French Quarter Citizens for Preservation of Residential Quality

Letter from the President

Sep 03, 1999

August 27, 1999

Dear Members,

As we approach the last quarter of this millenium, it is important for us to think about the state of affairs in the French Quarter. As an organization, we must keep in mind our vision of what we want the French Quarter to be. Our stated goal has always been to preserve the residential quality of life in the neighborhood that is the French Quarter, and the Board recently voted to expand our mission statement to include the preservation of the
French Quarter. There is a wonderful new book out, New Orleans, Then and Now. These graphic images convey in detail what has happened to many of the wonderful old buildings that were once here. We must make a new resolve to do all in our power to preserve what is left in these seventy-eight blocks. What the French Quarter may look like and feel like as we enter the next century will be up to individuals and organizations like ourselves. This is
an awesome task.

Problems that must be addressed for the residential community to survive include noise, illegal hotel expansion, illegal short term rentals, proliferation of condominiums and parking. Tourism management is also vital. The Mississippi Gulf Coast may solve that problem for us. For the first time, the number of tourists attracted to the Gulf Coast exceeded the number coming to New Orleans by two million. The Gulf Coast recorded thirteen million and the New Orleans area only eleven million visitors during same period of time.

The most pressing problem for the residents is noise: street noise, bar noise and street performer noise. The problem of bar noise in the Quarter is daunting. Several bars are owned by very well connected politicians. These bars enjoy an aura of invincibility. Residents are intimidated by the
power that these individuals possess and can wield against anyone who opposes them. As an example, take our current Tax Assessor, Claude Mauberret, who is one of the new owners of the old Gazebo Bar and Cafe, now renamed the Voo Carre Cafe & Spirits. This restaurant has continued to have live music, even though the Board of Zoning Adjustments refused to grant the Gazebo a live entertainment license and they have not issued the new establishment a live entertainment license either. Another problem is that several bars have judges or elected politicians as attorneys. They know the system and what it takes to keep on doing what they are doing. Residents on St. Peter St. and Orleans have fought the Goldmine for years and nothing has changed. I urge
everyone not to give up even when progress is minimal and slow. The future residents of the Quarter will appreciate all the time, money and effort we have devoted to this battle.

I feel that I should add that there are many bars and clubs in the French Quarter that are good neighbors. They respect residents and try to be responsive to the concerns of residents and should not be painted with the same brush as those who are offensive. The bad ones are notorious and we
have all heard about them. We never hear about the good ones because they are accepted and supported by the neighborhood.

Many buildings, especially upper floors above businesses, stand empty because of noise. Areas around the entertainment districts are void of residents. We must preservere if we are to save the residential population of the Quarter. One may say that there are many quiet areas of the Quarter and I agree, but there are more and more noisy areas too. Remember we are a very small area and what affects one part today will impact the other part tomorrow.

One of our members, Ken Simister, took two weeks and walked the Quarter and drew a map detailing the bars/clubs, liquor outlets and T-shirt shops. As you read these figures, remember that the French Quarter is only seventy-eight blocks. There are one-hundred and forty-three bars/clubs.
Of these, seventy-six have live entertainment. There are forty-three separate liquor outlets and there are seventy-eight T-shirt shops. These figures do not include hotels. We have the names and addresses of each of these establishments. The City did comply with our Freedom of Information request for all holders of live entertainment licenses so that we may compare those with the list we have compiled.

We are working on profiling each address in the Vieux Carre to have a clear picture of what actually exists in these buildings. Thank you very much, Ken, for your work on this project. It has already proven valuable to us in speaking with the media and in making presentations at City Hall. Lyn Reed and Betty Kern along with several other members have been involved in documenting the uses of buildings, whether they are commercial or residential. They have been surprised at the number of facades that indicate residential but are really hotels.

We all know that the French Quarter is more than the buildings. We have, however, been shocked and dismayed at the proliferation of condominiums that consumed many, too many, of the single family homes. It is not that we are
against condominiums that become homes for residents and many of them do. We are, however, against the trend to maximize the profit and make condos so small that they are only useable as get-aways and not large enough to live
in full-time.

When we have a complete map and profile of the Vieux Carre we will be able to document the expansion of hotels since the moratorium was put in place in the seventies. I think the last hotel built in the French Quarter was the
Masion Dupuy in 1976, but I am not sure of that date. The expansion of hotels and short term rentals, especially corporate owned units has drastically reduced apartments for residents. Elsewhere is this newsletter is a form for you to send in to us to report on illegal short term rentals
on your block. A list has been compiled and we would appreciate your responses so that a comparison can be made.

