Plaza Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plaza Tower |
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The familiar landmark of the New Orleans skyline in October 2007
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Location | 1001 Howard Avenue New Orleans, United States |
| Coordinates | 29°56′47″N 90°04′36″W / 29.94639°N 90.07667°W |
| Construction started | 1964 |
| Completed | 1969 |
| Renovated | 2006-2008 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 531 ft (162 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 45 |
| Floor area | 485,000 sq ft (45,058 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 13 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr & Associates |
| Designated: | January 30, 2013 |
| Reference #: | 12001241 |
The Plaza Tower is a very tall building, called a skyscraper, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has 45 floors and stands about 531 feet (162 meters) high. Designed by Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr. & Associates, it is one of the tallest buildings in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
This building has been empty since 2002 because of serious problems like toxic mold and asbestos. These are harmful substances that made the building unsafe for people. Over the years, different groups have tried to buy and fix up the Plaza Tower, but it has been a difficult project.
Contents
History of Plaza Tower: Building a Landmark
Construction of the Plaza Tower began in 1964. It was a project by a developer named Sam J. Recile. Work stopped for a while in 1966 but started again in 1968.
When it was finished in 1969, the Plaza Tower became the tallest building in New Orleans and Louisiana. It held this record for four years. Then, another building called One Shell Square was built, which was even taller.
The Plaza Tower was one of the first modern skyscrapers in New Orleans. Its unique design, especially its "mushroom top," made it stand out in the city's skyline. It was originally planned mostly for offices, with some homes on the top floors. Later, all the homes were changed into offices.
Why the Building Became Empty
In 2001, people working in the Plaza Tower started complaining. They said the building was not being taken care of properly. This led to problems like exposure to asbestos and toxic mold.
Because of these issues, many lawsuits were filed against the building's owners and managers. In 2002, about 700 state employees who worked there had to move out. Since then, the Plaza Tower has been sealed off and unused.
Attempts to Bring Plaza Tower Back to Life
Over the years, several groups have tried to buy and renovate the Plaza Tower.
- In 2005, the Giannasca Development Group bought the building. They planned a big renovation to turn it into homes (condominiums). However, after Hurricane Katrina hit, they faced financial problems and the project stopped.
- In 2007, the building was sold again to Plainfield Asset Management. They started work in 2009 to clean out the asbestos and mold. This involved removing all the inside walls and ceilings. This cleanup cost about $10 million.
- In 2011, the building was put up for auction again and bought by Tony Anderson.
- In 2014, developer Joe Jaeger bought the building. He has not shared his plans for it yet.
Future Plans: Crescent City Towers
For several years in the late 2000s, there was a big plan to fix up the Plaza Tower and turn it into homes. It was going to be called "Crescent City Towers."
The idea was to completely strip the building down to its main structure. This was necessary because of the asbestos, mold, and water damage. The new design would have a modern look with lots of glass and balconies. This would give residents great views of New Orleans and the Mississippi River.
The renovated building was planned to have cool features like a restaurant, a spa, a fitness center, and an indoor pool. There were also plans to fix up a nearby parking garage. The project was going to cost a lot of money, and the homes would be quite expensive.
In 2006, new plans were released after Hurricane Katrina. These plans included stronger glass to withstand very strong winds and its own power generator and water supply. This would make the building able to take care of itself for several weeks if there was another storm. The outside design was also changed to a cleaner look with gold-tinted glass and maroon steel.
However, in 2007, the owners had financial difficulties, and the Plaza Tower was put up for auction again. Plainfield Direct bought it and paid back taxes. They announced plans to spend $10 million on cleaning up the environmental problems. After this cleanup, they hoped to find partners to help bring the building back to life.
Despite these efforts, the building remained empty. It was sold again in 2011 and then in 2014. The future of the Plaza Tower is still uncertain, but many hope it will one day be used again.
Location
The Plaza Tower is located at 1001 Howard Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana.
It is surrounded by these streets:
- Howard Avenue (south side)
- Loyola Avenue (west side)
- Julia Street (north side)
- South Rampart Street (east side)
See also
In Spanish: Plaza Tower para niños
