NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans announced that the Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) received a Commission Excellence Award in the category of Best Practices for its Design Guidelines for the Vieux Carré Historic District from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). The NAPC Commission Excellence Awards highlight "best practices" and exceptional accomplishments by commissions at the local level, for both large and small communities, to protect historic districts and landmarks through legislation, education and advocacy.
“I thank National Alliance of the Preservation Commissions for recognizing New Orleans as a national leader in preservation best practices,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “I also want to commend the Vieux Carré Commission and the Vieux Carré Commission Foundation for their work on the Design Guidelines that will ensure the protection of our historic and architectural resources. The historic French Quarter is our city’s crown jewel and preserving it is absolutely essential. ”
The Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) is the state-enabled city agency that was formally established in 1936 to protect, preserve, and maintain the distinct architecture, historic character, and zoning integrity of the Vieux Carré, which is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, founded in 1718. The VCC works closely with property owners and design professionals to fine-tune architectural projects to reflect the historic district’s tout ensemble, or the sum total effect of its architecture on its quaint and distinctive character and ambiance.
Within an area of 90 blocks, the Vieux Carré Historic District incorporates more than 2,000 properties and 4,000 buildings, 15 of which are considered of national architectural and historical significance and approximately 180 of which are deemed of “major architectural and historical significance.” The Vieux Carré is not only a local historic district, but also a National Historic Landmark.
The Design Guidelines for the Vieux Carré Historic District were adopted by the New Orleans City Council in August 2015 to provide guidance for preserving and protecting the district's architectural and historical resources. This comprehensive project was funded and managed by the Vieux Carré Commission Foundation to replace the outdated 1986 Design Guidelines.
The new guidelines provide detailed information and illustrations to instruct property owners, design professionals, contractors, VCC staff, and the Vieux Carré Commissioners regarding appropriate exterior changes to properties within the historic district.
Lary Hesdorffer, former Vieux Carré Commission Director, said, "My hope is that the work of the VCC, particularly with the recent completion of the updated design guidelines, will be understood better than ever before—making the protection of New Orleans' oldest and most precious neighborhood a recognized necessity rather than what some may consider optional. The value of our city's historic built environment can't be underestimated and should never be taken for granted."
Hesdorffer, who retired in February 2016 after 35 years of service to the City, describes the design guidelines as "the single most valuable tool to guide an applicant through restoration, rehabilitation and even simple maintenance of a French Quarter property.”
Deborah Andrews, NAPC’s Awards Committee Chair, said, “In undertaking this ambitious project, the Vieux Carré Commission not only wisely recognized the need to revisit design guidelines written some thirty years ago and make them more comprehensible and user-friendly for a lay audience, they also seized the opportunity to significantly expand the scope, relevance and specificity of the design guidelines. Covering such topics as termite prevention and treatment and storm/hurricane preparedness, the guidelines address preservation issues unique to the region. The new guidelines also address challenges brought on by technological advances (e.g. security cameras) not envisioned years earlier. The structure and organization of the digital document is also particularly effective, with its combination of three guideline approaches, its extensive use of images and graphics to illustrate key points without extensive text, and its formatting that allows for sections of the guidelines to be distributed as separate documents. NAPC's Awards Committee agrees that the new Design Guidelines for the Vieux Carré Historic District is an examplar for providing clear, concise, comprehensive and effective information and guidance on preservation matters [emphasis added].”
John H. Stubbs, Director of Master of Preservation Studies, Tulane School of Architecture, said, "If ever there was a longstanding example in the United States of 'best practices' in protecting entire historic districts through landmarks legislation and heritage protection management it would be the work of the Vieux Carré Commission…. the VCC’s impressive new preservation guidelines ensure that the Commission is prepared for the next generation of architectural heritage management in a place where the stakes are quite high."
Walter W. Gallas, AICP, City Planner II at Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, Department of Planning, Baltimore, Maryland, said, "These design guidelines are not simply a re-write of existing work. This is a completely new and fresh resource which is broad in scope, detailed in its explanations, user-friendly, and richly illustrated. The Vieux Carré, one of our nation's most important historic districts, will be well-served by this document."
Peter M. Trapolin, AIA, Principal and Founder, Trapolin-Peer Architects, said, "As Principal and Founder of Trapolin-Peer Architects, a 35-year-old architectural firm specializing in historic restoration and renovation projects, I have worked closely with the VCC and frequently utilized their Design Guidelines…. These updated guidelines are more user friendly and cover technical materials and preservation issues in a graphic and written format that's easy for the layman to comprehend. The guidelines' directions are useful in providing comprehensive information to building users, owners, occupants, architects, and contractors. These practices not only assist in the preservation of this historic district of national importance but also allow for design professionals and New Orleansians to become stewards of our precious architectural legacy."
Nominations were judged on their (a) originality and innovation; (b) transferability as a model for other commissions; (c) comprehensiveness, excellence and degree of difficulty; and (d) impact and results. The VCC was nominated for the “Best Practices” award by the Vieux Carré Commission Foundation. The VCC was nominated for the “Best Practices” award by the Vieux Carré Commission Foundation.
