Creole architecture by Jonathan_C
There's no doubt about it. The Creole townhouses in the French Quarter are some of the prettiest multi-story buildings I've ever seen. These went up after the fires of 1788 and 1794 when New Orleans was under Spanish dominion. The general plan was for a three story building with a shop or retail on the ground floor and living quarters with small balconies above. The supported cast iron 'galleries' were added in the mid 1800s.Hmmm... "Ground floor retail with living space above." Those are exactly the same requirements specified in the new neighborhood zoning in Seattle and other progressive cities. It sure has taken us a long time to get back to this tried and true plan.