History of the Vieux Carré Commission
New Orleans was the first city in the United States to pass an ordinance creating a historic district. Although that ordinance failed to create an effective preservation commission, an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 (Article XIV, Section 22A) laid the groundwork for the creation of the Vieux Carré Commission. This amendment specifically addressed the preservation of the "quaint" traditional architecture in New Orleans' Vieux Carré, the so-called "French Quarter", and enabled the creation of a municipal body to safeguard the structures bounded by Iberville Street, Esplanade Avenue, North Rampart Street, and the Mississippi River.
In 1925, the Commission Council of New Orleans, responding to pressure from the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, established the first Vieux Carré Commission. This first commission faltered, however, because the agency was merely advisory in function. The successful 1936 legislation derived from the efforts of a small group of determined activists during this period who ensured the continuing preservation of the only intact Spanish and French Colonial settlement remaining in this country.
Act 139 of 1936 amended the Constitution of the State of Louisiana to authorize the New Orleans City Council to create the Commission and to define its composition, purpose, and area of jurisdiction. The authority of the Commission is further described in Articles I, II, III, IV & V in Chapter 166 of the 1995 Code of the City of New Orleans.
In the 1941 Louisiana Supreme Court opinion "City of New Orleans v. Pergament", 198 La.852 stated "The purpose of the ordinance is not only to preserve the old buildings themselves, but to preserve the antiquity of the whole French and Spanish quarter, the tout ensemble (overall historic and aesthetic effect), so to speak, by defending this relic against iconoclasm and vandalism.
In order for the VCC to preserve the tout ensemble, the Commission has the responsibility to comment on, or raise concern regarding, any issue not specifically under its regulatory authority that has the potential to jeopardize the built environment of the district.
Architectural Review Committee
The Architectural Committee (AC) reviews all applications for work in the Vieux Carré that VCC staff may not approve as outlined in the Design Guidelines. At meetings, the AC makes recommendations primarily by assessing the historical and architectural appropriateness of proposed physical changes beyond what is approvable byt VCC staff.
The AC is composed of:
- three (3) Commission members representing the American Institute of Architects
- up to four (4) non-Commission architects
See the Application Review Process for full information.
Committee AC Members:
- Stephen Bergeron, A.I.A.
- Rick Fifield, A.I.A.
- Cynthia Steward
Vieux Carré Commission
As mandated above, the Commission conducts monthly public meetings during which its primary duties are to act on applications proposing new construction, alteration or restoration as required by the Design Guidelines, as well as issues that could affect the tout ensemble of the District.
The Commission is composed of nine (9) volunteer members appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. They are chosen as follows,
Each of the Commissioners serves a four (4) year term.
Commission Members:
- Stephen Bergeron- AIA, Chair
- Gabriel Virdure- AIA, Vice Chair
- Vincent Weaver - Chamber of Commerce
- Sandra Shilstone- Louisiana State Museum
- Scott Tilton- At Large
- Kim Abramson- At Large
Staff
VCC is composed of a staff of highly trained professionals primarily responsible for:
- Communicating with applicants
- Performing reviews of applications
- Making recommendations to the AC and Commission
- Issuing permits
- Reviewing work for correct completion
- Inspecting buildings throughout the District for physical conditions
- Issuing Notices of Violations and enforcing regulations
- Administering adjudication hearings
Staff:
- Bryan Block - Director
- Renee Bourgogne - Deputy Director
- Nicholas Albrecht - Historic Preservation Building Plan Reviewer, Principal
- Erin Vogt - Historic Buidling Preservation Plan Reviewer, Principal
- Marguerite Roberts - Historic Preservation Building Inspector, Supervisor
- Noah Epstein - Historic Preservation Building Inspector
- Joseph Newman - Office Assistant