[Blitzen]

Im not so sure its just about that. Im not a huge fan of the lighting these new lights put off. Personal choice I guess.

LEDs are pretty good, it's a nice clean-looking, whiteish/blue light - like a bright full moon. It's 10x better than the blurry, off-white, eye-irritating, compact-florescent lights the city uses mixed among the halogen lights. If you go to the National Mall in DC many of the new lights are LEDs and it looks great, and certainly worth the cost savings... in my humble opinion...

[IceCream]

Guidry has gone f****ing whako with this "university zoning" whatever. it's on the Council agenda today and i'm pretty sure all of the universities will be there in force. Hopefully Fr. Wildes will kick some ass (he's a boxer and a Jesuit). Here's the agenda item:

"62. MOTION - NO. M-12-150 - BY: COUNCILMEMBER GUIDRY


Brief:
Directing the City Planning Commission to conduct a public hearing to consider an amendment to the text of Article 18 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended, and the designation of such on the corresponding zoning base maps of the City of New Orleans, to consider the establishment of an Interim Zoning District, to prohibit the construction or expansion to existing structures of any building or facility within college and university campuses that will result in a building or facility in excess of 250,000 square feet of gross floor area and will cover a footprint of more than 50,000 square feet within any residential zoning district, in the area generally bounded by: the east bank of the Mississippi River, the Orleans/Jefferson Parish line, Metairie Road, Interstate 10, Norfolk-Southern Railroad track, Orleans Avenue, City Park Avenue, Wisner Boulevard, Interstate 610, Florida Boulevard, the Orleans/St. Bernard Parish line, and the Mississippi River.


M-12-150 "

So pretty late in the action, but i plan on watching it on the live internet feed.

------------------------------

Also, Touro's renovations are looking good. The entrance looks great!

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/thenewsroom/2012/05/02/touro-to-open-first-portion-of-renovation/ Sounds like the designers and architects are fixing a lot of past wrongs...

[Blitzen]

Today FEMA has given the state of LA $16 million for the Municipal Auditorium repairs in New Orleans.

I hope they do something great with the building. My dream is a multi-screen movie theater, or casino, but I'd be happy with anything at this point. I don't know if the city needs just another regular meeting space for graduations, or whatever else it was used for right before Katrina. Am I wrong about the need for this? Any better suggestions?

[tennis1400]

Today FEMA has given the state of LA $16 million for the Municipal Auditorium repairs in New Orleans.

I hope they do something great with the building. My dream is a multi-screen movie theater, or casino, but I'd be happy with anything at this point. I don't know if the city needs just another regular meeting space for graduations, or whatever else it was used for right before Katrina. Am I wrong about the need for this? Any better suggestions?

I really think it could make for a beautiful casino. Sort of like the Monte Carlo in Monaco!

[IceCream]

I really think it could make for a beautiful casino. Sort of like the Monte Carlo in Monaco!

I'm all for breaking the Harrah's monopoly. Gambling is a tax on the stupid so i only do it when i'm very drunk, but I dont mind if other idiots want to pay the tax for me and it would draw investment and crowds to the Rampart side of the Quarter which is desparately needed. Imagine too with the streetcar being right there....very neat.


And much to my chagrin....the council passed the university area ordinance....

I had some friends in the council chambers that said it got nasty...allegations of racism, corruption, and a neighbor pointing at Tulane students and alleging that they pee on her front yard all the time... at least it was interesting, NOLA politics never fails!

[tennis1400]

I'm all for breaking the Harrah's monopoly. Gambling is a tax on the stupid so i only do it when i'm very drunk, but I dont mind if other idiots want to pay the tax for me and it would draw investment and crowds to the Rampart side of the Quarter which is desparately needed. Imagine too with the streetcar being right there....very neat.


And much to my chagrin....the council passed the university area ordinance....

I had some friends in the council chambers that said it got nasty...allegations of racism, corruption, and a neighbor pointing at Tulane students and alleging that they pee on her front yard all the time... at least it was interesting, NOLA politics never fails!

Thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard. But either way that stadium is coming. The ordinance just says they have to review it which makes no sense to me at all. OK you reviewed it but you cant change what Im building only make me put in new things to placate the neighbors.

[cameron70115]

In light of mounting evidence of chronic brain injury in football players (even in college-age players), the Junior Seau suicide, and increasing number of lawsuits against the NFL from brain-damaged former players, now might not be the time for Tulane to sink money and land into a football stadium. There's even speculation that many college programs may eventually abandon football because of the prohibitive costs of insuring the players and defending themselves from lawsuits. Just do a google search for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, in case you haven't read up on the terrible growing evidence about football and brain injury.

