07 Aug Top Permits issued in the New Orleans area, August 7, 2023

// Article originally appeared in New Orleans City Business on August 7, 2023

Permits pertaining to a new hotel at 3500 St. Charles Ave. were issued on July 25. The site was formerly improved with a mixed-use office property of no historic importance prior to it being razed and advertised for ground lease. Plans were announced in Fall of 2022 with regards to the property’s future as a 40-room hotel. Conceived by Jason Seidman, the project, yet to be formally named, is believed to have a more contemporary aesthetic than his neighboring predecessors the Columns, and St. Vincent hotels. Per Seidman, high demand for the Columns spurred an interested in creating additional hotel room inventory. At five stories and 40 rooms, the new hotel is intended to be a compliment to the Columns, to the point of sharing management and perhaps serving some degree of overflow. Development along the corridor of St. Charles Avenue, bound by Napoleon and Louisiana Avenues, has increased in recent years, perhaps both to facilitate Uptown tourism, and capture additional revenue streams due to its location on the Uptown Mardi Gras routes. Juxtaposed with the proposed mixed-use multifamily complex at the corner of Louisiana and St. Charles Avenues, St. Charles Avenue’s retail presence only seems to be increasing in the Uptown neighborhood.

In Jefferson Parish, a large incidence of new construction home permits were granted across both East and West Banks, both of single- and two- family iterations. The issuance begs the question as to whether construction costs have recovered post-COVID to the extent that many projects, previously on pause, have sufficient impetus to resume. Rising home costs in Orleans Parish have fostered opportunity not only in Jefferson Parish, but St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes as well. The need for affordable, new-construction homes has served well for regional developers such as DSLD, DR Horton, and others, whose price points are an attractive option for first-time homebuyers priced out of the metropolitan area. To see local builders participate in new-home construction bodes well, as it is reflective not only of demand for new construction, but indicates an ability to perform that is not strictly relegated to large-scale builders.

The Collins, an apartment complex at the meeting of Highway 190 and I-12 in Covington, is set to undergo remodeling; 8 permits of the same value were issued on July 31. Construction on the property began with land clearing in 2018 – set behind Movie Tavern Covington, the Collins, self-billed as a luxury endeavor, featuring a pool, clubhouse, athletic center, etc., was completed in 2020. Large-scale apartment complexes have been slow to find their footing in the Covington, Mandeville, and Madisonville areas, as the density of these developments raise concerns from residents. However, these properties serve to accommodate a growing demographic of young, high-income, potential residents, not yet interested in either home-ownership, who prefer newer-inventory property and the amenities that come with them. Covington is currently fighting the development of Covington Trace Ridge apartments, a 100-unit complex near the intersection of North Collins Boulevard and Military Trace Road. It remains to be seen whether this project will break ground as an investigation into permitting, etc. begins. Additional housing options should only bode well for St. Tammany Parish, whose increasing population and aging housing stock spurs demand for more multifamily options.

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

• $7.66 million, 2801 General De Gaulle Dr, Tall Timbers – Brechtel, 20,000 square foot single-story health clinic, Donahuefavret Contractors Inc
• $4.5 million,1605 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, Central City, Renovation of existing 2-story structure and new construction of 4-story structure for hotel use, Pentek Design Build, LLC
• $3.85 million, 4238 Saint Charles Ave, Touro, Interior scope of work, Woodward Design + Build, LLC
• $1.56 million, 2401 Bienville Ave, Tulane – Gravier, Historic wood framed church renovation, Daniel Haggerty
• $700,000, 3500 Saint Charles Ave, Touro, 5-story hotel, Buddy M. Cambas

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $1.09 million, 2710 Constance St, Irish Channel, Renovation due to fire damage, Gaspar Construction, LLC
• $650,000, 8132-8134 Breakwater Dr, New construction of boathouses 94 & 95, Hayes Development Inc
• $616,138, 236 West Robert E Lee Blvd, West End, Construction of new single-family dwelling, Hyman L Bartolo Jr Contractors Inc
• $566,000, 5010 Saint Charles Ave, Uptown, Remove clay tile and roof and replace with new clay tile, Hunter’s Precision Commercial Construction
• $517,000, 324 St Joseph St, Lower Garden District, Three-story new construction single-family 4-bedroom short-term rental structure, Mike Bertel

Jefferson Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $4.18 million, 5208 Wabash St, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, Industrial and Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
• $3.9 million, 1530 Westbank Expwy, Harvey, Commercial shell building, PERRIER ESQUERRE CONTRACTORS, LLC
• $3.9 million, 1500 Westbank Expwy, Harvey, Commercial shell building, PERRIER ESQUERRE CONTRACTORS, LLC
• $3.5 million, 2740 N Arnoult Rd, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, Broadmoor, L.L.C.
• $2.2 million, 558 Avondale Garden Rd, Avondale, Commercial new construction, J.A. “Jack” Julius Jr., INC.

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $828,890, 301 Helios Ave, Metairie, Residential New Single-Family Residence, Digiovanni Construction Co., L.L.C.
• $800,000, 1431 Chickasaw Ave, Metairie, Residential New Single-Family Residence, All Star Premier Homes, LLC
• $750,000, 525 Hector Ave, Metairie, Residential New Single-Family Residence, Gibson Design Build LLC
• $736,094, 4322 Barnard St, Metairie, Residential New Two-Family Residence, Creative Builders of Louisiana LLC
• $736,094, 4324 Barnard St, Metairie, Residential New Two-Family Residence, Creative Builders of Louisiana LLC

St. Tammany Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $2.8 million, 100 Harbor Center Blvd, Slidell, Addition, Voelkel McWilliams Construction
• $214,950, 500 Voters Rd, Slidell, Site work permit, Enviro Tech of LA LLC
• $71,680, 1612 Versailles Business Pkwy, Covington, Remodel, JRC Incorporated
• $71,680, 1612 Versailles Business Pkwy, Covington, Remodel, JRC Incorporated
• $71,680, 1612 Versailles Business Pkwy, Covington, Remodel, JRC Incorporated

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $1.3 million, 449 Marina Front Dr, Mandeville, Single family, Cox Parker
• $550,000, 4001 Cypress Point Dr, Covington, Single family, YAR Construction
• $350,160, 1044 Marina Villa S, Slidell, Single family, Linear Construction
• $343,500, 3048 Red Admiral Dr, Covington, Single family, Coast Builders LLL
• $340,400, 540 Hopscotch Rd, Covington, Single family, Highland Homes

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