The Orleans Parish School Board is planning to sell the historic Carrollton Courthouse, which once housed John McDonogh No. 23 School and later Benjamin Franklin Senior High School, soon. But first, Uptown Messenger reports the board hoping to alter the property’s future land use designation in the city’s Master Plan to offer some flexibility for buyers.
The current land use allows for "houses, schools, churches, or government offices," but the OPSB said at a meeting this week it is seeking "mixed-use low density" designation for the property.
This designation would allow for allow for residential and "neighborhood-based commercial uses"—in other words, Whole Foods wouldn’t be moving in (a meeting attendee specifically asked about that grocery chain).
The OPSB also added it would place restrictions on the sale to "preserve the historical integrity" of the building.
In 2015 it was put up for public auction at an appraised value of $2.9 million, and New Orleans charter schools got first dibs. However, none of them were interested.