Plans advance for Plaza Tower and Mercy Hospital redevelopment
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Plaza Tower (right) is the city's first skyscraper. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
Redevelopment efforts are gaining traction at Plaza Tower, Mercy Hospital and several of the city's biggest blighted buildings, New Orleans leaders told City Council recently.
Why it matters: The buildings have sat vacant for years, dragging down surrounding neighborhoods and frustrating residents who have heard redevelopment promises before.
The big picture: Lincoln Avenue Communities has Plaza Tower under contract and expects to close early next year, says Jeff Schwartz, the city's director of housing and community development.
- "I believe I will go on the record saying that I think there is a transformative redevelopment possible with Plaza Tower," he told the council.
- Lincoln Avenue plans to convert the building, which is the city's first skyscraper, into senior apartments, Fox 8 reports.
- At one time, authorities were talking about demolishing it, but Councilmember Lesli Harris says she thinks there's hope now and she would "hate" to spend money tearing it down.
Zoom out: The project falls under Jenny Mains, the city's new deputy mayor for economic development.
- Her focus for the first 100 days is restoring economic confidence and improving the permitting process, she said at last Tuesday's council presentation.
- She also wants to support existing businesses and return city-owned properties to commerce.
- Schwartz, who works in Mains' office and previously served in the Cantrell administration, says he's seeing a new "level of urgency" to jump-start projects.
Other projects in the works

State of play: Mains and Schwartz updated the council on these projects too.
🏥 Mercy Hospital (Lindy Boggs Medical Center) in Mid-City: Woodward Interests plans to do a "transformative" $100 million-plus mixed-use, mixed-income project with 200 housing units, ground floor retail, office space and open space, Schwartz says.
- The basement will be turned into a large-scale water retention project that will help with neighborhood flooding, Schwartz says. The city plans to spend about $11 million to fund that part of the project.
- Demolition is expected this fall in advance of the deal closing.
🩺 Charity Hospital downtown: Tulane is the anchor tenant of this proposed $650 million redevelopment, with plans to use two-thirds of the building, Schwartz said.
- There will also be some housing units in the building, says Councilmember Matt Willard.
⚓️ Naval facility in the Bywater: Leaders recently broke ground on a $196 million project that will have about 300 affordable housing units, retail space and a $30 million startup incubator in the first phase.
- It will also have nearly 900 parking spaces, Schwartz says.
🎶 Municipal Auditorium in Treme: The master plan process is moving forward for the building and Armstrong Park. It was fully funded last week.
🛍️ Lake Forest Plaza Mall in the East: This site used to contribute 25% of the sales tax revenue in the city before Hurricane Katrina, Schwartz says.
- There's no news to announce yet, he says, but the administration is working on a strategy for redevelopment.
The bottom line: If these projects materialize, they could mean new housing, new businesses and long-awaited tax revenue for the city.