Here's an idea: build a world-class college basketball stadium on campus instead. Tulane's size makes it a better fit for being a basketball power, anyway.

[annie himself]

In light of mounting evidence of chronic brain injury in football players (even in college-age players), the Junior Seau suicide, and increasing number of lawsuits against the NFL from brain-damaged former players, now might not be the time for Tulane to sink money and land into a football stadium. There's even speculation that many college programs may eventually abandon football because of the prohibitive costs of insuring the players and defending themselves from lawsuits. Just do a google search for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, in case you haven't read up on the terrible growing evidence about football and brain injury.

Here's an idea: build a world-class college basketball stadium on campus instead. Tulane's size makes it a better fit for being a basketball power, anyway.

Small schools like UNO and Nichols might phase out football but never schools that gain a significant profit from it. Such as UL or LSU.
Tulane has a basketball team lol? :shrug:

This is largely a football state.

[NOLAmike]

This isn't really good news yet but still promising? The DDD says atleast 3 retailers are looking at Canal Street.

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/thenewsroom/2012/05/01/ddd-director-says-fashion-retailers-like-canal-street-but-deals-remain-elusive/

By the way fellas, I don't know if yall noticed, but they have 2 new sandwich shops coming in on either side of the BioInnovation Center. One is Subway and they are renovating the first floor of 1411 Canal street, which is an unoccupied blighted building (good news). The other place is called the Honey Loaf, a sandwich lounge, and its a new local business. Here is there facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Honey-Loaf/151808814929518

I know its nothing huge, but considering the big black hole this end of Canal in terms of restaurants and retail, I was happy to see something coming up. Hopefully they actually start renovating the old Texaco building soon, that'll make a huge difference.

[lamsalfl]

I think it's important the Texaco building gets under construction soon. There is another building that looks like it was bombed too, (no, not the Palace Hotel on the hospital site). I'd hate for the Super Bowl crowd to see these buildings. IMO, buildings under construction with cranes say a lot more than finished buildings, because visitors can see the growth. With a finished building you don't know how long it has been finished, 1 year or 10 years? I'm really hoping the two hospitals have multiple cranes high in the air in time for the Super Bowl so out-of-towners are like "whoa!"

[broadmoor]

By the way fellas, I don't know if yall noticed, but they have 2 new sandwich shops coming in on either side of the BioInnovation Center. One is Subway and they are renovating the first floor of 1411 Canal street, which is an unoccupied blighted building (good news). The other place is called the Honey Loaf, a sandwich lounge, and its a new local business. Here is there facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Honey-Loaf/151808814929518

I know its nothing huge, but considering the big black hole this end of Canal in terms of restaurants and retail, I was happy to see something coming up. Hopefully they actually start renovating the old Texaco building soon, that'll make a huge difference.

It really would be nice to have Canal in business all the way up to Claiborne and past eventually. Isn't the Bioinnovation Center beginning an expansion already too? We just need the DDD to keep at it with getting retailers to locate on Canal while "gently nudging" the crappy tourists shops to leave.

[tennis1400]

Permits

Walgreens
5518 MAGAZINE ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70115 CONVERT 12140 SQ FT VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING TO A PHARMACY WITH DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AS PER PLANS.Job Value($):
$2,000,000.00

[Chris from N.O.]

The thing I worry about most with the IZD vote is fundraising... even if Tulane can come up with a plan that should be allowed re: parking etc... how do you sell alumni on giving money for something that may not be built?

[ardecila]

You have to hold each contribution in escrow or something... shouldn't be too difficult to set up, but it will probably dampen enthusiasm.

I'm glad they're finally moving forward on the Magazine Walgreens. The old VFW hall is a big black hole on that street.

[cameron70115]

Small schools like UNO and Nichols might phase out football but never schools that gain a significant profit from it. Such as UL or LSU.
Tulane has a basketball team lol? :shrug:

This is largely a football state.

Sure, Louisiana's a football state, but there's a real headwind against the continued growth of football right now. The concussion / CTE issue isn't going away any time soon. Maybe it'll all blow over, maybe it wont. I just think right now is a potentially very boneheaded moment to sink $100 million or whatever and a huge chunk of a finite campus into a football-only stadium.

