17-story tower requires razing 2 buildings

Saturday, September 16, 2006

By Greg Thomas

Real estate writer

A developer has proposed demolishing two small buildings near the corner of Julia and Carondelet streets in downtown New Orleans to make way for a 17-story condominium tower.

The $70 million project, Riverview at Julia, would include 98 condominiums on 11 floors. The first floor would be devoted to restaurant and retail space. The sixth floor would be converted into 500 square feet of office space available for purchase by residents only. Another floor would house a full-service spa, an indoor/outdoor pool and meeting space.

One of the buildings to be demolished is located at 750 Julia and currently houses Big Easy Flowers, and Universal Glass. Tenants are aware of the project. A neighboring building at 746 Carondelet that houses a printing shop may also be incorporated into the project.

The developer behind the project, Brewster Statler, acquired both buildings in June. Statler is doing business as Riverview at Julia LLC. Schaeffer Mickal, a broker with Latter & Blum Inc. Realtors, represented the sellers in the deal.

Local architect John Williams of John C. Williams Architects, who is working on the project, has filed preliminary plans with the City Planning Commission. The 220-foot tower Williams is proposing would require a height waiver -- the site is currently under a height restriction of 120 feet -- as well as approval from the Planning Commission and City Council. Williams doesn't expect to get a hearing on the height waiver he is seeking until June.

The other architects working on the project areWink Incorporated of New Orleans and lead design architect Remson Haley Herpin Architects of Baton Rouge.

Councilwoman Stacy Head, whose district includes the site, said in an e-mail that she was not fully aware of the project. Williams and Statler said they are briefing her Monday and will not present a final design until Head reports back on the concerns of neighborhood groups and other organizations that may have strong opinions about the project.

Hurdles to the project could be objections by neighborhood groups that have deemed high-rise construction anathema to the architecture of New Orleans.

Williams said he will lead the permitting process to ensure that the Planning Commission, the Historic District Landmarks Commission and the Preservation Resource Center climb on board.

It's the print shop building, which last housed Consolidated Graphics, that Williams expects preservationists to be concerned about. Williams believes the building was erected in the 1940s or 1950s. He believes, however, that only the facade facing Carondelet is of significance and could be saved.

"If there are preservation problems, we can work with them," Williams said. The Preservation Resource Center and the Historic District Landmarks Commission have not been briefed on the project.

Chris Remson of Remson Haley Herpin said the bottom floors of the project are designed to blend in with the surrounding architecture, while a more modern appearance emerges as the building rises above the fifth level.

Prices start at $620,000 for a 1,420-square-foot condo while 4,200-square-foot penthouses top out at $2.3 to $2.5 million. That creates a price range of between $430 and $600 per square foot..

"This will be luxury living like New Orleans has never seen," Statler said Friday. In fact, electric shuttle vehicles will be at the disposal of residents who want a free ride into the French Quarter or other nearby amenities.

Remson said the project will include a three-level parking garage with about 200 spots for residents and an additional 50 spaces for visitors or shoppers.

Statler said he will seek Environmental Protection Agency Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification -- a standard that ensures that a development meets the highest level of energy efficiency.

"We've spent months and months trying to design something that is an asset to the community and our buyers," Statler said.

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Greg Thomas can be reached at gthomas@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3399.