18 Sep Top Permits issued in the New Orleans area, September 18, 2023

// Article originally appeared in New Orleans City Business on September 18, 2023

Last week, additional permits were granted to further the development of Poydras Home, the senior living facility at the corner of Magazine Street and Jefferson Avenue. The latest phase of work to the site pertains to its amenities, slated to include a library, fitness center, yoga studio, salon, meditation room, education room, and enhanced therapy gym. This most recent iteration of construction began in 2021, as Poydras Home sought a major renovation to its existing campus, dovetailing with a transition to the Green House Project’s model of senior residency, which favors “house-like” internal structuring, rather than a large-scale community. Poydras Home has been based at 5354 Magazine St. since 1857, having initially been based in the now CBD. In 1817, Julian Poydras, the prominent New Orleans philanthropist and businessman, donated his former plantation home at the corner of Julia Street and St. Charles Avenue to the Female Orphan Society. In gratitude, the organization re-established itself as the Poydras Asylum – the first Protestant, private asylum to be run by women, exclusively in service to orphaned and refuged girls. Within 40 years, the organization had outgrown its improvements, and so purchased the 3.5 acre land parcel on Magazine Street, where it has been ever since – in the 1950s, Poydras would expand to serve the needs of elderly women, later including male residents. Its focus on eldercare has evolved to service independent living, specialized memory care for Alzheimer’s, assisted living, and other focuses, leading it to become Poydras Home as it is currently conceived.

In Jefferson Parish, Royal Honda, at 5600 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, received permits enabling a robust renovation of existing improvements. Redevelopment along Veterans Memorial Boulevard has prevailed over the year, as Clearview Shopping Center and Magnolia Marketplace, to the east and west of Royal Honda, respectively, are redeveloped. The dealership itself was founded by Vernon Brinson in 1964 – initially called Royal Automotive, Brinson sought a namesake evocative of New Orleans, and chose Royal after the French Quarter street, known for its art galleries, and opulent antique stores. At its founding, the business was an Oldsmobile dealer, based at 3400 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, currently home to Jared jewelry and Whole Foods Market. In 1998, Royal Automotive purchased its current location at 5600 Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Although Vernon would go on to sell his interests to the Hudson Auto Group, a southeastern conglomerate, in early 2019, his son, Steve Brinson, has continued his work as a partner in the dealership. The upcoming renovation of the property at 5600 Veterans Memorial Boulevard ensures Royal Honda’s presence in the years to come.

On Highway 21 in Covington, the former A’s Toy Solider Christmas Tree lot was given new construction permits. Highway 21, anchored to the south by larger retail developments River Chase Shopping Center, and Nord du Lac shopping mall, continues to see new retail offerings. 70496 Highway 21 is owned by Metairie Bank & Trust, and currently site to a Metairie Bank & Trust ATM. Metairie Bank was first founded in 1947, with main offices on Metairie Road, and 9 total locations through the New Orleans metropolitan area. The bank currently operates branches at 4500 Highway 22 in Mandeville, and at 1000 South Tyler Street (also known as Highway 21) in Covington. As their Northshore customer base and presence grows, it will be interesting to see what is imagined for the property at 70496 Highway 21.

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

• $13.7 million, 8 Canal St, Central Business District, Renovation to an existing casino to provide a new Center Bar, Tishman Construction Corp
• $4.5 million, 1300 Canal St, Central Business District, Interior renovation and rebranding, Including Electrical, HVAC, Mechanical, Plumbing, Platinum Construction Group LLC
• $2.6 million, 1300 Canal St, Central Business District, Renovation of Hotel, Eric Lee Hays
• $1.4 million, 5354 Magazine St, West Riverside, Renovation of existing building to become amenity spaces for Poydras Home community, Ryan Carl Orgeron
• $1.1 million, 601 Poydras St, Central Business District, Interior renovation of office space on Floors 20&21, Mark Silva

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $650,000, 851 Jewel St, Lakeshore – Lake Vista, New single family home on existing slab, William K II Morgan
• $531,005, 6808 Orleans Ave, Lakeview, New Construction of a 3,090 SF Single-family Residence, Imperial Construction of LA LLC
• $450,000, 914-916 N Broad St, Treme – Lafitte, This is the renovation of a two-story duplex, Broad Street Holdings LLC
• $400,000, 5411 S Eastover Dr, Read Blvd East, New Construction, Imperium Builders South LLC
• $385,152, 6035 Prytania St, Audubon, Interior renovation and add second story bathroom, Sun Custom Restoration LLC

Jefferson Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $17.9 million, 5600 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, Commercial new constriction, Choate Construction Company
• $4.9 million, 4320 Houma Blvd, Metairie, Commercial Remodeling/Renovations, The McDonnel Group LLC
• $2.8 million, 5858 Westbank Expwy, Marrero, Commercial New Construction, CM Combs Construction LLC
• $1.88 million, 4320 Houma Blvd, Metairie, Commercial Remodeling/Renovations, The McDonnel Group LLC
• $1.69 million, 3228 6^thSt, Metairie, Commercial Remodeling/Renovations, Kenneth Glenn Verdin

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $895,000, 12 Nassau Dr, Metairie, Residential New Single Family Residence, Kaiser Builders LLC
• $383,000, 246 Garden, River Ridge, Residential Swimming Pools, Alltype Construction Company, Inc.
• $382,500, 29 Hennessey Ct, River Ridge, Residential New Single Family Residence, Blake Hosli
• $330,540, 5601 Florence Rd, Marrero, Residential New Single Family Residence, Star Recovery Services, LLC
• $320,000, 809 Linden St, Metairie, Residential New Single Family Residence, Home Sweet Home Builders LLC

St. Tammany Parish

TOP COMMERCIAL PERMITS

• $80,000, 70327 Hwy 1077, Covington, Commercial Remodel, Tadlock Construction
• $67,618, 19432 Crawford Dr, Covington, Commercial site work permit, McCollum Electrical Services INC
• $33,680, 30 Louis Prima Dr, Covington, Commercial remodel, AJ Stucco
• $N/A, 61720 Hwy 434, Lacombe, Commercial new construction, Voelkel McWilliams
• $N/A, 70496 Hwy 21, Covington, Commercial new construction, Voelkel McWilliams

TOP RESIDENTIAL PERMITS

• $417,595, 15382 Erindale Dr, Folsom, Single family residential, Glynn Newman
• $351,500, 34624 Max Mercer Rd, Evans Creek, Single family residential, CT Homes LLC
• $340,000, 7157 Bedicove Dr, Madisonville, Single family residential, JP Huff Construction
• $290,000, 72694 Robindale Dr, Covington, Single family residential, Jenkins Homes LLC
• $250,000, 20064 Kenny Lane, Covington, Single family residential, The Foresight Partners

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