2-13-26: RE: Request to Postpone Demolition Activities at Former Brandon International Site Until Completion of Section 106 Consultation for Alabo Street Wharf Rehabilitation Project

February 13, 2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New Orleans District
7400 Leake Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118

Port of New Orleans
1350 Port of New Orleans Place
New Orleans, LA 70130

RE: Request to Postpone Demolition Activities at Former Brandon International Site Until Completion of Section 106 Consultation Permit # MVN-2007-04294-ENP Alabo Street Wharf Rehabilitation Project

Dear Corps of Engineers and Port of New Orleans:

Louisiana Landmarks Society respectfully but strongly requests that all demolition activities scheduled to commence on February 18, 2026, at the former Brandon International site be stopped until the ongoing Section 106 consultation process for the Alabo Street Wharf Rehabilitation project has been properly completed.

As detailed in Louisiana Landmarks Society's February 5, 2026 letter to the Corps regarding the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the Alabo Street Wharf undertaking, the Section 106 consultation process has not been adequately initiated, and critical deficiencies remain unaddressed. The proposed APE is inadequate and fails to encompass the full scope of direct and indirect effects on surrounding historic districts and adjacent historic properties such as the Brandon site. No formal meeting with consulting parties has been convened, no comprehensive inventory of historic resources has been completed, no alternatives analysis has been conducted, and cumulative effects with other projects in the area have not been assessed.

The Port's notice concerning the demolition states "At this time, there are no plans for future development at the site." In light of this statement, there is no immediate need to proceed with demolition prior to the completion of the full Section 106 consultation process. Indeed, proceeding with demolition now of these historic brick industrial buildings may constitute an act of “anticipatory demolition” per the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 110(k) and thereby preclude any federal funding or permits for proposed developments.

Louisiana Landmarks Society urges the Corps and the Port of New Orleans to cancel the scheduled demolition activities and fulfill their obligations under Section 106 before proceeding. We further request that the Port of New Orleans participate fully in the consultation process.

We appreciate your consideration of this matter and look forward to a productive and meaningful dialogue regarding the future of this area.

Sincerely,

Sandra L. Stokes

James R. Logan, IV

cc: Nancy J. Brighton, Deputy Federal Preservation Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, nancy.j.brighton@usace.army.mil; Colonel Scotty Autin, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Scotty.Autin@usace.army.mil; Elliott N. Carman, Deputy Federal Preservation Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory and Tribal Affairs, elliott.n.carman.civ@army.mil; Kelly Fanizzo, General Counsel, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, kfanizzo@achp.gov; Rachel Mangum, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, rmangum@achp.gov; Carrie Broussard, Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer, cbroussard@crt.la.gov; Nicole Hobson-Morris, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, nmorris@crt.la.gov; Betsy Merritt, Deputy General Counsel, National Trust for Historic Preservation, emerritt@savingplaces.org; Helena Moreno, Mayor, City of New Orleans, mayor@nola.gov; Louis Pomes, Parish President, St. Bernard Parish, mcampo@sbpg.net; Bette Perez, President, Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, betteperez@comcase.net; Julie Jones, President, Neighbors First for Bywater Association, jjones@uno.edu