NEW ORLEANS — 1031 Canal Street could soon be considered a historic landmark if the council approves a new proposal.
The designation is a push by city councilmember Freddie King III and council President Helena Moreno. In a joint press release the pair wrote:
"This site is significant for two pivotal events in history: the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse and the 1960 Woolworth lunch counter civil rights sit-in.
The proposed designation will establish an additional layer of oversight from the Central Business District Historic District Landmark Commission (CBDHDLC) for any future development of the site. This legislation is in response to requests from family members of the victims of the Hard Rock collapse for a permanent memorial to honor the lives of Jose Ponce Arreola, Anthony Magrette, and Quinnyon Wimberly.
During discussions with some of the family members and staff, it became clear that recognizing both historic events associated with this location is the most fitting approach given its historically significant past. Once approved, the motion will be forwarded to the CBDHDLC for a comprehensive review and subsequent recommendation to the full City Council."
Councilmember King says that recognizing the site as historical is a priority for his office.
“This site stands as a reminder of pivotal moments, from the courageous civil rights sit-in to the tragic Hard Rock Hotel collapse.," King said. "Preserving places like this is essential to honoring our community’s history, reminding us of our resilience and the lessons we carry forward.”
Moreno says family members of the victims of the collapse recently appeared before the council to talk about memorializing the three men.
“This landmarking process is the first step toward a permanent memorial,” she said. “This is undoubtedly a historic corner, widely known as the location of one of the first organized civil rights protests in New Orleans in 1960, and then for the tragedy that occurred when three lives were lost in 2019. I hope we can move forward expeditiously to get this done.”
The motion will be heard at the Thursday, November 7, regular City Council meeting at 11 a.m.
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