[annie himself]

Sure, Louisiana's a football state, but there's a real headwind against the continued growth of football right now. The concussion / CTE issue isn't going away any time soon. Maybe it'll all blow over, maybe it wont. I just think right now is a potentially very boneheaded moment to sink $100 million or whatever and a huge chunk of a finite campus into a football-only stadium.

Happens alot. It's a good investment for a city with no college football stadium.

[tennis1400]

Happens alot. It's a good investment for a city with no college football stadium.

This stadium is about more than football, its about re-establishing Tulane as first rate college sporting institution. A stadium will do wonders for Tulane as a whole.

[NOLAmike]

It really would be nice to have Canal in business all the way up to Claiborne and past eventually. Isn't the Bioinnovation Center beginning an expansion already too? We just need the DDD to keep at it with getting retailers to locate on Canal while "gently nudging" the crappy tourists shops to leave.

The BioInnovation Center is 4 stories and built out 3 of them, but the 4th floor was completely vacant. They finally got the funding to build out the 4th floor & its a good thing too because all the office space is almost completely leased. I've met the president before, and he's told me he would like to expand the building further due to such high demand, but that would require a substantial additional infusion of funding...

[annie himself]

This stadium is about more than football, its about re-establishing Tulane as first rate college sporting institution. A stadium will do wonders for Tulane as a whole.

First rate sporting? Not until they are back in the SEC.

[ardecila]

^^ Yeah, Arkansas is holding our place.... :haha:

[annie himself]

^^ Yeah, Arkansas is holding our place.... :haha:

More like Mizzou. (This is about developments! :brickwall:)

[tennis1400]

City Planning Docket for May22nd

ZONING DOCKET 55/12 – Request by CITY COUNCIL MOTION M-12-114 to
consider a Conditional Use to permit a new public/government building (New
Orleans Juvenile Justice Center) in an RD-2 Two-Family Residential District and an
RM-3 Multi-Family Residential District, for the property located on Lots 17-61 and
Tract X, all of the Imperial Drive right-of-way, and a portion of the former Davey
Street right-of-way between Imperial Drive and Milton Street, on Squares 2491-
2495, 2496 and 2497 in their entirety, in the Third Municipal District, generally
bounded by Bayou St. John, Milton, Encampment, and Sere Streets. The municipal
addresses are 1100 Milton Street and 51 Imperial Drive. (ZBM C-11 & C-12/PD 4)


ZONING DOCKET 56/12 – Request by CITY COUNCIL MOTION M-12-116 to
consider a Conditional Use to permit a new fire station (NOFD 22/39) in an RD-3
Two-Family Residential District, for the property located on Lots 7, 8B, 8 or Pt. 8,
16 or 16-17, 15 or 15-14, J or 5-6, on Square 682, in the Third Municipal District,
generally bounded by North Claiborne and Caffin Avenues, Lamanche and North
Robertson Streets. The municipal addresses are 5600, 5618 and 5620 North
Claiborne Avenue, 1522 and 1510 Lamanche Street, and 1523 Caffin Avenue. (ZBM
E-14/PD 8)


ZONING DOCKET 57/12 – Request by 1815 ST CLAUDE SPE, LLC for a
Zoning Change from an HMR-3 Historic Marigny/Tremé Residential District to a C-
1A General Commercial District and a Conditional Use to permit a multi-family
development over 10,000 square feet in floor area, on Square 386, Lots 15 thru 22,
B, Pt. 1 or A, 2, 4 or B, 9 and 10 or B, A2 or 14 or C and Pt. B, in the Third
Municipal District, bounded by Henriette Delille, Marais, Pauger, and St. Anthony
Streets. The municipal addresses are 1815 Henriette Delille, 1812 and 1822 Pauger
and 1211 St. Anthony Streets. (ZBM D-13/PD 4)

ZONING DOCKET 58/12 – Request by CARLO DEMATTEO for a Conditional
Use to permit a gasoline service station and the sale of alcoholic beverages for
consumption off premises, in a C-1 General Commercial District and within the
ICUC Inner-City Urban Corridor District, on Square 762, Lots A, B, C, 18, 19, 20,
21-A and 21-B or 21, and 22-A or 22, in the First Municipal District, bounded by
Tulane and Carrollton Avenues, South Pierce and Ulloa Streets. The municipal
addresses are 4118 and 4126 Carrollton Avenues and 4071 Tulane Avenue. (ZBM
B-12/PD 4)

[ardecila]

