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City Council OK's Demolition of Wendell Pierce and Troy Henry's Blighted St. Claude Avenue Property

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You may recall a spat between actor and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce and the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association over plans to demolish a property owned by him and his business partner, one-time mayoral candidate Troy Henry, on St. Claude Avenue. Those opposed to the demolition—and there are many—sure must be mad this afternoon: City Council OK'd the demolition of the project today, despite neighbors' protests.

In a tight vote (4-3), City Council sided with the property owners.

The issue? Henry and Pierce own the former auto parts store at 2501 St. Claude Ave., as well as the neighboring Shell Station, and the building has deteriorated there for quite some time. The pair plan to seek a demolition permit from the city to merge the Shell station and the old auto parts store into an outpost of Sterling Express—a chain of convenience stores started by the two that aims to provide a spot for fresh produce in food deserts.

Neighbors opposed to the demolition cited a concern over the preservation of a history property, Henry and Pierce's neglect of the property during his ownership, and, according to an email sent out to business owners in the St. Claude corridor, another convenience store's detriment "to the significant progress underway to make St. Claude more viable, walkable."

The demolition previously got a "no" from the Historic District Landmarks Commission.

· St. Claude Avenue property owned by actor Wendell Pierce, ex-mayoral candidate Troy Henry, will be demolished, despite neighbor protest [The Advocate]
· Wendell Pierce Spars With Marigny Neighborhood Group [Curbed NOLA]