As we have found out in the past, this is a very divisive and emotional issue. If we did not feel that this issue has such a profound impact on availability of residential housing, we would not pursue it. The increase in corporate units is of special concern to us. We need a consensus from
our organization on this one and I would appreciate hearing from you. Send me an anonymous letter if you do not want to name yourself.

I will give you an update on the various lawsuits that our organization has filed. The St. Peter St. Neighborhood & Improvement Association and the Kurt Kurl Foundation have been instrumental and worked very closely with us in these
actions. We thank them for their encouragement and support.

1) Walgreen*s: We have filed an appeal to the decision of Judge Robin Giarrusso to give Walgreen*s a five thousand square foot variance for their gift shop (there will be no pharmacy) and believe that this may have to go to the State Supreme Court before we get a final resolution. It has been
surprising and gratifying what widespread support we have received for fighting Walgreen*s. Although our case had to do with the granting of a zoning variance, nobody thinks that large chain stores are appropriate in the Vieux Carre.
2) Gazebo Bar and Cafe: The man arrested for the firebombings, George Mellon, was kept in jail by the federal judge who felt he was still a danger to the community. His trial is scheduled for September. We have filed an
objection to the issuance of a live entertainment license for the Voo Carre Cafe and Spirits to the Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Department of Safety and Permits. The new owners are Municipal Judge Paul Sens, 2nd District Assessor Claude Mauberret (Second District includes the French Quarter) and Ed Poindexter, an executive with Walgreen*s. These individuals (the public officials and a corporate executive) insist that they will continue with live entertainment irrespective of the community concerns.


3) Balconies: It came to our attention that the rules of the City Council were being suspended and that permission was being given for individuals to add balconies to buildings that had never had balconies before, over the
objection of the Vieux Carre Commission. This action also violates the Guidelines of the Department of Interior for the preservation of historic buildings. A lawsuit was filed against the City alleging that certain actions by the City Council were illegal.

4) Rampart Street: A request was made by James L. Kahn Trust that 704 N. Rampart St. be zoned an entertainment district. Our organization opposed this because we are against spot zoning in general and were especially against an entertainment district on Rampart St. Residents have been unable to exist around the other two entertainment districts that we now have and our fear is that Burgundy and the side streets leading up to Rampart would become residential dead zones. A petition with over three hundred names was given to the City Council members, letters were written, and Troy Carter was contacted. As a result of the outcry from the community, this request for a change of zoning was withdrawn. Because of this withdrawal, no legal
action had to be taken.

5) Noise: Although no lawsuit has been filed, it has been drawn up and is ready to be filed. The attorney for the St. Louis Cathedral worshippers has been meeting with Troy Carter and states that if no substantial action has been taken by the end of September, he will be in court. Our Board voted almost a year ago to address the noise issue legally and will most likely join with the parishioners in this lawsuit.

Other actions supported by our organization include the following:
Stuart Smith, Land Use Committee, has appeared before the Vieux Carre Commission to urge them to expand their oversight of buildings to the "use" of the buildings. Traditionally the VCC has only concerned itself with the exterior of the buildings in the Vieux Carre. Stuart has studied the law and feels that the Commission has power that they have not exercised.
An ordinance has also been drawn up regarding the conversion of buildings in the Quarter into condominiums. It is reported that Troy Carter is considering an Interim Zoning District for the Vieux Carre that would stop condo
development for a period of time until new regulations regarding these conversions can be drawn up. Although a similar request was made two years ago, perhaps now it can be accomplished.

We have also been instrumental in having some changes made to the Land Use Plan as presented to the City Council, as well as sending a proposal to Lt. Kathleen Blanco for money to produce a video on life in the French Quarter at the turn of the millenium.

Last but not least, I want to thank State Senator Paulette Irons and State Representative Jackie Clarkson for their unflagging effort to pass the Quiet Zone legislation around churches and schools in the state. We are especially grateful because of St. Louis Cathedral. Apparently both
Paulette and Jackie took a lot of hostility and flack from some local politicians for their support of this bill and we need to let them know that we are thankful for their resolve. As a non-profit corporation, we cannot support political candidates but we can get involved in issues that affect us and express our appreciation when action is taken that is beneficial to us. I would urge members to get involved as individuals and work to support candidates that agree with our goals.

This is a long letter, but it is actually a brief report on the actions being taken by the Board of Directors on behalf of the residential community in the French Quarter.

Warm regards,

Carol Greve
Co-President