Proposed Change for the Maison Blanche Annex

by Lyn Reed

A recent proposal for a change of use from vacant to commercial for the old Maison Blanche Annex at 939 Iberville/200 Burgundy/916 Bienville was scheduled for a hearing before the Vieux Carré Commission. At the request of District C Councilmember Jackie Clarkson, the hearing was deferred to give the applicant/owner, SunAmerica, through the architect John Williams, to meet with French Quarter resident groups to answer questions and allay concerns about the project.

The change of use application indicates that the commercial aspect of the project includes a learning center, childcare, apartments, condos and associated parking. SunAmerica, who also owns the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, has been rumored to be pursuing the LSU School of Medicine to use the property as a medical training facility. French Quarter Citizens was contacted several months ago by State Sen. Paulette Irons about the possibility of this action. It was later learned that the old Krauss building was also being considered for the project.
It may be remembered that at the time of the development of the Ritz-Carlton, the owners stated that the Maison Blanche Annex would be residential condominiums in the second phase of the development of the site.

At the recent Vieux Carré Commission meeting, Councilmember Clarkson mentioned that the property owners would need to answer concerns that this use of the property could be construed as illegal hotel expansion. A skywalk across Iberville Street links the hotel with the Annex.

John Williams recently indicated that the owners would meet with the boards of French Quarter Citizens and VCPORA.