NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by nolahotelier

Hello:

I've been trolling this forum for a few years now, so I guess it's appropriate that I finally contribute. I really enjoy the commentary and wealth of information not readily available through other mediums.

Just wanted to touch base on Chesapeake's purchase of W New Orleans, as part of the purchase that property actually will still be reflagged as Le Meridien. This is due to larger changes within the W and Le Meridien brands as well as a strategic expanding of Starwood's brands within the city. After this is complete, five of their nine brands will have a presence in the CBD/FQ area. This is something they have been really looking to do for a while now. So, the WTC proposal wouldn't be affected.

Welcome to the forums. We always appreciate information from people in the know.

[MNT]

Originally Posted by nolahotelier

Just wanted to touch base on Chesapeake's purchase of W New Orleans, as part of the purchase that property actually will still be reflagged as Le Meridien. This is due to larger changes within the W and Le Meridien brands as well as a strategic expanding of Starwood's brands within the city. After this is complete, five of their nine brands will have a presence in the CBD/FQ area. This is something they have been really looking to do for a while now. So, the WTC proposal wouldn't be affected.

Thanks for the details, nolahotelier. I thought the discrepancy between what we'd heard before and the CityBusiness article was interesting, so I did a little bit more digging. While the press release and most of the articles based upon it (like the CityBusiness article) say it's keeping the W brand, this articles from Hotels Magazine explicitly talks about the property rebranding to Le Meridien. http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/41566 (free registration required):

As part of the agreement, Chesapeake Lodging Trust will invest US$29 million to renovate the hotel. The repositioning renovation will impact all areas of the property, including each guestroom with new hard and softgoods, corridors, relocation of the restaurant and creation of approximately 3,000 sq ft (278 sq m) of additional meeting space, and new orientation and finishes throughout the Living Room lobby. After the renovations are completed the hotel will rebrand under Starwood's Le Méridien brand.

"When the renovation is complete, management expects the hotel to deliver a 9%-9.5% 2015 EBITDA yield on the all-in cost. We view the decision to swap brands favorably given the vicinity of the W French Quarter and Westin New Orleans Canal Place, each just a half mile away; adding a Le Meridien brand to the submarket should provide attractive diversification benefits from a customer segmentation perspective," David Loeb, an analyst with R.W. Baird & Co. wrote in a note to investors.

[tennis1400]

That city business article is misleading then ... I'd still like more clarification on it.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by jbs2886

Is there that much space available? Maybe with the hornets moving out.

It says its 80,000 square feet. So I guess so.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by hightech1217

Am I missing something in the 2 proposals for the WTC site? I thought the purpose was to transform the site into something “World Class”. I don't see how pressure washing the building and adding a few LED lights will make it “World Class." If this is all that is done to improve the aesthetics of the building...I vote to tear it down. The building needs more than a renovation...it needs a transformation. The wings at the top should be removed and the concrete skin needs to be re-clad with something current. If its not feasible to transform the WTC into something worthy of the people of New Orleans, tear it down, reduce the quantity of highrise footage, then in 10 - 15 years it may become feasible to build an ultra-modern tower in its place.

To me, the 2 proposals are cop-outs. They’re relying on tax credits to finance their investments. They have little interest in transforming our ho-hum skyline into something amazing. Its just about making a buck at the expense of the taxpayers and the people of NOLA. They remind me of a sleazy used car salesman trying to sell a 70’s Ford Granada, by just cleaning and waxing the old gray paint, and adding new headlights...Its still a POS. Lets not be so desperate that we buy the shined up Granada. We can do better and we should expect better. We don’t need this same old building with new lights taking up this valuable spot in the skyline for another 50 years.

The exact situation is going to occur with the Plaza Tower. The owners are waiting for tax credits to be available so that they can pressure wash, build-out the floors, then open the doors. I'd rather see it leveled. Although it was caught up in litigation, the Giannasca Development Group wanted to transform the tower into a 21st century improvement to the skyline. Too bad it never happened.

