Progress at New Canal Lighthouse
Anne Rheams, Deputy Director of the
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, has provided the following updates on
New Canal Lighthouse following the extensive damage to the structure caused
by Hurricane Katrina…
October 28, 2005
“Great
News! I just spoke with Pat Dixon of the USCG Civil Engineering Unit Miami
and we (Lake
Pontchartrain Basin Foundation) are going to enter into a revocable license
with the Coast Guard, which means that we have license to work on the site.
We also have an architect and structural engineer lined up and hope to have
them out there early next week. If you know any folks who
would like to donate dollars, we could sure use that for the shoring and
stabilization process. We are beating the bushes right now. We hope to get
some services donated but others will cost. Will keep everyone posted.
November 1, 2005
More
good news…I met this morning with local architects who have done a lot of
historic restoration projects. They were very encouraging about New Canal.
They will be providing me an estimate for shoring up the lighthouse ASAP.
November 10, 2005
Things
are moving on our end. I met with the architects this morning (had met with
the structural engineer early this week). They are working together on
shoring up the lighthouse. We (LPBF and the architects) are meeting with a
building contractor tomorrow. We will have a scope of work for initial
bracing hopefully by next week. Good news is the architecture firm has a
good relationship with the State Historic Preservation Office so they will
show him the scope of work. We are negotiating the first license with the
USCG that allows us to assess the structure and present a report/scope of
work.
November 15, 2005
We are still waiting
for insurance and the licenses. It's a lot of red tape to save a building.
Every day we wait could be the day it crumbles. We have lined up a building
contractor who is ready to do the shoring once we get approval. I am
meeting with the State Historic Preservation Officer tomorrow.
November 17, 2005
"Had a great
meeting yesterday with the SHPO. They are very happy we are trying to save
New Canal and know that we need to move through the approval process
quickly. We should have a scope of work to them and the USCG by tomorrow.
They also called FEMA for us and we got approval from USCG to apply for FEMA
assistance for funding to stabilize, shore and restore. I just sent in the
application. Just waiting for insurance papers and we will sign the first
license."
To read more and see photos of New Canal
Light's plight...
