5-9-2023: 604 Julia Street Proposed Hotel

May 9, 2023 

New Orleans City Council 
1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 

RE: 604 Julia Street Proposed Hotel 

Dear Councilmembers: 

Louisiana Landmarks Society supports the Lafayette Square Neighborhood Association in asking for denial of the Conditional Use request to permit a hotel at 604 Julia Street, in the CBD-5 District. Converting this building to a hotel will remove long-term residential units from the ever-dwindling supply. The stated goal of the city is to have long-term residences within the urban core, with easy access to public transportation – a live/work community. Granting this hotel permit clearly works against these goals. 

604 Julia is one of the famed 13 Sisters of Julia Row. Built in the 1830’s, the Sisters’ house retail on the first floor with residences above. These buildings are uniquely unsuitable for conversion into hotels. 

To list just a few limiting factors, 604 Julia St. has no fire escape, no elevator, and no ADA accessibility. The main building is a four-floor walkup consisting of approximately 80 steep stairs to the fourth floor, and with none of the basic amenities expected for a hotel. With common walls, noise carries easily between the individual addresses so transient rentals can easily create a great nuisance to the long-term residents next door. Fire is a major concern, as the 4th floor is an attic conversion that can only be exited through one door/hallway to below. Parking on the street is already limited, with the galleries/retail on each first floor of the buildings struggling with their needs for customers and deliveries. 

As defined in Article 17.2.E of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, “CBD-5 Urban Core Neighborhood Lower Intensity Mixed-Use District is intended to provide for a downtown neighborhood environment through a mix of housing types and supporting residential services and commercial uses conveniently situated with respect to employment opportunities. The CBD-5 District is intended to accommodate a lower concentration of certain commercial uses than the CBD-6 District, and is particularly suited for the area around Lafayette Square and surrounding areas.” 

 Unfortunately, the neighborhood has experienced an explosion of conversions more in line with CBD-1 rather than the Lower Intensity Mixed-Use District it is defined to be. The current trend for additional hotels and short term rentals in CBD-5 is alarming – continually whittling away at the residential nature of the Lafayette Square neighborhood. 

Taking away long-term residential units will continue to erode the community in the Lafayette Square neighborhood and exacerbate the ever-declining stock of affordable living in New Orleans – all to have more commercial units for tourists. We ask that you deny this request. 

Sincerely, 

Sandra Stokes 
Chair of Advocacy