Votes at a glance: Council approves RTAs, demolition decisions, several zoning and budget items; denies multiple STR appeals

Summary: The New Orleans City Council took votes on a range of land-use, budget and regulatory items. Key outcomes included approval of two restoration tax abatement (RTA) applications, mixed outcomes on demolition requests, multiple denials of short-term-rental (STR) appeal requests, passage of several budget and grant appropriations, and finalizing a set of cooperative agreements and program extensions.

Restoration tax abatements (RTAs) - 1212 Magazine Street (Resolution r25-4-92): Council approved the RTA for a bed-and-breakfast renovation. The project was described as creating an estimated 20 construction jobs and 4 permanent jobs and meeting DBE participation requirements. Vote: adopted (7 yeas, 0 nays). - 468 Saint Joseph Street (Resolution r25-4-93): Council approved the RTA for an 11-room hotel and dining downtown; staff said the project created 25 construction jobs and 7 permanent jobs and exceeded DBE requirements. Vote: adopted (7 yeas, 0 nays).

Demolition and historic-preservation matters - 2105 Third Street (Demolition application m25-5-10): Council voted to deny the applicant’s demolition request, citing demolition-by-neglect concerns and the owner’s long-standing responsibility for the property. Vote: adopted (7 yeas). - 2626 North Roman Street (m25-4-90): Council approved demolition of the structure to make way for a new single-family home. Vote: adopted (5 yeas; roll shows fewer voting yeses than some other items). - 1718 North Villarey Street (m25-5-06): Council approved this demolition request after neighbors and owners described structural failure and safety hazards. Vote: adopted (6 yeas, 0 nays). - 2339–2341 Le Havre Street (Historic District Landmarks Commission appeal, m25-5-03): Council approved the applicant’s request for full demolition to grade, despite an HDLC recommendation to require partial retention; council cited the building’s poor condition and plans for replacement two-family housing. Vote: adopted (7 yeas).

Short-term rental (STR) appeals & special exceptions - Denials: Council denied multiple appeals of the Commercial STR Interim Zoning District (CSTR IZD) for properties whose permits had lapsed or who were operating without current licenses. Denied items included appeals for 2749 Canta Street (m25-4-95; 7 ayes), 1216 Saint Charles Avenue (m25-4-97; 6 ayes), and 1313 Britannia Street (m25-4-96; 7 ayes). Council cited an upcoming transient-lodging study and inconsistent permitting as reasons to avoid one-off decisions. - Approvals: Council approved several STR-related appeals when the applicants demonstrated operator-on-site status, a history of prior approvals, or a hardship explanation. Notably, the appeal for 4501 Jacobs Drive (M25512) to renew an expired permit in a maritime mixed-use zone was approved on grounds of operator hardship and prior compliance; vote: adopted (5 yeas). - Noncommercial STR special exception (3137 Dumaine Street, m25-5-07): Council granted the NSTR special exception for a single room in a five-bedroom house, acknowledging neighborhood support and noting enforcement vigilance going forward. Vote: adopted (5 yeas).

Budget, grants and administrative items - Vendor invoices report: Council noted this marked the fifth consecutive month that invoices were paid on time; members encouraged the administration to publicize timely payment to attract vendors. - Safe Streets extension (Ordinance 35226): Council approved a one-time extension to the U.S. DOT ‘Safe Streets for All’ grant agreement (roughly $751,631) to continue the comprehensive safety-action plan work; vote: adopted (7 yeas). - Mosquito/termite rodent board agreement (extension for Jackson Barracks): Council approved an intergovernmental agreement extension that generates approximately $68,134.50 per year for the Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board by conducting treatments at Jackson Barracks; vote: adopted (6 yeas, 0 nays). - Brownfields technical-assistance funds (Ordinance 35234 / 35235): Council appropriated federal funds awarded by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for CPC Brownfields program assistance; vote: adopted (6 ayes, no nays). - Servitude for Trader Joe’s (2428 Napoleon Avenue): Council authorized a servitude allowing 223 sq. ft. of overhangs and planters in the public right-of-way and fixed the minimum price for the agreement; vote: adopted (5 yeas).

Additional votes and notable actions - Honorary intersection naming (m25-4-91): Council designated the intersection of Benefit Street and Johnny Jackson Jr. Boulevard as the honorary intersection for the 9 Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club; vote: adopted (7 yeas). - Resolution requesting a state legislative auditor review (r25-5-02): Council requested a detailed audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to determine the existence and extent of any city budget deficit; vote: adopted (6 yeas, 0 nays). - Multiple first-read ordinances and cooperative agreements were advanced to first read without objection.

Public comment highlights - Michael Burnside (resident) repeatedly raised concerns about RTA math and appraisal-assessment discrepancies, questioned lack of local clawbacks for economic promises, and urged clearer audit procedures. Burnside also criticized use of general fund dollars for certain contracts and asked for transparency regarding police and pension-related midyear budget adjustments. - Ben Bagwell (Reel Cycle) commended the council for deferring a decision on how to spend a $5 million EPA grant and urged broader stakeholder engagement.

What the votes mean: The council approved tax abatement incentives intended to support renovation and new-hotel projects; it favored demolition in cases where properties were declared unsafe or declared demolition-by-neglect was cited; it denied STR appeals when permits had lapsed and an upcoming regulatory overhaul was pending; and it moved to secure federal and intergovernmental funding and extensions to continue safety, brownfields and vector-control work. Public comments reflected concerns about enforcement, transparency and long-term fiscal planning.