Belle Chasse Teen Dies After Fall Inside Abandoned New Orleans Plaza Tower
A 17-year-old from Belle Chasse died early Saturday morning after falling inside the abandoned Plaza Tower in Downtown New Orleans, according to New Orleans police.
The teen was reportedly part of a group from Plaquemines Parish that entered the fenced-off, vacant skyscraper shortly before midnight Friday. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described what the group was doing as "urban exploring," but the night ended in tragedy.
The teen's identity had not been publicly released as of Saturday.
What Police Say Happened Inside Plaza Tower
According to FOX 8, police said the group made its way to a higher floor of the 45-story building using an interior staircase where safety railings are no longer in place.
A 911 call requesting medical assistance came in shortly after midnight. New Orleans EMS responded to the building at 1001 Howard Avenue, where the 17-year-old was pronounced dead.
Another teen suffered deep cuts to an arm and wrist and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police said at least some members of the group had been drinking alcohol. All were believed to be underage.
Kirkpatrick said investigators had not publicly identified exactly which floor the teen fell from. (https://www.fox8live.com)
Teens Allegedly Entered Fenced-Off Private Property
Police stressed that Plaza Tower is privately owned and that the teens allegedly entered an area that had been fenced off from the public.
Kirkpatrick said trespassing charges could potentially be considered, but indicated that was not the immediate priority as the teenagers involved were dealing with the trauma of what happened.
Former NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison, who now serves as New Orleans' deputy mayor for public safety, also called the incident tragic while emphasizing that people should not enter the abandoned building.
The incident raises another question, however: How did the group manage to get inside a structure that has been considered a public safety concern for years?
Kirkpatrick said it was her understanding that the owners provide security at the property, although she could not confirm whether security was present when the teens entered.
Plaza Tower Has Loomed Over New Orleans For Decades
For generations of Louisiana residents, Plaza Tower has been a familiar piece of the New Orleans skyline.
The 45-story skyscraper was completed in 1969 and, for a brief period, was Louisiana's tallest building. But its more recent history has been defined less by its architecture and more by deterioration, safety concerns and repeated attempts to determine what comes next for the property.
The tower has been vacant since the early 2000s. Over the years, concerns surrounding the property have included falling debris and unauthorized access. Netting has remained around portions of the building to help protect the surrounding area from pieces falling from above.
The building's condition has also periodically forced restrictions around nearby streets and sidewalks.
Plans To Redevelop Plaza Tower Have Stretched For Years
The future of Plaza Tower has been the subject of repeated proposals, legal disputes and debate over whether the building should be saved or demolished.
In 2025, developers announced plans to transform the long-vacant skyscraper into senior housing. Reports at the time indicated a proposed redevelopment could cost approximately $250 million and create hundreds of residential units.
Those plans, however, have yet to turn the empty tower into an active property.
As recently as March 2026, redevelopment plans were still moving through the acquisition and financing process, with Lincoln Avenue Communities working toward a potential conversion of Plaza Tower.
The complicated history has fueled an ongoing debate in New Orleans over whether the historic structure should be preserved and redeveloped or whether its continued deterioration has made demolition the better option.
Fatal Fall Brings Plaza Tower Back Into The Spotlight
Saturday's tragedy adds a far more serious chapter to the long-running controversy surrounding the building.
Police have made clear that the teens were not supposed to be inside the privately owned and fenced property. At the same time, city officials are again facing questions about the security and condition of a massive vacant skyscraper that has remained part of the New Orleans skyline for more than half a century.
Harrison said it is the owner's responsibility to make sure the abandoned building is secured.
Kirkpatrick also said it is possible investigators could eventually examine whether the property's owners bear any criminal responsibility, though she cautioned that determination would come later.
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Gallery Credit: Stacey Marcus
