Hotel Planned For Vacant Rault Center; Where 5 People Jumped To Their Death in 1972 Fire [VIDEO]

by • February 24, 2015 • Acquisitions, Hotel & HospitalityComments (2)9347

Photo from youtube video.

Photo from youtube video.

Over four decades ago, a downtown high-rise known as the Rault Center caught on fire, forcing several trapped inside to attempt to jump to safety from 15 floors up.  Most died.

On November 29, 1972, flames tore through the Rault Center in downtown New Orleans. On the 15th floor was a beauty salon where five women were trapped inside. New Orleanians watched on live TV as those five women jumped out of the burning downtown building.

The fire resulted in 6 fatalities.  One was a result of smoke inhalation and five were the result of jumping from the 15th floor to escape the inferno.

The 16-story building at 1111 Gravier St was just acquired for $5.5 million on February 13, according to Orleans Parish records.

 The buyer is Slumber Corners NOLA, whose partners are Lisa and Jeffrey Blank and New York investor Judson Cooper.  The seller was real estate magnate and antiques dealer Lou Talebloo.

The buyers are apparently planning a 185-key boutique hotel that will fly the Joie de Vivre brand, a flag of Commune Hotels of California.

Landis Construction is the general contractor for the project and the architect is Campo Architects.

You can check out the full video here.

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2 Responses to Hotel Planned For Vacant Rault Center; Where 5 People Jumped To Their Death in 1972 Fire [VIDEO]

  1. […] February 24, 2015 | Hotel Planned For Vacant Rault Center; Where 5 People Jumped To Their Death in 1972 Fire [VIDEO] […]

  2. […] Led by developer Lisa Blank, Slumber Corners NOLA LLC, has plans to turn the vacant Rault Center tower at 1111 Gravier St. into a boutique hotel with the Joie de Vivre flag. […]

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