New Attorney General To Use Empty Space Rented Since 2009

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The new attorney general is moving his New Orleans-area offices to space rented by the state but left vacant for at least six years.

Under a deal reached in 2009 to keep the Saints in New Orleans, the state helped owner Tom Benson buy several properties next to the Superdome. It also agreed to pay about $8 million a year to rent most of a 26-story building.

The New Orleans Advocate (http://bit.ly/21j2fNE ) reports that the move is expected to save about $339,000 a year on other rented offices in New Orleans and Kenner.

Attorney General Jeff Landry told lawmakers last week that he plans to move his New Orleans staff into the ninth floor this summer.

The state agreed to lease 320,000 square feet of space. That's 17 floors.