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Death-themed tourist attraction on hold due to human remains on property

The developers of “The City of the Dead,” attraction said renovations to the historic building will be paused after state raised concerns about a known burial site.

NEW ORLEANS — The creation of a death-themed tourist attraction in New Orleans is on hold after the state raised concerns over a burial site on the property. 

Mardi Gras World CEO Barry Kern and well-known real estate mogul Joe Jaeger announced plans for “The City of the Dead” this year. They told our partners at the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate it would be an interactive experience that would teach people about New Orleans’ unique rituals surrounding death, like above-ground tombs and second lines. 

They billed it as a kind of “death meets Disney.”

They plan to house the attraction inside 351 Basin Street. They submitted the permit request to renovate the building in 2022. It said the building would undergo “architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work.” On the site plan, a spot near the rear left door is marked “Approx. Human Remains Location.” 

The presence of remains on the property is not news. 

351 Basin is the last remaining building of the former Iberville Projects, which were built almost a century ago. The city planned to tear down the entire development in the years after Hurricane Katrina, but during the process, the remains were discovered at 351 Basin, so it was left untouched. 

Because Kern and Jaeger planned to renovate the building, rather than tear it down completely and build a new one, their plans were allowed to go ahead.

Then in September of 2023, Assistant Attorney General Ryan Seidemann sent a letter to the owner of the building, the Housing Authority of New Orleans, on behalf of the AG’s office and the state archaeologist. It referenced the remains and told HANO that “before any ground disturbance activity occurs on this site, it is imperative that the existing cemetery issues be discussed and resolved.”

It is unclear why the letter was sent to HANO and not the developers. HANO Development Director Darren Harris told WWL Louisiana that “other than leasing the land, [HANO] doesn't have any involvement with the development.”

Because of the letter, Kern and Jaeger decided to put the project on hold.

 In a statement sent through their lawyer, Michael Sherman, they said they have “invested over a million dollars in architectural, engineering, modeling, and programming activities for the project. Based upon the concerns raised about human burial grounds, combined with the already difficult development climate, we have chosen to put the project on hold until there is further clarity about the site, and for the time being, focus our attention and investments on other projects in the city.”

On Wednesday, roofers were still working on the building. 

Sherman told WWL Louisiana in a phone call that once they were done, the renovations would be paused. Neither he nor the statement from Kern and Jaeger gave a timeline of when the project may resume.

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