Rendering of Deep South Studios

The City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the proposed $63.5 million Deep South Studios movie complex in Algiers.   The proposal now moves to the City Council for the final approval.

The project from developer Scott Niemeyer is envisioned as a 19 acre movie studio complex, complete with five sound stages covering 104,000 square feet, 100,000 square feet of office space, two production buildings at 50,000 square feet each and five other buildings for back office support, storage, and lighting.   This will be the largest production site between Atlanta and Albuquerque, N.M..

The Industrial Development Board of New Orleans approved a $3.1 million break for the facility in the form of a payment in lieu of taxes over 10 years.   Niemeyer plans to raise equity from the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

Deep South Studios LLC bought the land in November 2014 for $1.8 million.  It was originally an industrial property owned by the Central Pacific Railroad.

Check out the renderings here.