Vaucresson Anchors Huge 7th Ward Plans; Wine, Tapas, More Planned For Freret

A mixed-use development is heading to the Seventh Ward, courtesy of Creole butcher icon/sausage company Vaucresson, in partnership with Columbia Residential, Providence Community Housing and Urban Focus Louisiana.  Katrina wiped out Vaucresson's former sausage processing plant at North Roman Street and St. Bernard Avenue ten years ago, but plans to redevelop it into a mixed-income apartment/retail project that will include revamping the neighboring long-vacant Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church and an adjacent vacant lot have already nabbed city zoning approval.

The development will have 53 apartments (44 for low-income residents; 11 including support for homeless people) and will include a new Creole Cafe inside Vaucresson's former 2,800-square-foot plant:

The café is a nod to Vaucresson's father Sonny, who operated Vaucresson's Café Creole in the French Quarter in the mid 1960's.

There will also be 8,000 square feet of commercial space up for grabs, and on site parking.

The long vacant former home of Frank's Steakhouse on Freret and Cadiz is being redeveloped into a mixed-used building, Robert Morris reports, and will likely house a wine/small plates lounge, a juice bar and a yogurt shop among other businesses. Though no further details have been given, developer/owner Arnold Kirschman claims to already have 70% of the commercial spaces leased, with a projected opening set for 2016.  Neighbors are in support of the businesses, but have issues with the development's planned apartments.

[Photo: nola.gov]