Marcel Wisznia
President, Wisznia | Architecture + Development
Wisznia | Architecture + Development specializes in repurposing midrise and high-rise buildings into mixed-use / multifamily developments using design-driven development.
Notable Projects: Union Lofts, The Maritime and The Saratoga.
Most excited about…
I’m really excited about our next two Downtown New Orleans developments as they represent a departure for us.
The first is Stephens Garage — the repurposing of a historic 1951 vintage car dealership and parking garage into 21,000 square feet of ground floor retail, 51 apartments and 11 condominiums. The uniqueness is that we are removing the existing car ramps, and replacing them with two automobile elevators. Tenants and owners will be able to park their cars on the same floor that they live on, virtually right in front of their dwelling units. Construction is slated to begin at the end of September, with completion by the end of 2018.
Backing up to this site, at the corner of St. Charles and St. Joseph streets is a surface parking lot with two small historic buildings on one corner.
This project, which we have nicknamed “Two Saints” will focus on affordable housing, but not in a traditional manner. The housing type is known as co-living, and rents will be based on 100 percent of the area median income.
The typical apartment will be a four-bedroom, four-bathroom unit and individuals or couples will rent on a per-bedroom basis. Two Saints will be one of a kind in New Orleans and will give many people who don’t have the financial ability to live downtown the ability to do so.
Biggest anticipated challenge…
As a community, we need to give our residents the confidence that dramatic changes in weather patterns will not sink New Orleans. We need to learn to live with global climate change, not ignore it. We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand.