Finally...it wasn’t built because of the economy and the real estate fiasco of the last few years, but if the developers for the Trump Tower saw it feasible to construct an 800 plus foot tower in downtown NOLA, these developers can definitely come up with something better than these 2 proposals.

As far as the observation structure, I like the idea, but it doesn’t appear to have any firm financing in place. My desire would be to tear down the WTC, reduce the vacant highrise footage downtown, and leave the site vacant until something “World Class” is feasible.

Tax credits make the projects feasible... if you alter the buildings too much than it cant qualify for the HTC.

[LAandMagazine]

Originally Posted by hightech1217

Am I missing something in the 2 proposals for the WTC site? ...... If this is all that is done to improve the aesthetics of the building...I vote to tear it down. .

WTC and Plaza Tower are two of the only skyscrapers in town with any character whatsoever. Face it, our 1960s architecture is much better than our 70s and 80s architecture, which unfortunately dominate Poydras Street. Tearing WTC or Plaza Tower down would really be a shame.

[MNT]

Originally Posted by LAandMagazine

WTC and Plaza Tower are two of the only skyscrapers in town with any character whatsoever. Face it, our 1960s architecture is much better than our 70s and 80s architecture, which unfortunately dominate Poydras Street. Tearing WTC or Plaza Tower down would really be a shame.

Agreed. I think the destruction of the Rivergate to build Harrah's Casino should be a cautionary tale for anyone who wants to demolish what we've actually got. It's easy to make big plans about "the world's largest casino" or a "world class monument." It's also easy to tear down what's already there. Then comes the hard part. We used to have the Rivergate, which was an architectural gem, and now we have a gambling theme park that kind of looks like a fancy jail (though I guess a jail would have more windows).

[polemic]

Has anyone used Megabus since it started in New Orleans? Is the quality of service comparable to what they are offering on the East Coast?

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by MNT

Agreed. I think the destruction of the Rivergate to build Harrah's Casino should be a cautionary tale for anyone who wants to demolish what we've actually got. It's easy to make big plans about "the world's largest casino" or a "world class monument." It's also easy to tear down what's already there. Then comes the hard part. We used to have the Rivergate, which was an architectural gem, and now we have a gambling theme park that kind of looks like a fancy jail (though I guess a jail would have more windows).

Harrah's is ghastly.

[Nolacat157]

Originally Posted by polemic

Has anyone used Megabus since it started in New Orleans? Is the quality of service comparable to what they are offering on the East Coast?

I've used Megabus a few times out of Nola and had good experiences each time. Buses were on time and clean.

[P Raff]

Originally Posted by LAandMagazine

WTC and Plaza Tower are two of the only skyscrapers in town with any character whatsoever. Face it, our 1960s architecture is much better than our 70s and 80s architecture, which unfortunately dominate Poydras Street. Tearing WTC or Plaza Tower down would really be a shame.

Long time lurker, I thought talk of the new World Trade Center would be a good place for my first post.

Though the WTC and Plaza Tower certainly have more character than architecture of the 70s and 80s, I would argue that those characteristics make them "better." As they are right now, even slightly renovated, they are still eye-sores to the skyline. Like others have said, a power wash and lights to the exterior wouldn't suddenly make them look good because the architecture is outdated. If we are going to keep these buildings, we need a complete overhaul to bring them into the 21st century. They have the potential to be beautiful, but it won't happen with a coat of paint. The infrastructure needs to change.

Having said that, I would much rather renovate the WTC than demolish it altogether. The building has a lot of potential to be a beautiful landmark, and not just a 'blah' landmark.

[Uptowngirl]

It is in need of a recladding but in what I don't know. We don't need a glass monolith.

I do favor keeping it too, especially if the lobby can be kept as it (I don't like mid-century modern but the lobby is straight out of early 60s Sterling-Cooper TV land), but the building needs seriously modernization too.

