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Vanilla Sky Café Plans Call For French Quarter Pier, Air Balloon

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images via usace.mil

There's never a shortage of potential projects to rile up the citizens of this fair city, so why not add another one to the mix? Presenting Olexandr Konotopov's riverfront proposal for Vanilla Sky Café— a pier that would be built between the Steam Boat Natchez dock and the Governor Nicholls wharf with, but of course, an anchored helium air balloon that would take passengers 500-feet up in the sky.

Unsurprisingly, the Vieux Carré Commission is less than thrilled with Konotopov's lofty plan and Meg Lousteau with the VCC told Fox 8 News, "We're very concerned both from a maritime perspective because this is such a serious bend in the river and also because of the potential visual impact on Jackson Square." The Port of New Orleans has already given it a thumbs-down, denying a permit due to the proposal interfering with navigation on the Mighty Mississip'. This has all been pretty under-the-radar, especially since the Army Corps of Engineers received Konotopov's permit application March 28. A public notice was released May 12, a standard part of the permit process, opening the floor to comments until June 11. Love it? Hate it? Tell us why in the comments section below!
· Proposal to create unique, aerial attraction on riverfront poses concerns [WVUE]
· Vanilla Sky Café public notice [Army Corps of Engineers]