Plaza Tower
The familiar landmark of the New Orleans skyline in October 2007
General information
TypeResidential
Location1001 Howard Avenue
New Orleans, United States
Coordinates29°56′47″N 90°04′36″W / 29.94639°N 90.07667°W / 29.94639; -90.07667
Construction started1964
Completed1969
Renovated2006-2008
Height
Roof531 ft (162 m)
Technical details
Floor count45
Floor area485,000 sq ft (45,058 m2)
Lifts/elevators13
Design and construction
Architect(s)Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr & Associates
DesignatedJanuary 30, 2013
Reference no.12001241[1]
References
[2][3]

Plaza Tower (for a time dubbed Crescent City Towers and Crescent City Residences in a failed proposed redevelopment scheme) is a 45-story, 531-foot (162 m) skyscraper in New Orleans, Louisiana, designed in the modern style by Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr. & Associates. Located in the Central Business District (CBD), it is the third tallest building in both the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

The building has been unused since 2002 because of environmental problems such as toxic mold and asbestos which have since been remediated.

History

Construction of the Plaza Tower began in 1964, as a project of developer Sam J. Recile, but halted in October 1966.[4] The property was bought out and construction resumed in 1968, and completed in 1969.[4] The Plaza Tower was the tallest building in New Orleans and Louisiana for four years until One Shell Square surpassed it by over 160 feet (49 m).

Along with the World Trade Center on the Mississippi riverfront, the Plaza Tower marked the beginning of modern high-rises in New Orleans. The building has always held a prominent place in the city's skyline, even after the 1970s building boom on along Canal Street and the 1980s boom along Poydras Street. This is due to both its unique design, particularly its "crown top," and its location on the extreme edge of the CBD.

The Plaza Tower was originally designed primarily as an office building with some residential space on the upper floors. Upon completion of the tower, very little residential space was made available. By 1984 the remaining residential apartments were made into offices.

In 2001, tenants began to publicly criticize the building's owners for ignoring worsening conditions in the building. Claims were made that a lack of proper maintenance had led to exposure to asbestos and toxic mold. Several class action lawsuits were filed by workers against the owners and managers and their own employers, the Louisiana Department of Social Services and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. In 2002 approximately 700 Louisiana state and New Orleans District Attorney's Office employees relocated en masse to offices on Common Street. Since that time, the building has sat sealed off and unused.

Proposed rebirth as Crescent City Towers

View from the Hilton New Orleans skydeck

For several years in the late 2000s a plan was in the news to redevelop Plaza Tower as residential space under the name "Crescent City Towers" or variations on that name.

A plan claimed to begin by gutting the building down to its superstructure, both on the interior and exterior, required because of the building's history with asbestos, toxic mold and water leaks. The proposed new facade would feature a neomodern look, making extensive use of glass and staggered balconies, to provide the units with views of the New Orleans skyline and the Mississippi River. Once complete, the building would have included amenities such as a gourmet restaurant, spa, fitness center, indoor pool and retail space. The renovation of an adjoining building containing a 350-space parking garage and several townhouse units was also planned. The redesign was originally proposed under the name Crescent City Residences.

The architectural team behind the redesign was composed of Williams Architects of New Orleans and Marks Thomas Architects of Baltimore. Dorian M. Bennett Realtors Inc. had exclusive rights to sell the 350 units, with prices starting at $350,000. Unit sizes were determined, but prices were planned to be in the range of $450 per square foot, similar to prices in the French Quarter, and about $100 per square foot higher than the nearby Warehouse District.

In November 2005, Giannasca Development Group announced it had secured $24 million to start the redevelopment project. A construction timetable was being developed in light of delays and logistical issues since Hurricane Katrina, with estimates for an opening date in 2008.

