Gambit reports that Hilton Hampton Inn plans to build a hotel at the corner of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street, roughly one block from Frenchmen Street (and thus OffBeat’s offices).
According to the publication, neighborhood residents recieved a letter on September 29 outlining plans for the four-story, 119-room hotel, which would be located at 501 Elysian Fields. The complex would include pedestrian entrances on Elysian Fields, with parking entrances that lead out to Decatur and landscaping that would provide a visual barrier.
The location of the proposed Hampton Inn was the site of a land-use battle a number of years ago when developers tried to turn the property into a six-story condominium complex called Elysio Lofts. Those plans were put on hold after the City Council placed restrictions on the proposed development in 2012 following years of criticism from the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association.
Considering the resistance faced by that project (and the fact that buildings of the Hilton Hampton Inn variety are often uninspired eyesores), it’s fair to assume the proposed hotel will not be welcomed with open arms. The project would require approval from the City Planning Commission and City Council, though no hearings or meetings regarding the subject have been scheduled at this time. However, the hotel’s developers will host a community meeting in St. Paul Lutheran Church at 7:15pm on Monday, October 17. Neighborhood residents will be able to use the time to ask question or air their grievances about the plans.