As Mayor Ray Nagin’s final term approaches its conclusion, he has talked about the city entering into personal services contracts and big ticket technology contracts, despite incoming Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s request that he not. One of those possible deals was taken off the table today when Stewart Juneau requested that the negotiations for a public service contract to redevelop the Memorial Auditorium into a multi-purpose arts space be tabled for now. He wrote:

Le Triomphe Property Group, LLC (LTPG) announced today that it has requested a temporary suspension of negotiations on a professional services agreement for the redevelopment of the Morris X. F. Jeff, Sr. Municipal Auditorium.

LTPG remains confident that providing a landmark home for the cultural arts and creative industry in New Orleans in the damaged and unused auditorium is one of the most important projects that will be undertaken in the city in the near future.

We look forward to working closely with all segments of our great community on making the mission of providing a landmark home for the cultural arts in New Orleans a reality.

The plans for the redevelopment were controversial from the start, so this can’t come as a big surprise.