In spring 2006, modified plans were released reflecting changes aimed at addressing post-Katrina concerns. This redesign includes glass designed to withstand 200 mph (320 km/h) winds, a self-contained electrical generator, and an internal water supply, which developers say could make the building self-sufficient for three to four weeks. The external design was also changed to a cleaner glass and steel design, removing the needle point and multiedged surfaces of the original design. This new exterior was to consist of gold-tinted wall to wall glass and maroon steel. The price of the project increased from $100 million to $120 million while the number of units has been reduced from 350 to 197. These units were to run from 1,080 square feet (100 m2) starting at $450,000 to several 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) units costing several million dollars. Three quarters of the units were to have only one bedroom. The project also saw a slight name change to the Crescent City Towers.

In July 2007, the owners defaulted on the mortgage and the Plaza Towers was put on the auction block. Howard Acquisitions, LLC already held the mortgage on the building. Their winning bid protects their investment and gives them full control over the high-rise. The new owners, Plainfield Direct, are remaining tight-lipped about their plans for the building.

On December 19, 2007, Plainfield Direct paid the City of New Orleans $608,000 in back taxes and announced plans to spend $10 million on environmental remediation. This work was eventually completed. Following the remediation work, Plainfield was to partner with developers to put the building back into use.[5]

Such plans were not met with success. In July 2011, the still vacant building was announced to be up for auction with bids due by 20 September.[6] Bryan Burns purchased the building for $650,000 at a private auction in December 2011, although the listed price was $15.5 million in 2010. [7] In September 2014 the building was again sold, this time for an undisclosed amount to Alexandra Land and Development LLC.[8]

Debris and fire and continued decay

On May 20, 2021, a piece of the Plaza Tower fell from top of the building, injuring one person.[9] This debris caused the closure of many major roads in New Orleans such as parts of Howard Avenue and Loyola Avenue. New Orleans officials and current property owner Joe Jaeger stated that the property would receive new fencing and a net that would catch any more debris, were it to fall off of the building. More roads were subsequently added to the closure list. These closures will be in place until a new fence is put up around the building and when the area is deemed safe for pedestrians. The area around the Plaza Tower reopened on July 16 after netting was placed at the top of the building to catch any more debris, were it to fall from the building.

In the early morning hours of January 10, 2022, a fire was reported in the Plaza Tower. Smoke was seen from the roof from flowing up through the elevator shafts. New Orleans Fire Department responded and put the flames out that same day.[10]

On 10 January 2023, the long derelict building was again in local news as pieces falling dangerously to the ground again prompted closure of surrounding streets.[11]

On 24 April 2023, a man fell to his death from the Plaza Tower.[12] This came just hours after firefighters put out another fire in the building [13] The building continues to decay [14] as many of the panels have been ripped out of the parking garage structure of the tower . New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell has explored the possibility of demolishing the building if the structure poses any more safety hazards.

Location

1001 Howard Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113-2002

The Plaza are bounded by the following streets:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 1/28/13 through 2/01/13". National Park Service. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Plaza Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Plaza Tower". SkyscraperPage.
  4. 1 2 McAuley, Anthony (May 21, 2021). "From troubled development to falling debris, the story of New Orleans' abandoned Plaza Tower". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Investors to rehab Plaza Tower". The Times-Picayune. December 19, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Plaza Tower, city's third tallest skyscraper, to be sold at auction". The Times-Picayune. July 21, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Plaza Tower, 45-story office building vacant for more than a decade, is sold". The Times-Picayune. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Loud, Garish Plaza Tower Sells With Little Fanfare". Vox Media. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (May 20, 2021). "Bicyclist struck and injured by debris blown off abandoned New Orleans skyscraper". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ayyad, Osama (January 8, 2022). "Firefighter responding to vacant Plaza Tower fire found 'multiple points of origin': NOFD". WWL-TV. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Streets near Plaza Tower closed until further notice due to debris concerns". January 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-plaza-tower-person-fell/43686433
  13. ↑ https://www.wdsu.com/article/nofd-responds-to-fire-at-plaza-tower/43679413
  14. ↑ https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/arts/despite-problems-the-plaza-tower-has-fierce-defenders-heres-why-they-love-it-so-much/article_68c8047e-c99d-11ed-a031-d34800ead39d.html
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