Bywater hotel faces final hurdle, stiff opposition from community group

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A consequential vote by the New Orleans City Council could decide the fate of a long-planned hotel in the Bywater that has come to a head with some residents who said it should not happen.

The Crescent Hotel, planned since 2019, would rise six stories and stand between Crescent Park and Chartres Street near the Rusty Rainbow pedestrian bridge. Right now, the lot the project would be developed on is vacant.

It's already been approved, but developers said they have to return to council to ask for two exemptions: raising the height of the building from 75 to 79 feet and asking for the setback requirement to be lifted.

"We've put so much effort into making this thing come to life, and we've been met with some resistance," said David Fuselier, project developer. "Not a lot, but some resistance, and it's unfortunate because we think we would bring a lot to the community."

Fuselier said the project would include a ground floor restaurant and coffee shop, along with a rooftop bar and pool which will be open to the public.

He said they plan to fill the hotel with 450 pieces by local artists and build facilities at nearby Crescent Park including a pickleball court, basketball court, shaded picnic area, as well as a bike repair station and water station.

"We're trying to get the word out that we're trying to do a lot of good for the neighborhood," Fuselier said.

But the project has been met with opposition from at least one community group, which said it has gathered 600 signatures in a petition to stop the planned development.

"Residents of Bywater and Marigny are very passionate about this issue," said Brian Luckett of the group Neighbors First for Bywater about the fight for height restrictions. "It's been going on for a long time."

Luckett's group has been one of the stauncher opponents of Fuselier's project, which he said would violate height and design restrictions that were put in place for a reason.

"The historic, core neighborhoods are the reason people come to New Orleans," he said. "They come here to see what's left of a 19th century city, and if you take that away, people are going to stop coming."

Fuselier said the height exemption of four feet is to allow for changes to the types of building materials they will use, which include more economical, metal prefabricated wall panels during construction.

"This project really has to stand on its own two feet," he said. "It's a new construction project, so every dollar we're able to save from the project costs, it just helps with the financing and profitability of the project."

He plans to go door to door to drum up support from neighbors and businesses in the Bywater, and said he's already gained the support of another neighborhood group.

The New Orleans City Council will vote on November 21st.