Iberville housing complex redevelopment has its wheels set in motion

HANO and the city plan to construct nearly 2,450 new apartments in a 300-square-block area

With the first phase of demolition of the Iberville development expected to begin within months, the Housing Authority of New Orleans on Monday took a series of steps to help clear the way for the complex's massive redo near the French Quarter. HANO's one-man board, federal fix-it man David Gilmore, approved an extension on the option, purchase and sale agreement for the Texaco building at 1501 Canal St.

View full sizeDavid Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune archiveThe Iberville housing development, on prime real estate next to the French Quarter, is the last traditional public-housing development in the city.

After purchasing the 17-story building, HANO will sell it to Iberville's developers. Plans call for 4,500 square feet of retail and commercial space on the lower floors with 112 apartments created in the upper floors for seniors, most of them moving from apartments in the Iberville development a few blocks away.

Last fall, HANO received a $30.5 million grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to jump-start the makeover of the Iberville, the city's last traditional public-housing development.

HANO, in partnership with the city, expanded beyond the 23-acre Iberville site to an area they call "Iberville-Treme," a 300-square-block area bordered by Tulane and St. Bernard avenues and Broad and Rampart streets. They hope to spend $589 million in the area to construct about 2,445 new apartments, many above ground-floor stores and cafes.

The Texaco building will also have a fitness room, garden terrace, and a community room overlooking Marais Street, the throughway that co-developer Pres Kabacoff considers the spine of the new redevelopment.

Gilmore on Tuesday also approved an "implementation agreement," a step-by-step plan for the makeover, between HANO and the Iberville's development team. He then greenlighted a change to HANO's administrative plan creating 405 rental subsidies, tied to specific apartments within the Iberville-Treme footprint. And for Iberville residents who live within soon-to-be-demolished blocks, Gilmore authorized a $710,850 contract with moving company Junkaroos & Moveroos, which has already hired Iberville residents onto its crews.

Katy Reckdahl can be reached at kreckdahl@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3396.