The start of an ambitious restoration of St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter has been delayed by a few months as project leaders worked to raise money and gather additional historic and building data. But church officials now expect the project to get underway in earnest next year.
Later this month, utility upgrade work will begin on Pere Antoine Alley and Pirates Alley, which flank the cathedral. That work is a precursor to the larger restoration ahead, officials say.
Sometime this year — a specific time frame remains fluid, according to Eve Peyton, assistant director and development liaison at St. Louis Cathedral — massive scaffolding will go up to essentially encase the cathedral’s exterior, with actual restoration work starting in 2027…