21 Aug Top Permits issued in the New Orleans area, August 21, 2023

// Article originally appeared in New Orleans City Business on August 21, 2023

Permits were granted this week with regards to temporary structures from 400-700 North Claiborne Avenue, in the way of bathrooms, storage containers for portable items, including a stage with ADA ramp, kiosks, hand washing stations, convenience sinks, trash receptacles, tables, and chairs. Congregation on North Claiborne Avenue has increased substantially, and in differing forms – historically, this particular stretch of North Claiborne Avenue – set between Treme and the French Quarter – was known colloquially as Black Wallstreet, with the construction of the Claiborne Expressway in the 1960s destroying what had been a vibrant corridor, inundated with restaurants, retail, theaters, drug stores, and professional offices, and lined with oak trees and azaleas.

It was bookended by Circle Food Store at North Claiborne’s intersection with St. Bernard Avenue. Although Circle Food Store, opened in 1938, and known to be the first Black-owned grocery store in New Orleans, is synonymous with this intersection, the sites roots actually go a bit deeper. In 1854, the St. Bernard Market was established as one of dozens of city-operated public markets, among those the St. Roch Market. The building itself was constructed in 1931 and later inhabited by Circle Food Store, whose presence grew as a retailer not only for groceries, but school uniforms, pharmaceuticals, etc.

After substantial damage from Hurricane Katrina, Circle Food Store reopened in 2014, then closed its doors in 2018. A partnership between Sidney Torres IV and Rick El-Jaouhari (of Magnolia Discount grocery and convenience) led to the business’ reopening in 2020. The continued reinvigoration of North Claiborne Avenue is both exciting and long overdue. The actual removal of the Claiborne Overpass remains to be seen, the discussion of which has been revisited in recent years. By way of brick-and-mortar, or organized congregation, Claiborne Avenue’s historic significance is important, and its legacy storied.

In Jefferson Parish, permits were granted for new construction at 221 Central Avenue in Jefferson. Filed on behalf of Peristyle Homes, the site may become home to additional existing senior living inventory. A growing asset class, senior living facilities are rapidly growing across the New Orleans MSA, as an aging population seeks alternatives to housing options. Jefferson itself bodes a popular option for those based in and around New Orleans – just across the Orleans Parish line, Jefferson, Elmwood, Harahan, and River Ridge, have been growing in popularity for numerous reasons. Accessible both by Jefferson Highway and River Road, these areas are a short drive from New Orleans proper; as such, Jefferson especially has become attractive to homeowners priced out of Uptown New Orleans’ neighborhoods, given its proximity to city establishments, as well as those looking to for an alternative to Metairie and other Jefferson Parish suburbs. Peristyle Homes has positioned themselves to fill a void within senior living on the Southshore: residential space for those no longer able to live safely at home, and for whom institutional senior care is not of need nor of interest. An increase in Peristyle’s footprint should be of little surprise; advances in health care are leading to longer lifespans, and with those, a serious reconsideration of senior living facilities, particularly as the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) begin to consider retirement options, the expense of home upkeep, and myriad other factors.

Very few commercial permits were approved recently in St. Tammany Parish, the vast majority residential in nature, and varied between new construction, additions, and renovations. Among those commercial in nature, permits were issued with regards to the construction of a facility for Unity Welding & Fabrication at 21113 Highway 36 in Covington. The site is directly across the street from the expansive Abita Brewing Company and its neighboring tap room facility. This stretch of Highway 36 is located between historic Downtown Covington, and downtown Abita Springs, parallel to the Tammany Trace bike trail. Highway 36’s development is fairly varied in nature, in the way of residential, commercial, and industrial uses; it was initially constructed in 1955, at which point it ran between Hammond and Hickory, just north of Pearl River. The western parts of Highway 36 were later integrated into the expansion of US 190; the balance providing connectivity between Louisiana State Highways 21 and 59. Unity Welding & Fabrication joins Auto Glass Unlimited, Orkin, RRCA Roofing & Reconstruction, and Southern Glass in the immediate vicinity, and, in a larger sense, further incidence of local construction facilitators and vendors having an increasing presence within St. Tammany Parish. Considering the large number of residential permits issued, it should be of little surprise that the construction industry is growing by leaps and bounds across the lake.

