New Orleans hotel nears demolition date

The New Orleans Fire Department and the Central Business District Historic District Landmarks Commission in that city each have made decisions that could push the collapsed Hard Rock hotel building closer to its demolition process. The under construction Hard Rock hotel collapsed in October 2019, killing two workers at the site.

According to a NOLA.com article, New Orleans Fire Superintendent Tim McConnell issued a demolition order in early May for three buildings surrounding the Hard Rock site, removing one barrier to bringing down the remains of the building.

A report from WWL-TV in New Orleans said the following day the Central Business District Historic District Landmarks Commission declined to review a proposal to the historic significance of those  three buildings, effectively staying “out of the way” of the Fire Department order.

The fire department’s order said the surrounding buildings “must come down to give demolition crews sight lines and crane access they need to safely take down floors nine through 18 of the partially collapsed Hard Rock project.”

NOLA.com quotes Fire Superintendent McConnell as saying, “It has been looked at from every different angle, and to lessen the threat to human life and public safety it needs to be done.”

WWL-TV had earlier reported that the Hard Rock property’s owner,  1031 Canal Development LLC, had made arrangements with contractor Kolb Grading LLC, based in Weldon Spring, Missouri, and subcontractor Marschel Wrecking, Fenton, Missouri, when seeking insurance and bonding for the project.