Benson introduced right this moment that 1515 Poydras Road – a 27-story, Class A workplace tower positioned alongside the first New Orleans enterprise hall – is formally below contract for her buy. The acquisition can be finalized in mid-July, at which era the administration of the property will switch to Company Realty Inc.

“The 1515 Poydras constructing is strategically situated. It sits throughout from Benson Tower and the Caesars Superdome and the Smoothie King Middle, and it’s instantly adjoining to the soon-to-be increasing Medical District,” mentioned Benson. “I stay steadfast in my dedication and perception in the way forward for our metropolis. It is vital now, greater than ever, to proceed to put money into our neighborhood.

This acquisition is supposed to enhance future progress within the downtown space.”

Company Realty President Michael J. Siegel mentioned that whereas future makes use of for the constructing are nonetheless being evaluated, Benson has no plans for 1515 Poydras to compete within the conventional workplace tenant market. As an alternative, each Benson and Company Realty will give attention to strategic positioning that aligns with long-term progress and innovation within the downtown space.

“Mrs. Benson’s dedication and imaginative and prescient are very obvious in her confidence within the downtown enterprise hall. And that continues with Company Realty, which has lengthy been an advocate for continued downtown growth and funding in skilled jobs that can assist our metropolis fulfill its full potential,” mentioned Siegel. “As with Mrs. Benson, we stay assured about the way forward for Downtown New Orleans and imagine that Mrs. Benson’s acquisition of 1515 Poydras is a crucial step in connecting the enterprise neighborhood to the Medical District and to the Sports activities and Leisure District of New Orleans.”

The transition will retain key personnel for continuity and high quality in administration. Notably, Sue Tucker, who beforehand served as Government Vice President, Group Supervisor for JLL at 1515 Poydras, will proceed managing 1515 Poydras as a part of the Company Realty workforce. Tucker’s position can be additional expanded to help Company Realty with different Company Realty-related property administration endeavors.

Accomplished in 1983, 1515 Poydras has practically 529,000 rentable sq. toes of Class A workplace house and features a 494-space parking storage. Situated simply two blocks from the place I-10 intersects Poydras, it occupies a full metropolis block bounded by Poydras, Perdido, LaSalle, and Freret streets, immediately throughout the Central Enterprise District and abutting each the Sports activities and Leisure District and Medical District.

“We’re engaged on plans that can improve and increase the Sports activities and Leisure District which might be geared to addressing a greater fan expertise for these attending Saints and Pelicans video games,” mentioned Benson. “As well as, the constructing’s proximity to the brand new Xavier Ochsner School of Drugs (XOCOM) at 1400 Poydras Road is an incredible asset, as is the proximity to the soon-to-be redeveloped Charity Hospital advanced.”

In 2009, Benson acquired the vacant and Hurricane Katrina-damaged New Orleans Centre growth which included Dominion Tower, the 1-million-square-foot New Orleans Centre Mall, and a 2,000-space parking storage. This blighted asset has been fully renovated, reinvented, and re-leased by Benson and her workforce.

For instance, Champions Sq. has changed the New Orleans Centre Mall, and the 540,000-square-foot Benson Tower workplace constructing (previously Dominion Tower) and the adjoining 115,000-square-foot Benson Tower Annex (previously the Lord & Taylor retailer) are 100-percent leased to a mixture of Ochsner Clinic and Basis and the State of Louisiana. The Benson Tower

Annex is slated to additionally home the brand new Xavier Ochsner School of Drugs (XOCOM), one in all a handful of recent medical faculties within the US in the previous couple of a long time.

In 2022, Benson opened the Mercedes-Benz Van Middle of New Orleans on the 1700 block of Poydras Road. Benson can also be an proprietor of the adjoining 1,100-room Hyatt Lodge.

“As with Benson Tower and my funding within the Hyatt Regency, this buy is supposed to enhance, to be a catalyst for supporting future progress in commerce, job creation, and new enterprise growth in our metropolis,” Benson mentioned. “We have to preserve urgent ahead and preserve investing. Proper now, as our state makes nice strides in constructing an atmosphere that’s engaging to new enterprise growth, New Orleans should even have an identical imaginative and prescient for future enterprise progress and funding. That is and has been my purpose and I’ll proceed to put money into our neighborhood.”