Dean Tower becomes Mid City Tower

Dean Tower, the 14-story landmark on Florida Boulevard, is now Mid City Tower and will soon host a college, its new owners say. Ann Simmers is a partner in Mid City Tower and director of the Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana, currently on South Harrell’s Ferry Road. She says the school will add business, paralegal and medical classes, and reopen in the fall as Mid City College. Plans are for the school to take up two floors initially and grow over time to fill four floors. Simmers says the building, which is about 60% leased, is getting fresh paint, an outdoor courtyard, and some interior renovations, but is structurally in great shape. She says two chefs have expressed interest in opening a restaurant or banquet facility on the top floor. The building once hosted Top of the Tower restaurant, which Simmers describes as “the Ruth’s Chris of the ’70s.” She says Mid City Tower will manage the building on-site, and says she looks forward to getting involved in Mid City cultural events. Mid City Tower bought the building from Dean Building Holdings for $1.2 million; Jim Allen of Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate brokered the deal. —David Jacobs