Sunday, July 29, 2012

You want to know what is going on in the Garden District/Magazine Street portion?


News & Highlights
Changes Galore
2012-06-28
Several new developments planned for Magazine Street have caught the eye of the GDA. Two in particular include Smash Burger and Dat Dog restaurants.  The GDA has appealed the permitting of Smash Burger on the corner of Toledano and Magazine noting that its operation too closely resembles a fast food outlet.  Fast food operations are not allowed except under a conditional use permit in this area. A hearing is set for August.
An application for a Conditional Use permit has been made for 3336 Magazine to allow Dat Dog to move in and serve alcohol.  This is a former uniform retail outlet. This issue is scheduled to come before the City Planning Commission in August.  The GDA Zoning Committee has meetings planned with the proposed owner and city officials to discuss similar concerns. And renovations are well underway for a Jamba Juice to move into the corner of Louisiana Magazine.  This is permitted as a retail shop.  It is scheduled to open soon.   A meeting of nearby neighbors affected by these operations will be called in the coming weeks.  The Board is well aware of the parking constraints of the area and is trying to find short term and long term solutions to ease this burden on nearby neighbors. This issue will discussed at the meeting with neighbors.
As previously reported, Ignatius Eatery moved into the former Rue de la Course. A Good Neighbor Agreement was signed well in advance of their opening that limits their hours of operation and the service of liquor only with the service of food, standard for our neighborhood agreements.  In other restaurant news, Nacho Mamas has now closed.  Word is that this space is now leased to the operators of Byblos who will move to that location leaving room for a new Taqueria concept to move into the Byblos space.   And on the top end of Magazine at Jackson, Charcoal continues its buildout and is scheduled to open around November.  A Good Neighbor Agreement was signed long ago for this location as well.
Coming Soon signs at Fresh Market, the new tenant at the former Bultman Funeral Parlor and Borders Books site has teased us for months as work progressed on the site.   Project officials have now announced their official opening for July 25.  We welcome them to the area. Indigo, the 132 room, boutique hotel slated for Jackson and St. Charles is once again under construction and moving fast.  Target date is early fall.

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