What to Expect After You Hire an Architect

So, you’ve decided it’s time to build a new property or kick off that long-awaited renovation project. You’ve researched architecture firms, narrowed down your options, and now you’re ready to take the next steps

Developer Guide, Design PrinciplesKim AllenDecember 2, 2024onboarding, architecture tips, hiring an architect, architecture on boarding, design phase, project ethos, new orleans architects, new orleans designers

Renovating an Old Building? You Could Be Leaving Money on the Table!

If the property you're interested in is in a historic district (or is itself on the National Register of Historic Places), you should know that the state and federal government set aside hundreds of millions of dollars each year to offset your development costs.

Developer Guide, Historic Projectsben allenAugust 2, 2024historic architecture, historic buildings, historic districts, historic tax credit, renovations, restorations, preservations, texas, louisiana, mississippi, alabama, Gulf Coast Architects, Gulf Coast Building Design, Gulf Coast Construction, gulf coast development

Small Lot, No Problem!

While yes, the footprint is small and small does not always mean less expensive, it does require thinking creatively to achieve the greatest return and yes, the return can be great.

Developer Guide, Quick Tips, Construction & Permittingben allenJuly 28, 2024architecture, new orleans, new orleans real estate, new orleans real estate planning, developer, Urban development, missing middle developments, conceptual design, architecture planning, architecture process

What are "test fits" and do I need one?

We all enjoy trying on clothes before buying them, right? Think of test fits as the real estate equivalent of trying on clothes. Lately, we've seen a surge in feasibility studies for potential properties, which are often referred to as "test fits". This increase may be a response to last year's freeze on short-term rentals in Orleans Parish, which left many developers wondering, "What else can I do with this property?" Let's explore some key questions that test fits are designed to address.

Developer Guide, Construction & Permittingben allenJune 26, 2024test fit, feasibility study, new orleans real estate, real estate developments, historic tax credit feasibility, as-of-right, zoning codes, architecture, design, predesign services, new orleans construction, new orleans architecture, new orleans real estate planning

Can Third Place Developments Fill Our Vacancies?

The term “third place” has infiltrated our market as a space to be in that isn’t - one, our home, or two, our office…it’s our third place: a place to socialize, be creative, relax, meet and entertain.

Sustainability, Developer Guide, Interiors & MaterialityKim AllenMay 30, 2024third place, cowork, vacant buildings, real estate developments, new orleans real estate, social clubs, hi-rise buildings, indoor garden, business plan, investment plan, real estate investments, new orleans architects, Urban architecture, Urban development, Adaptive Reuse

What's Happening to Real Estate in New Orleans?

Those of us involved in building things - planners, city governments, developers and architects and designers - need to advocate to fundamentally change they physical framework of daily commerce, and we need the support of the citizens to do so.

Developer Guideben allenApril 3, 2024urban development, retail vacancies, new orleans, new orleans neighborhoods, construction, real estate, new orleans real estate, downtown new orleans, urban planning, urban environment, commerce, city framework, housing demand, housing issues, architecture, communities

Adaptive Reuse in Downtown NOLA

When our clients came to us with an adaptive reuse project to build a hotel in an old warehouse structure, we knew there would be some challenges. Soon the solution became clear: what if we built a hotel UNDER an old warehouse structure?!

Construction & Permitting, Design Principles, Developer Guide, Historic Projects, Interiors & MaterialityKim AllenSeptember 8, 2023warehouse hotel, boutique hotel, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, warehouse district, new orleans hospitality design, NOLA architects, New Orleans design, interiors and architecture', courtyard, industrial-vibe, CMU, terracotta

Establishing "Multifamily" for the Better

What makes New Orleans neighborhoods so great is the same things that make neighborhoods great around the world: variety.

While most of the country was busy zoning their neighborhoods into single-use enclaves of uniformity, New Orleans, as it does, was busy ignoring national urban planning trends and standards. In this case, it was a good call.

As a result, we have retained our multi-use, finer-grained urban fabric of building use and type, and have reaped the benefits, being a top choice to live, work and vacation for humans in general.

The Missing 'Missing Middle'

Developer Guide, Construction & Permittingben allenJuly 18, 2019

A Golden Opportunity for New Orleans to Think Small

Developer Guideben allenJune 15, 2019real estate investments, real estate, new orleans housing, new orleans, new orleans convention center, vacant land, zoning, city planning, architecture, developments, urban development, french quarter

Why Missing Middle Development is Good for New Orleans: A 3-Part Blog Series

If you are interested in small to mid-size developments in New Orleans or other historic core neighborhoods, this blog series includes valuable lessons of the past, present and future development challenges and opportunities!

Developer Guide, Design Principles, Historic Projectsben allenJuly 9, 2018development, new orleans, new orleans housing, missing middle, real estate investments, Architecture, zoning, affordable housing, creative problem solving

Farm the Neighborhood You Want To See

Why should this excite New Orleanians? All we have is a big ol' historic super-grid with an immense array and variety of lot sizes plugged into a series of big ol' amenity centers pumping value into areas blanketed with some of the most amenable urban zoning in the country. Your Sharpie will run out of ink checking all the boxes.

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When our clients came to us with an adaptive reuse project to build a hotel in an old warehouse structure, we knew there would be some challenges. Soon the solution became clear: what if we built a hotel UNDER an old warehouse structure?!