Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson’s property management group has pitched a city panel on moving New Orleans’ dilapidated City Hall and Civil District Court into a downtown office building Benson owns, an offer city officials appear to be taking seriously.
GMB Vision, a company that represents Benson, suggested that the city lease space at Benson’s 1515 Poydras Street through a public-private partnership and build two new buildings adjacent to that 27-story facility. One building would house a City Council chamber, while the other would house the Civil District Courthouse, per the proposal.
Other City Hall employees would move into office space in the main building. The proposed construction of the two buildings, per the $342 million plan, would wrap in 2031, after which City Hall on Perdido Street would be demolished…