NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Neighbors in New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood believe what's being billed as a new hotel is a short-term rental that will disrupt the neighborhood.  The spot in question is at the corner of N Rampart and Barracks streets. Developers hope to design a 15,000 square-foot hotel, boasting 27 bedrooms among the four units. While gathered at the vacant lot on Friday morning, neighbors said the development lacks hotel amenities, like security and adequate parking. "We'd be fine with 3-bedroom units here, but they’re talking 10 bedrooms,” said neighbor Denny Ebersole. “It's a party pad. How else do you characterize it?” The group also says the architecture of the hotel doesn't suit the Tremé neighborhood. Fire department connections being stolen in Central Business District, French Quarter "This neighborhood is the oldest Black neighborhood in the country, and so to change that and put up this new modern building into the mix, is just, it doesn't fit in.” Neighbors are also worried about the potential disruption it will cause. "This side of our building is going to be exposed to the party pad outside on their balconies, and you know what that's going to mean,” said neighbor Arlene Karcher. "A lot of noise, trash being thrown over, and who do you call? There's no one on staff at this 'hotel' to call and complain, so we have to rely on the police department.” Thomas Neyhart, a member of the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association and president of Colonial Condominiums Association, is urging the city to intervene. "I challenge the city council to follow through, and don't let Airbnb party pads get built in residential neighborhoods,” said Neyhart. The development team hosted a Neighborhood Participation Program meeting on Sept. 9. According to the City Planning Commission, "Applicants are required to hold an NPP meeting prior to submitting an application for zoning map amendments, conditional uses, planned developments, variances (single and two-family dwellings are exempt), and future land use map Master Plan amendments.” WGNO reached out to New Orleans City Councilman Freddie King, who said: After the NPP meeting, that applicant has 180 days to formally submit an application. This proposal has yet to materialize as a planning application. However, we will take the community's concerns under advisement if/when this application comes before the council for consideration. "As a group, as a residential neighborhood, we’re going to motivate and mobilize all the residents here to oppose it,” said Neyhart. Gretna Fest kicks off its three-day weekend of fun The property owner and developer, Sam Mickal Solomon, responded with the following: We have eight total parking spots for the project, which is one more than the required minimum of seven. We are not required 13.5.  This is not a short-term rental, but rather a hotel, as we will be obtaining a hotel license and abiding by all hotel guidelines set by the city. It will be managed by a hotel management company. We are not obtaining or requesting any variances for a hotel use as it is within the zoning by right. The only conditional use we are seeking is for the square footage of the building which exceeds 10,000 ft.². Our building is 15,000 ft.², 11,000 of which are the hotel suites, and 4000 are common area, circulation, and parking. We held our NPP meeting a few weeks ago, and I voluntarily attended the monthly neighborhood meeting for the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association and a meeting with the president of a nearby condo association. All the above information was explained in detail at all meetings. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts FNF Week 5: Mandeville dominates Northshore in a 42-0 victory FNF Week 5: Lakeshore beats Salmen 31-26 FNF Week 5: Pearl River beats Chalmette 14-7 FNF Week 5: Archbishop Shaw defeats De La Salle 31-13 FNF Week 5: Isidore Newman routs Riverdale in a 49-21 victory