Commentary courtesy Elizabeth Novit, associate – retail sales and leasing. She can be reached at enovit@elifinrealty.com or 847-370-1362.

Permits:

Orleans Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $2.26 million, 201 Saint Charles Ave, Terrace, Central Business District, Reroofing of Storm Damaged Leaking Terrace Roofs, Bell Roofing Co., Inc.
• $1.08 million, 2801 General De Gaulle Dr, Tall Timbers – Brechtel, New Construction of Ascension De Paul Medical Building, Ryan Carl Orgeron
• $1.08 million, 2801 General De Gaulle Dr, Tall Timbers – Brechtel, Installation of a 30KW Natural Gas Generator, Ryan Carl Orgeron
• $1.08 million, 2801 General De Gaulle Dr, Tall Timbers – Brechtel, Temporary Power pole for Ascension De Paul Medical Building, Ryan Carl Orgeron
• $943,000, 699 N Claiborne Ave, Treme – Lafitte, Temporary market space, C.D.W. Services, LLC

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $917,868, 408 Hay Pl, West End, New residential construction, Labat Construction LLC
• $780,522, 1023 Cambronne St, Leonidas, Renovation, demolition, and addition to existing home, conversion to single-family, Monarch Design and Build, LLC
• $619,050, 1230 State St, Audubon, Interior renovation and structural, Single family residential with carriage house, Hamilton Bros Construction LLC
• $603,300, 1454 Riviera Ave, Fillmore, New construction of 5,028 SF single-family, Pontchartrain Property Preservation LLC
• $592,000, 4000 Davey St, St Bernard Area, Reroof main structure (condominium building), Raycon Contractors LLC, Frischhertz Electric Co

Jefferson Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $1.81 million, 7000 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, Commercial Remodeling/Renovations, Planet Construction J2911, LLC
• $1.58 million, 5733 Citrus Blvd, Jefferson, Commercial Remodeling/Renovations, Jeff Raybon Construction LLC
• $1.4 million, 325 Metairie Hammond Hwy, Metairie, Commercial New Construction, Cobalt Construction INC
• $1.19 million, 211 Central Ave, Jefferson, Commercial New Construction, Bancroft Property Investments LLC
• $904,728, 7000 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, Commercial Tenant Buildout, Professional Builders, Inc. of Texas

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $600,000, 435 Celeste Ave, River Ridge, Residential New Single Family Residence, Bertucci Bros Plumbing LLC
• $543,380, 2317 Belmont Pl, Metairie, Residential New Single Family Residence, Huy Tran
• $370,000, 4208 Downs St, Metairie, Residential New Single Family Residence, Craig A & Valerie Paulina
• $350,000, 1004 Sena Dr, Metairie, Residential New Single Family Residence, Oster Developers
• $204,000, 2000 Persimmon Ave, Metairie, Residential Elevate Building, Robert & Gina Heim

St. Tammany Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $850,000, 21113 HWY 36, Covington, New Construction, Delta Construction & Land Development
• $150,000, 2180 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville, Remodel, Cassesi Commercial Construction
• $150,000, 2180 N Causeway Blvd STE 14, Mandeville, Remodel, Cassesi Commercial Construction
• $N/A, 1365 Gause West, Slidell
• $N/A, 1706 HWY 190 W, Slidell

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $1.08 million, 1254 Cutter Cv, Slidell, Single Family, Ross Savoie Construction
• $900,000, 78 Thunderbird Dr, Covington, Single Family, Premier Custom Homes
• $898,653, 912 Chretien Point Ave, Covington, Single Family, J Hand Homes
• $750,000, 864 Cane Loop Aly, Covington, Single Family, Centanni Construction
• $588,082, 109 Butler Greenwood Dr, Covington, Single Family, Highland Homes

Permit data courtesy ELIFIN, which can be reached at 800-895-9329.