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City Council Reverses HDLC, Grants Greater Liberty Baptist Church Permission to Demolish 1235 Piety Street
Summary
The City Council voted 7-0 to overturn a Historic District Landmarks Commission denial and grant Greater Liberty Baptist Church’s appeal to demolish the deteriorated building at 1235 Piety Street; HDLC staff had recommended denial and preservation advocates urged rehabilitation and historic tax-credit options.
The New Orleans City Council on a 7-0 vote on a historic-district appeal reversed the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) and granted Greater Liberty Baptist Church’s request to demolish a contributing residential building at 1235 Piety Street.
The decision came after representatives of the church, including Reverend Calvin Woods, said the congregation lacked the financial capacity to restore the century‑old structure. Reverend Carl Marquez told the council, “we really don't have the the funds or the financial capabilities to renovate the property,” and asked that the church’s demolition request be granted so they could pursue a new use for the site.
HDLC staff presented the commission’s findings and recommended denial, noting the building is in a local and nationally registered historic district and that the commission had earlier voted unanimously to deny demolition and asked the church to pursue rehabilitation. An online commenter read into the record a statement from Mary Nell Nolan Wheatley of the Preservation Resource Center saying, “The Preservation Resource Center is opposed to demolishing the century old house at 1235 Piety Street and asked the council to uphold HDLC's decision to deny the application,” and noting that Louisiana historic tax credits could potentially offset rehabilitation costs.
Council members acknowledged the preservation arguments but voted to grant the church’s appeal. The motion to reverse HDLC’s denial was moved, seconded and recorded as passing with seven yeas and no nays.
What happened next: the council’s action removes the HDLC denial and authorizes the owner to pursue demolition; the transcript includes commitments from the church’s representatives to honor elements of the site’s legacy in future development but does not specify a redevelopment timeline or funding plan. The HDLC’s recommendation, the Preservation Resource Center’s comment and the council vote are the formal record; any eligibility or pursuit of state historic tax credits would require a separate, later process.