[latour58zg]

Originally Posted by Uptowngirl

It is in need of a recladding but in what I don't know. We don't need a glass monolith.

I do favor keeping it too, especially if the lobby can be kept as it (I don't like mid-century modern but the lobby is straight out of early 60s Sterling-Cooper TV land), but the building needs seriously modernization too.

It's almost a comedy in the US when it comes to Architecture....every generation wants to tear down the buildings their Father built, and treasure,restore the buildings their Grandfather built. Wait another 40 years and the WTC will be priceless. I saw a building in Houston that was reclad in glass......butt ugly....it was a bad expensive mistake......

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by latour58zg

It's almost a comedy in the US when it comes to Architecture....every generation wants to tear down the buildings their Father built, and treasure,restore the buildings their Grandfather built. Wait another 40 years and the WTC will be priceless. I saw a building in Houston that was reclad in glass......butt ugly....it was a bad expensive mistake......

This is so true which is why one hates to judge a building too soon. I used to hate the Plaza Tower and now I think it is a pretty unique building. The wtc I dont think is as is pretty but I still think it holds value and certainly tons of history.

[latour58zg]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Harrah's is ghastly.

It's really all subjective....I miss the Rivergate, but walking down Canal Street towards the river a few years ago I met a couple from Australia, they pointed to Harrah's and said WOW!!! look at the Opera House....and their voices were filled with ooooooooos and ahhhhhhs...I didn't have the heart to tell them it was a Casino....

[P Raff]

Originally Posted by latour58zg

It's almost a comedy in the US when it comes to Architecture....every generation wants to tear down the buildings their Father built, and treasure,restore the buildings their Grandfather built. Wait another 40 years and the WTC will be priceless. I saw a building in Houston that was reclad in glass......butt ugly....it was a bad expensive mistake......

Even still, none of these buildings that we admire from our grandparent's generation became admirable without at least a renovation to at least sustain its beauty. The WTC looks awful right now, and like I said, that won't change without serious work.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by P Raff

Even still, none of these buildings that we admire from our grandparent's generation became admirable without at least a renovation to at least sustain its beauty. The WTC looks awful right now, and like I said, that won't change without serious work.

Agreed... just ow much work they can do to it is I guess the question SHPO can only answer.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by latour58zg

It's really all subjective....I miss the Rivergate, but walking down Canal Street towards the river a few years ago I met a couple from Australia, they pointed to Harrah's and said WOW!!! look at the Opera House....and their voices were filled with ooooooooos and ahhhhhhs...I didn't have the heart to tell them it was a Casino....

Man. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[latour58zg]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Man. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Well.....I cried for a long time after the Rivergate was demolished.....it was a great integration of civil engineering and architecture....New Orleans really lost a great building. As some one posted a while back about the WTC "be careful what you build, it will be there a loooong time and you can't bring back what you tore down" New Orleans should focus more on attracting Business and less on Building Monumental 101 Wonders of the Post-Post Modern age or what ever fad architectural term is in vogue this week.

[P Raff]

Originally Posted by latour58zg

Well.....I cried for a long time after the Rivergate was demolished.....it was a great integration of civil engineering and architecture....New Orleans really lost a great building. As some one posted a while back about the WTC "be careful what you build, it will be there a loooong time and you can't bring back what you tore down" New Orleans should focus more on attracting Business and less on Building Monumental 101 Wonders of the Post-Post Modern age or what ever fad architectural term is in vogue this week.

First of all, excuse my young ignorance, but can you explain the Rivergate building to me? I was only 5 when it was demolished, and I have absolutely no recollection of it. From pictures it looks like pretty sound architecture. Very unique, at least much more unique than Harrah's.

I wholeheartedly agree that New Orleans needs to focus on attracting more business. That by itself will expand our downtown, whether it be from mid-rises or new flash high-rises. Like you said, when that time comes, whoever is in charge of building said building needs to make sure the building will look good 50-100 years from now, or else the next generation will be doing the same thing we are doing right now.