24 Jul Top Permits issued in the New Orleans area, July 24, 2023

// Article originally appeared in New Orleans City Business on July 24, 2023

Last week, permits were granted with regards to HVAC units at 420 Julia Street. Constructed in the 1880s, the former site of the Louisiana Children’s Museum was sold in 2019 to Nashville-based developer AJ Capital. Rumors about programming and use have swirled since the transaction took place, with Soho House presumed as operator, given its pre-existing ties to AJ Capital, whose founder also spearheaded the renovation and reimagining of the Pontchartrain Hotel in 2014. 420 Julia Street is one of seven new hotel concepts under construction in New Orleans, with an additional 10 in varying stages of entitlement. Architectural renderings indicate the mixed-use property will feature 43 hotel rooms, 70 residential units, and 27,100 square feet for ground-floor retail, both on Tchoupitoulas and Julia Streets. Built initially as a Port-affiliated warehouse, 420 Julia Street was later the headquarters of Dixie Art Supplies, prior to its former tenant, Louisiana Children’s Museum. Ownership’s precedence in New Orleans gives one reason to believe future plans will be worth keeping an eye on.

Commercial Remodeling and Renovation permits were also approved for 3724 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie. The property, owned and operated by Matt Bowers’ Ford, boasts over 600 feet of frontage on what is known to be the highest-trafficked roadway in the entire metropolitan area of New Orleans. Veterans’ conception dovetailed with the baby boom of the 1950s, as more and more families sought a suburban alternative to New Orleans. A higher incidence of suburban development incentivized the creation of Veterans as a means creating additional access to the city itself. Unsurprisingly, retail development soon followed: the 3600 block of Veterans (now home to Lowe’s, and neighboring 3724 Veterans) was once home to Bryan Porsche-Audi, which opened in 1971. The realization of Lakeside Shopping Center and Clearview Mall in the 1960s solidified Veterans’ identify as the foremost retail corridor in Metairie and Kenner both. Today, it proliferates as the pre-eminent destination for many national and local retailers seeking a presence in the New Orleans MSA.

Land clearing is set for 70330 Highway 21 in Covington; formerly a Marathon Gas Station, the property is sandwiched between LCMC Urgent Care and a Shell Gas Station, just north of I-12. For those familiar with Covington’s retail developments, the incidence of new construction on Highway 21 is of little surprise. Bookended by River Chase and Nord du Lac shopping centers to the south, and downtown, historic Covington to the North, Highway 21 has served as the location of a smattering of new retail development, primarily by way of smaller retail strip centers, as well as free-standing, individual ventures. Site signage appears to indicate the land will be home to Tommy’s Express Car Wash, a national group with 161 existing locations, and 97 in development. The locally-owned venture will be the latest in the brand’s Louisiana presence, with Slidell, Monroe, and West Monroe outfits up and running.

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

• $13.2 million, 1429-1431 Saint Bernard Ave, Seventh Ward, New Construction of four (4) story multi-family residential apartments with retail, Landis Construction Co LLC
• $9.95 million, 2600 Ap Tureaud Ave, Seventh Ward, Renovation and modernization of existing 29,783 SF high school gymnasium, Woodward Design + Build, LLC
• $8.15 million, 401 City Park Ave, Navarre, Government Offices, NFT Group LLC
• $4.03 million, 721 Saint Philip St, French Quarter, Renovations and maintenance at Homer Plessy Elementary School, CDW Services LLC
• $3.44 million, 420 Julia St, Lower Garden District, Hotel floor 2 new a/c units, Impetus

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $1.46 million, 4060 S Inwood Ave, Tall Timbers – Brechtel, Install generator and transfer switch, Craig Stevenson Jacomine Sr
• $1.4 million, 8136 Breakwater Dr, New construction of boathouse #96, Hayes Development Inc
• $549,660, 804 General Taylor St, East Riverside, New Construction of a single family home, JLV Construction LLC
• $517,000, 320 St Joseph St, Lower Garden District, Three-story new construction single-family 5-bedroom commercial short-term rental structure
• $325,667, 555 Audubon St, Audubon, Kitchen, Bathroom, & Laundry Room Interior Renovation New Residential Elevator, Shuler Construction LLC

Jefferson Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $7.96 million, 400 Philox Ave, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, Blanchard Mechanical Contractors INC
• $7.75 million, 4200 Houma Blvd, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, The Lemoine Company LLC
• $4.931 million, 4200 Houma Blvd, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, The Lemoine Company LLC
• $4.8 million, 3724 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, Donahufavret Contractors INC
• $3.53 million, 4200 Houma Blvd, Metairie, Commercial remodeling/renovations, The Lemoine Company LLC and The Luster Group LLC

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $800,000, 513 Arlington Dr, Metairie, Residential new single-family, LHC Builders LLC
• $650,000, 254 Bonnabel Blvd, Metairie, Residential new single-family, Bertucci Bros Plumbing LLC
• $500,000, 1309 Hesper Ave, Metairie, Residential new single-family, Hamton Locarg Construction
• $500,000, 1416 Choctaw Ave, Metairie, Residential new single-family, A Plus Construction LLC
• $368,570, 5048 Purdue Dr, Metairie, Residential new single-family, Titan Construction LLC

St. Tammany Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $3.14 million, 68360 Commercial Way South, Mandeville, Land Clearing, Kent Design Build
• $1.9 million, 70330 HWY 21, Covington, New Construction, BSD Construction
• $800,000, 5024 Keystone Blvd Suite B, Covington, Remodel, Bradley Design Construction
• $475,000, 71363 Thelma Lane, Covington, Shell of Building Only, JJH Construction Company LLC
• $200,000, 2480 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville, Remodel, Delmar R Caldwell

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $1.09 million, 468 S Fairway Dr, Madisonville, Single Family, West Custom Homes
• $745,000, 25275 Shubert Lane, Covington, Single Family, 110 Builders
• $650,000, 1182 Audobon Pkwy, Madisonville, Single Family, JP Huff Construction
• $600,000, 365 Black River Dr, Madisonville, Single Family,
• $600,000, 1263 Cutter Cove, Slidell, Single Family, Premier Construction

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