NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Captial Projects Administration today announced the issuance of a Notice to Proceed (NTP) to Verges Rome Architects to develop plans to engage the FEMA scope-of-work at the historic Municipal Auditorium.
“Embarking on the design of the FEMA scope-of-work for the Municipal Auditorium is a significant accomplishment for the City and its partners in redeveloping this historically valuable facility,” said Director of Capital Projects Vincent Smith. “We are delighted to celebrate the collaboration with our community partners and FEMA as we begin this project. We look forward to continued teamwork to restore the facility to its former glory and create a top-notch entertainment, commercial and cultural building that will benefit the community and the City.”
The $38 million FEMA-funded scope of work for the Municipal Auditorium includes replacing the existing roof, exterior repairs, mold remediation, the removal of existing mechanical and electrical equipment and conditioning the building. The City of New Orleans is continuing to engage Save our Soul (S.O.S.), the non-profit community organization, to produce a Corporative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) to outline their roles and responsibilities for the redevelopment of the building and Armstrong Park based the proposed S.O.S. redevelopment plan approved by this administration.
The Municipal Auditorium opened in 1930 as a multi-use entertainment venue, located in Treme, one of the most historical neighborhoods, and adjacent to Congo Square. The Municipal Auditorium is a culturally significant site. Since Hurricane Katrina, the site has sat dormant without any significant initiatives brought to the Historical Building. The NTP is the first step in embarking on the ambitious plan to bring this site back to commerce.
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