Seeking Public Comment for Privately-Owned Commercial Buildings Undergoing Eligibility Review for FEMA-Funded Demolition: Club Desire, 2604 Desire Street, New Orleans, Louisiana Seeking Alternatives to Demolition Club Desire, 2604 Desire Street, New Orleans Map showing location Pursuant to the terms of the federal arbitration agreement between the City of New Orleans and FEMA,1 the City submitted 608 properties that were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding, for review, and 383, including the Club Desire building, were determined to be eligible for FEMA-funded demolition. Inclusion on the eligibility list does not mean that a property will be demolished. All properties will proceed through administrative hearings prior to final actions being taken, and some properties may be sold or hazardous materials, if any, may be removed in the interim. FEMA, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, determined that the Club Desire building is historic2. Federal regulations require FEMA, as the funding agency, to identify if any historic properties will be affected; assess the effect on historic properties; look for ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects; and evaluate the proposed action's potential for significant impacts to the human and natural environment3. FEMA has determined that the proposed demolition of the Club Desire building will result in an Adverse Effect to Historic Properties. FEMA is requesting your aid in identifying alternatives to demolition. Do you have any specific practical proposals or information on feasible alternatives to demolition? Please provide this information to FEMA by August 17, 2015. Proposals should include a source of funding for stabilization and/or repairs and the timeframe required to accomplish these actions. FEMA will take these proposals and provide them to the City of New Orleans for their consideration. The City shall use this information in its consideration of alternatives to demolition for these properties. Comments can be posted at: http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/fema106/ (this web site) Or mailed to: FEMA Mail Center/Historic Preservation 1500 Main Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Post your comments soon - all comments must be posted or postmarked by August 17, 2015. ----------------------------------------------------------- 1The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish, LA. In the aftermath of the hurricane, FEMA is issuing this public notice as part of its responsibilities under the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations, 36 CFR Part 800, implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). This notice applies to activities carried out by the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.§§5152-5206. 2Historic properties are either listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 3FEMA is required to follow the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (NEPA regulations, 43 FR 55978 [1978]) that provide policy and procedures to enable FEMA officials to be informed of and take into account environmental considerations when authorizing or approving major FEMA actions that may significantly affect the environment of the United States. It is the intent of NEPA that federal agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement to the extent practicable in decisions that may affect the quality of the environment. More information on NEPA and FEMA's Alternative Arrangements process can be found on FEMA's web page at: https://www.fema.gov/new-orleans-metropolitan-area-infrastructure-projects-6