Uptown neighbors just got a first look at glossy artist renderings for a high-end residential compound planned on the grounds of the former Poor Clare monastery. The images show new homes and manicured private greens tucked behind the property’s towering brick walls, a short stroll from Audubon Park and the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line. If approved, the plan would turn the century-old complex at 840 St. Charles Avenue into a gated luxury community.
What’s proposed
The renderings outline a conversion of the monastery’s main structure into roughly 14 condominium units, plus two new residential buildings tucked behind the existing walls. The sketched layouts target affluent buyers and include shared amenities such as a pool, a broad grassy courtyard and underground parking, according to NOLA.com.
Developer’s track record
The project is led by local developer Tony Gelderman, working through KCT Real Estate and affiliated Urban Properties. Biz New Orleans reports that the Geldermans have steered several historic redevelopment efforts across the city, a résumé that helps explain the preservation-minded touches visible in the monastery plans.
Neighbors and the site’s past
The nearly two-acre compound, long wrapped in high brick walls, went quiet after the last Poor Clare nuns moved out and has been a subdued landmark on St. Charles Avenue for decades. Gelderman walked neighbors through the concept at a recent meeting, where opinions split between those intent on protecting the monastery’s character and others uneasy about the project’s scale, according to NOLA.com. For many residents, those walls define the feel of the block, and any proposed changes to them are likely to be scrutinized closely.
Where it fits in Uptown’s market
City tax records list the parcel as 840 St. Charles Avenue, placing it squarely within the Uptown corridor in municipal files. If the project advances, it would add another upscale conversion to a section of Uptown that has already seen a wave of boutique hotels and historic rehabs in recent years, a trend outlined by Biz New Orleans. Additional property details appear in the city’s tax roll.
What’s next
The drawings are still preliminary, and the proposal must clear municipal permitting, potential historic review and further neighborhood meetings before any construction can begin. No start date has been announced, and both nearby residents and city officials are expected to have more chances to weigh in as formal applications move forward.
For now, the renderings offer the sharpest preview yet of how the old monastery could evolve, pairing preserved historic structures with newly built, fenced-in residences. We will keep an eye on city filings and neighborhood notices as the plan makes its way through the process.
