Does Historic Preservation Matter on Bourbon Street?

City Council Vote Is Thursday

By Nathan Chapman

President, Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents & Associates (VCPORA)

If I ask you to picture New Orleans’ French Quarter (known formally as the Vieux Carre’), likely one of two images comes to mind.

It could be our historic architecture, with iconic balconies and ironwork. People come from around the world to see it.

Or perhaps you envisioned crowds raucously partying on Bourbon Street, with money flowing as strongly as the alcohol.

But I pose the question, does it have to be either/or?

That question is before the New Orleans City Council this Thursday.

Specifically, City Council members will vote on an appeal by 241 Bourbon Street to override the city’s Vieux Carre’ Commission (VCC) after it denied the applicant permission to cut additional doorway openings that might entice more customers for its new bar business.

Undoubtedly, the building is historic. It was built in 1843, long before Bourbon became known as a party street.

All agree that it’s good for the building to return to active use, after recently being vacant.

As with most things in life, there is a devil in the details.

It’s the duty of the VCC to review proposed renovations of French Quarter architecture. It approved substantial changes requested by the architect for 241 Bourbon—including new window and door openings, an elevator, rooftop mechanical equipment, and accessibility upgrades.

But when the applicant came back with a further request to add even more doors to bring the party inside onto the street, and vice versa, the commission said no. The architect appealed to the City Council.

So, what does the public think about whether we should apply historic preservation rules even on Bourbon Street?

As a long-time Quarter volunteer and advocate who happens to make a living in marketing, periodically over the last few decades I’ve sent a video camera crew to conduct person-on-the-street interviews about historic preservation.

Check out this short video , never before seen, which we filmed immediately after the City Council overruled the VCC in favor of a Bourbon Street bar owner a couple years ago.

You’ll see what I have discovered. Regardless of age, gender, race, income and social class status, our citizens and visitors passionately want city leaders to protect the Quarter. And, yes, this includes Bourbon Street.

“Although it’s an entertainment mecca, part of (Bourbon Street’s) draw is its unique architecture.”

One might wonder why the fuss if we’re just talking about doors. But doors, balconies, dormers and stoops are the details that differentiate authenticity from “fake” NOLA buildings we see in theme parks.

Historic preservation has been a boon for New Orleans and Louisiana. It’s no exaggeration that it was the beginning and remains the heart of our tourism industry.

We ask the City Council to vote NO on Thursday’s VCC appeal. We should all be able to raise a glass to toast the importance of protecting our beloved French Quarter.