Though it is a National Historic Landmark, the Garden District of New Orleans never had official local historic recognition, leaving the city powerless to prevent demolition or renovation of historic buildings. Recently, the city gained that power.
"The Garden District has never been designated an official local historic district -- not until Thursday, when the City Council voted 6-0 to make the almost 80-block neighborhood a partial-control historic district."
"That means the Historic District Landmarks Commission will have jurisdiction over proposals for new construction and demolition. It also can cite owners for 'demolition by neglect' of untended buildings. Unlike in most other local historic districts, however, the commission will have no control over alterations to buildings."
"But the 1974 federal designation as a National Historic Landmark offered little or no protection for the district's buildings, and the fact it was not under the jurisdiction of the local Landmarks Commission meant the city had no way to prevent demolition of its old buildings or construction of inappropriate new ones."
Read the full story: Garden District adds historic status
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