Tania Dall / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS -- A redevelopment boom is underway on Canal Street's Theatre District. Local developers are moving forward with plans to resurrect historic landmarks like the Saenger and Joy theaters.
While some projects are getting a boost, one vision is getting bogged down in red tape.
"Everytime I tell people I'm redoing the Joy, they all have their 'Joy story,' whether they saw Planet of the Apes, or Jaws or whatever movie," said Neal Hixon with NOLA Theatre District LLC.
For almost a decade now, the Joy Theatre has sat vacant at the corner of Canal Street and Elk Way.
"It's a mess. There hasn't been an activity or work done on the building for nine years. It went through Katrina like we all did, but the good thing is we're going to give it a good internal demo, and bring it back. It's really going to sparkle," said Hixon.
The last time movie goers sat in the historic theatee was back in 2003.
However, that is about to change. A group of local developers including Hixon are bringing the historic building back to its glory days.
"The concession stand will remain. It'll be renovated of course, it'll have entrance ways into the movie theater just like you did in 1947," said Hixon during a tour of the facility on Friday.
Once complete, the Joy Theatre will house corporate events, comedy and live music shows.
Redevelopment plans are gaining steam along this section of Canal Street. Last week, the Saenger Theatre developers announced plans to move forward with the project thanks to the renewal of the state's historic tax credits. Before the new tax credit bill, plans had been put on hold.
"There is starting to be a buzz on what's happening, not just downtown, but more particularly on Canal Street," said Kurt Weigel with the Downtown Development District.
Weigel said more development projects will make future announcements in the coming month on plans to move forward.
However, not everyone is feeling the Canal Street redevelopment buzz.
"We really think we're well positioned here to be fitting in with the revitalization of the Theatre District. This is the best thing to have happened to Canal Street in 20 years," said David Coon, who is working closely with the 1031 Canal St. condo proposal.
Getting the project's design approved has been problematic. On Wednesday, the CBD's Historic Landmark Commission failed to approve the architectural plans for a second time.
"It's very frustrating. We have such great developments going on at the Saenger Theatre, at the Joy," said Coon, who would like to see the 1031 Canal St. project join the redevelopment momentum that is taking place.
While some developers continue to fight to move forward, the Joy Theatre is forging ahead and paving the way.
"This is going to push Canal Street that much farther down, just one block at a time," said Hixon.
Doors at the new and improved Joy Theater are slated to open in February 2012.
