Louisiana RealEstateRama

Today, at Gallier Hall, located at 545 St. Charles Avenue, a small piece of the stone cornice fell from the building's front façade and damaged the granite steps below. The City has secured the area in front of the building with barricades and is assessing the condition of the building. No one was injured and no construction was underway before or during this incident. Gallier Hall will remain open and assessable through the side door on Lafayette Street.

Today, the City of New Orleans announced plans to complete the redevelopment of the historic St. Roch Market located at 2382 St. Claude Avenue. The City, through its public benefit corporation the New Orleans Building Corporation which manages the St. Roch Market, has selected Bayou Secret, LLC to operate the building. Bayou Secret is a company which includes founding members of Launch Pad, an entrepreneurial workspace founded in 2009 in the Central Business District. Bayou Secret’s redevelopment plan for St. Roch Market includes operating a fresh foods market utilizing multiple vendors along with a neighborhood restaurant. The City recently completed at $3.5 million renovation of the building which was damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy joined Senator David Vitter in an Environmental and Public Works (EPW) committee field briefing in New Orleans. The hearing focused on the potential impacts of the EPA’s proposed “Waters of the United States Rule” and how it could harm Louisiana families, farmers and infrastructure projects

Today, in keeping with Mayor Landrieu’s efforts to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in New Orleans, the City announced that it has sheltered 84 homeless individuals formerly living underneath the U.S. 90/Pontchartrain Expressway overpass from South Claiborne Avenue to St. Charles Avenue.

Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is continuing to implement the Grimm-Cassidy Substitute Amendment to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. Insurance companies will begin to issue refunds for applicable policyholders beginning October 1, 2014. All checks are anticipated to be written by the end of the calendar year.

Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined United States Senator Mary Landrieu, members of the New Orleans Interagency Council on Homelessness, and military leaders and veterans at The National World War II Museum to commemorate Independence Day and announce the City of New Orleans’ drive to be the first city in the nation to end homelessness among veterans by the end of 2014. In June, Mayor Landrieu participated in a panel discussion at the White House with other mayors from across the country where they shared and discussed successful strategies which have reduced veteran homelessness. At the event First Lady Michelle Obama and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness which aims to eliminate veteran homelessness in American in 2015

Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that the City of New Orleans’ $52.3 million “soft second” mortgage homebuyer assistance initiative has now issued over 700 commitments to first time homebuyers representing over $40 million in purchase assistance and closing cost assistance. In total, through the Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program 640 home purchases by first time homebuyers have been completed through the success of the City’s soft second mortgage program. The goal of this initiative’s Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program is to strategically promote homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income persons and families who are buying their first homes. The City’s Office of Community Development directs this program by providing hundreds of New Orleans families an opportunity to become first-time homebuyers.

Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s announcement that current HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan will become the next director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will be nominated as the next HUD secretary

Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced a new multi-year initiative focused on race, reconciliation and community-building. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Welcome Table New Orleans, will bring citizens of different racial groups and backgrounds together to build relationships that lead to improvements in key areas throughout the city

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy announced he will be introducing legislation to protect faith-based institutions from unnecessary taxes. The Faith and Fairness Act of 2014 allows religious institutions to receive favorable tax status so they can provide housing for leaders of their communities. It upholds the position that the federal government has held for generations on whether such expenditures should be taxed.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is making Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) policyholders aware of a refund that is being issued. The refunds are for application fees that were charged to policyholders without their knowledge and are being paid pursuant to a written order issued by Commissioner Donelon

Today the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, H.R. 3370 was signed into law by President Barack Obama. With his signature, 5.5 million Americans including over 200,000 in Louisiana will begin to see relief from exorbitant premiums resulting from Biggert-Waters

WASHINGTON - March 13, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy praised Senator David Vitter and the Senate’s efforts in advancing the Grimm-Cassidy amended version of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. Senator Vitter announced today that he is “very hopeful” the Senate will vote on flood insurance today or tomorrow. Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 5, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy announced that the amended Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370) was finalized Friday evening after its review by a group of bi-partisan leaders in the House. The final version of the legislation is likely to be voted on next Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - February 26, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, several national and Louisiana stakeholder associations and their representatives, along with Jefferson Parish President John Young, announced their support for the substitute amendment to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. This legislation, which Congressman Bill Cassidy helped announce Friday evening, would provide comprehensive and long-term relief for homeowners across the nation. Dr. Cassidy worked on this legislation with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and across the country on this legislation. He released the following statement: