Tax Credits.
• The building in question must be used for income-producing purposes.
• Eligible expenses must exceed $10,000.
• A taxpayer or entity affiliated with that taxpayer can earn up to $5 million in credits for rehabilitation work.

S-HTCs PROMOTES REHAB PROJECTS AND MOVES PROPERTIES INTO COMMERCE: Older buildings, especially those that have been vacant for some time, are challenging to rehabilitate back into commerce. Without this tax credit, many developers would walk away from proposed projects and those buildings would either continue to sit idle or be under-utilized.  Vacant buildings generate no jobs, no sales taxes, and little property taxes and are a burden on the municipality that has to secure them for health and safety reasons. Vacant older buildings are magnets for transients, trash and deterioration, and negatively impact the value of the buildings around. Nearby properties become harder to sell, and when they do, prices are generally lower

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED LOCALLY BY THE LOSS OF THE S-HTC? Realtors and brokers who sell the buildings, mortgage brokers and banks who help put the deals together, building owners, cities, parishes, the school board and all entities that receive taxes and benefits from renovated buildings, the Downtown Development Authorities, Cultural Districts and Chambers of Commerce that are trying to spur economic and cultural development, and citizens that are denied the jobs and opportunities that come with renovated properties

STATEWIDE IMPACT: Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, New Orleans, Lafayette and many other communities, small and large, have significantly benefitted from this highly effective program and most if not all have popular projects on HOLD until the program is extended

COMPETITIVENESS: Mississippi has just passed a strong 25% State Historic Tax Credit Law.  If Louisiana does not extend its State Historic Tax Credit, it is at a competitive DISADVANTAGE.  Funding for historic renovation projects may move out of state

CREATES JOBS: The completed projects supported by the S-HTC have created 11,034 construction jobs and 5,711 permanent jobs in the State

CREATES NEW STATE TAX REVENUE: In total, the construction and operations of the projects supported by the S-HTC created a total of $142.51 million in new State tax revenue

CREATES NEW LOCAL TAX REVENUE: In total, the construction and operations of the projects supported by the S-HTC created a total of $104.76 million in new tax revenue for local governments

HIGH ROI FOR THE STATE: For every dollar that the state has invested in the program it has or will collect $3.22 in new tax collections, measured in 2011 dollars

STIMULATES PRESERVATION SPENDING: The S-HTC program has already generated $651.13 million in historic restoration construction at the cost of $140.59 million in tax credits

PRESERVES CULTURE: Restoration of Historic Structures preserves the unique architecture and culture of our state

THE POLITICS ON BOTH TAX CREDITS:

• The Lt. Governor will lead the effort for the extension
• The Governor is supportive
• The bills (HB 348, 349 and SB 63) have broad-based bi-partisan, geographically diverse support because the program provides critical funding for communities, large and small

THE LEGISLATION: HOUSE BILL NO. 349 (HB 349)–By Representatives Leger, Moreno, Jane Smith, and Talbot and SENATE BILL NO. 63 (SB 63)– by Senator Murray co-author Sen. Adley. Please also check out details on HB 348, the tax credit for owner-occupied homes HERE, by Rep. Leger, co-authors Rep. Brossett and Morrell.

Public Notice Regarding Section 106 Review of
Proposed Stabilization and Mothballing of the Following Schools:

Louis D. Armstrong Elementary School Building A, 5909 St. Claude Avenue
Israel Augustine Middle School, 425 S. Broad Street
Oretha Haley Elementary, 2515 Robertson Street
Lorraine Hansberry Elementary School, 1339 Clouet Street
Morris Jeff Elementary School, 800 N. Rendon Street
Valena Jones Elementary School Building A, 1901 N. Galvez Street
George Mondy Elementary School, 2327 St. Phillip Street
John Shaw Elementary School, 2518 Arts Street

SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT

The Orleans Parish School Board, through the process by which they created a master plan for school sites, decided to mothball the historic school structures listed above. FEMA has identified that the above schools are either contributing resources to historic districts that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), or are individually eligible for NRHP listing. These buildings will sit vacant for an undetermined period of time. They might be reused at some point but for now they will remain vacant and will be stabilized and mothballed rather than renovated.

Please take a moment to read through the legal ease below and be sure to visit THIS WEBSITE to submit comments.

THE OFFICIAL LEGAL NOTICE:

In 2009, FEMA, the RSD, the OPSB, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation entered into a Secondary Programmatic Agreement (RSD/OPSB 2PA) in order to fulfill FEMA’s responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and 36 CFR part 800 regarding the implementation of the School Facilities Master Plan, which will be funded with assistance from FEMA and other Federal agencies.

As part of the Master Plan, the RSD and OPSB are requesting that FEMA provide funds to stabilize and mothball the buildings listed above. Some properties may have additional structural and/or roof work completed in order to further stabilize the buildings if necessary. All work will be performed in accordance with the National Park Service’s (NPS) Preservation Brief 31, “Mothballing Historic Buildings” (attached). The regulations at 36 CFR Part 800 and the RSD/OPSB 2PA require FEMA to identify if any of the properties proposed for stabilization and mothballing are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); to assess the effects the stabilization and mothballing will have on historic properties; and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects.

FEMA has identified that the above schools are either contributing resources to historic districts that are listed in the NRHP, or are individually eligible for NRHP listing. FEMA has also determined the proposed stabilization and mothballing projects will result in no adverse effects to historic properties conditional upon digital recordation of the interior/exterior of the buildings and submission of a security/maintenance schedule; a conditions survey; a monitoring report; and a marketing plan (if applicable). In accordance with the RSD/OPSB 2PA, FEMA will also ensure the buildings are recorded in accordance with the NPS Standards for digital photography and archived at the University of New Orleans Library, the State Archives and the State Library.

Any member of the public is encouraged to provide views on how the project may affect historic properties and ways that these effects may be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. Comments may be submitted to FEMA for a 15-day period beginning on April 22, 2011 by regular mail or HERE.

Mailed comments should be sent to:
FEMA Mail Center
Historic Preservation
1 Seine Court, 1st Floor Mail Room
New Orleans, LA 70114

If mailed, comments and requests must be postmarked by May 6, 2011.

Applicant: Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB)
Pierre Capdau School, 3821 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans, LA

THE FINE PRINT: The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish. In the aftermath of the hurricanes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as a part of its responsibilities under 36 CFR Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. This notice applies to activities carried out by FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5152-5206.