NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Gilbert Montaño, Deputy CAO for the Office of Business and External Services (OBES) Thomas Mulligan, Director of Safety and Permits Tammie Jackson, Executive Vice President for Orleans Tower Jeff Lahasky, General Contractor of MLM Commercial Construction Machi Medrzycki and President/CEO of AOS Interior Environments Shelby Russ to officially unveil the new Department of Safety and Permits (DSP) office space located on the 8th floor of Orleans Tower (1340 Poydras St.).
“It has been a priority of my administration to re-envision how the City works with our public, understanding that residents are our customers,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “To this end, focusing on our forward-facing departments like Safety and Permits was our top priority, which we have now embedded in what we call the Office of Business and External Services. This was intentional, and despite the challenges presented as a result of COVID-19, we remained focused on enhancing City services and ensuring that the overall experience with customers doing business with the City would be improved and be better than we have ever seen in the City’s history. This new office space demonstrates our commitment to advancing new strategies, policies, practices and procedures because we have recognized we can be better stewards in working more collaboratively with the public.”
DSP began its relocation from City Hall at 1300 Perdido St. (7th floor) to Orleans Tower at 1340 Poydras St. (Ste. 800) on Monday, June 12 and resumed its normal in-person services on Tuesday, June 20. Since completing its relocation, this new office space has improved DSP’s ability to meet with constituents in a more collaborative manner, from assisting businesses with the permitting process to assisting homeowners with short term rental (STR) licensing and more. This new office space will also aid in attracting top talent for employment as DSP continues its recruitment and retention efforts.
Construction began on this new office space in December 2022 and was completed in June 2023. The cost of construction for the new office space on the 8th floor of Orleans Tower is built into the lease and is contracted between the landlord and the construction company.
“Orleans Tower has had a long-standing relationship with the City of New Orleans and its various departments,” said Lahasky. “Discussions pertaining to moving Safety & Permits to a more efficient, welcoming and user-friendly location began with us back in 2019, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see the final product come together. We’re honored to play our part in bettering the City of New Orleans and providing an improved experience for its residents.”
“As a New Orleans headquartered company for 46 years, we take special pride in being part of work for the City of New Orleans,” said Russ. “As members of the architectural, engineering and construction industry, it is particularly fulfilling to do work for the office of Safety and Permits and support this critical city function that contributes to the quality of life for all residents and businesses of New Orleans.”
By the end of 2023, there will be a full integration with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans for plumbing permits submitted online through the OneStopApp. Licensed plumbers will be able to apply online, check the status of permits, submit payment and print permits to post on job sites all electronically. Additionally, owners will be able to monitor their contractor’s progress on OneStop.
In an effort to accommodate applicants who affected by technical difficulties through the OneStopApp, DSP has extended the deadline to submit non-commercial STR (NSTR) applications to Sunday, July 16, at 11:59 p.m. All applications must be completed and submitted on time to be eligible for the NSTR Lottery which will be held Aug. 14. For any questions, residents should reach out to the STR Administration at str@nola.gov. STR updates and frequently asked questions may be accessed here.
For more general information or permit inquiries, residents should contact DSP at (504) 658-7200 during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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