[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8110-8111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4027]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Proposed Relocation of Jeanne d'Arc Statue, Place de
France, New Orleans, Louisiana; Comments Requested
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; comment request.
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SUMMARY: Public comment is sought on a request from the City of New
Orleans, Louisiana to relocate the Place de France, a statue of Jeanne
d'Arc and two bronze cannons, currently located in the median between
the International Trade Mart Building and the former Rivergate, to a
new location in the Vieux Carre (the French Quarter), a National
Historic Landmark District.
Background
In 1971, the City of New Orleans, Louisiana (the ``City'') applied
for a grant pursuant to the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970,
Public Law 91-609 (the ``Act'') to develop a park currently known as
the Joan of Arc Plaza. The Plaza contains a gilded bronze statue of
Jeanne d'Arc and two bronze cannons manufactured during the Napoleonic
Empire donated to the City by the French Government.
As a result of construction adjacent to the Joan of Arc Plaza, the
City, by letter dated October 29, 1998 from Mayor Marc H. Morial, has
requested the Secretary to approve relocation of the Plaza, the statue
and the cannons from the current location to the Decatur Street/North
Peters Street Triangle in the Vieux Carre (the French Quarter), a
National Historic Landmark District. This location was identified by
the staff of the City Planning Commission in consultation with the
staff of the City's Arts Council.
Section 705 of the Act provides that ``[n]o open-space land
involving historic or architectural purposes for which assistance has
been granted under this title shall be converted to use for any other
purpose without the prior approval of the Secretary of the Interior.''
In Louisiana Landmarks Society, Inc. v. City of New Orleans, No.94-3880
(E.D. La. 1995), the court provided no standards by which to evaluate
the historic purposes of the Place de France. The court, however, found
that the term ``historic'' is not limited to property listed on, or
eligible for listing on, the National Register pursuant to the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C. 470. The Department of the
Interior is accepting comments, pursuant to section 705 of the Act and
this Notice, on whether the Secretary should approve relocation of the
Place de France, together with the Jeanne d'Arc statue and two bronze
cannons.
The Department is also accepting comments on the effect of locating
the Place de France, together with the Jeanne d'Arc statue and two
bronze cannons, to the designated site in the Vieux Carre (the French
Quarter), a National Historic Landmark District. In selecting this
site, the City took into consideration the following seven factors: (1)
urban prominence; (2) scale/urban context; (3) visibility as a
deterrent to potential vandalism; (4) pedestrian and vehicular safety;
(5) suitability for designated functions; (6) stated wishes of
identified interest groups; and (7) favorable comparison to the
previous installation. The City further advises that in selecting this
site, it has consulted with the French community in the City, with
Consul General Mme. Lenoir-Bertrand and with Ambassador Francois Bujon
de L'Estang.
DATES: The Department of the Interior will accept comments on these two
actions through March 22, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Ms. Juliette
Falkner, Director, Office of Executive Secretariat,
[[Page 8111]]
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 7229,
Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Geraldine Smith, Superintendent,
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal Street,
Suite 2400, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-1142, (504) 589-3882 (not a
toll free number).
Brooks B. Yeagen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Management and Budget,
Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-4027 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
