The city of New Orleans took another step in ridding its downtown of a massive blighted property, issuing a request for proposals to demolish the 45-story Plaza Tower skyscraper.
"This solicitation is another example of how my administration continues to pick up the cans to do the work necessary to eradicate blight in our city," said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "This property has been an eyesore, sitting dormant for two decades, while also posing risks for residents and commuters in the area."
For the last few years, black netting has hung from the top floors of the tower, to prevent pieces of the facade falling hundreds of feet to the ground below.
The city has billed the owner, developer Joe Jaeger, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and in September imposed a $184,445 lien on the property.
The mayor's office says this request for proposals enables the city to quickly begin demolition "if and when building conditions warrant."
