On March 11, the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission denied an application to demolish an early-20th century single shotgun at 2745 Banks St. in Mid-City. The house is owned by the local nonprofit Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, a land trust and housing rights organization with a mission to create equitable and permanently affordable housing.
The HDLC staff inspection found that the building is in fair condition overall and that there is no evidence to suggest the building is beyond rehabilitation.
At the HLDC meeting, the Preservation Resource Center advised against the demolition. Small historic vernacular homes are naturally occurring affordable housing units. Reusing this house is the most sustainable way to return this building to commerce and would serve to keep historic building materials out of the landfill. PRC is also concerned that the demolition request application indicated there are currently no redevelopment plans for the lot…