NEW ORLEANS – It’s a vacant 9-acre lot along the Lafitte Greenway, but in it, Sidney Torres IV sees the future.
According to The New Orleans Advocate’s Della Hasselle, Torres, known for picking up trash with class via his SDT trash empire, is expected to go before the New Orleans City Planning Mission this month, but he already has its endorsement to build a mixed-use residential development bounded by North Scott Street, the Lafitte Greenway, North Jefferson Davis Parkway and Conti Street.
Torres’ plan includes 382 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 750 square feet to nearly 1,200 square feet, Hasselle reports, with building designs that look like French Quarter Spanish architecture that showcases private and shared balconies and doors with large, arched windows.
City planners advocate the project will bring much needed residential units and economic development to the area, Hasselle reports.
Hasselle reports Torres will take advantage of “development bonuses” in that geographic area where the city will allow a 29 percent increase in density in exchange for affordable housing units and the use of green building techniques.