ZONING DOCKET 57/12 – Request by 1815 ST CLAUDE SPE, LLC for a Zoning Change from an HMR-3 Historic Marigny/Tremé Residential District to a C-1A General Commercial District and a Conditional Use to permit a multi-family development over 10,000 square feet in floor area, on Square 386, Lots 15 thru 22, B, Pt. 1 or A, 2, 4 or B, 9 and 10 or B, A2 or 14 or C and Pt. B, in the Third Municipal District, bounded by Henriette Delille, Marais, Pauger, and St. Anthony Streets. The municipal addresses are 1815 Henriette Delille, 1812 and 1822 Pauger and 1211 St. Anthony Streets. (ZBM D-13/PD 4)

This is the McDonogh 16 school (http://www.flickr.com/photos/prc-advocacy/3865850864/) (NO Center for the Education of Adults) on St. Claude. Good to see that it's gonna be preserved for multi-family.

[Blitzen]

City Planning Docket for May22nd

ZONING DOCKET 55/12 – Request by CITY COUNCIL MOTION M-12-114 to
consider a Conditional Use to permit a new public/government building (New
Orleans Juvenile Justice Center) in an RD-2 Two-Family Residential District and an
RM-3 Multi-Family Residential District, for the property located on Lots 17-61 and
Tract X, all of the Imperial Drive right-of-way, and a portion of the former Davey
Street right-of-way between Imperial Drive and Milton Street, on Squares 2491-
2495, 2496 and 2497 in their entirety, in the Third Municipal District, generally
bounded by Bayou St. John, Milton, Encampment, and Sere Streets. The municipal
addresses are 1100 Milton Street and 51 Imperial Drive. (ZBM C-11 & C-12/PD 4)

This is the Juvenile Detention Center along Bayou St. John. Please Please Please go and express your disapproval for this urban planning blunder. In addition to wasting the last vacant lot of land along the bayou, this will be a litigation nightmare after the lawyers sue, because the land was formerly an old landfill. The first child that gets a cough will shut the whole operation down and cause the city to spend millions in remediation/damages. See Agriculture Street landfill saga.

[ardecila]

Woah, slow news week.

First, the vacant lot at Freret and Napoleon is under construction - should make a nice gateway to Freret if designed properly.

Second, the zigzag low rise at Guste is coming down.

Third, Charcoal on Magazine looks great!
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1595/imagemms.jpg

[tennis1400]

Charcoal looks great. And yes it has been a slow news week.

[rcp11889]

I saw someone share this link on facebook saying that H and M is opening on Veterans...not sure where the facts came from though..

http://www.thefabfemme.com/?p=29940

[Uptowner]

I saw someone share this link on facebook saying that H and M is opening on Veterans...not sure where the facts came from though..

http://www.thefabfemme.com/?p=29940

Houston's first H&M is actually at Baybrook out in Friendswood. It was "opening soon" over a month ago. There maybe one going in Willowbrook next year as the article states, but it'll be at least the 2nd store in that area. There was a rumor that H&M was looking at the old Border's on Vets, I guess time will tell.

[ardecila]

Sigh... Hoping for one at Riverwalk soon. A freestanding one on Canal would be great, but there aren't too many of those.

[lamsalfl]

I'm looking forward to the Iberville projects coming down this December. I had some out of town friends in for the weekend and the condition of Canal St is embarrassing. The loitering, the low end businesses, the projects in close proximity, the seemingly bombed out Texaco building, etc. Although it is great to know the Texaco building will be under renovation soon. It's important for our image nationally and internationally during the Super Bowl to eliminate as much blight in 2012 as possible (Iberville, fix Texaco) among other things. I know we probably won't see much upgrading of the Canal St. retail, but another great step would be to have the Woolworth's building eliminated or u/c for the Kailas project.

What is the status update on that, or any other new developements on Canal that could be completed by year's end?

[ardecila]

The Texaco renovation has been "starting soon" for years. I'll believe it when I see it.

[SlidellWx]

I believe HANO and HUD still have to purchase the old Texaco building, and they will in turn sell it to Pres Kabacoff and HRI for redevelopment. HANO has not completed the purchase yet. Once that happens, I would expect to see redevelopment begin fairly quickly. They plan to have the project finished by the time demolition of the Iberville begins at the end of the year.

I have not heard anything about 1031 Canal recently. Has a demo and construction permit even been requested yet for the project?

[Blitzen]

A really beautiful video about the past, present, and future of Claiborne Avenue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw-kuORzF4M

[broadmoor]

I'm looking forward to the Iberville projects coming down this December. I had some out of town friends in for the weekend and the condition of Canal St is embarrassing. The loitering, the low end businesses, the projects in close proximity, the seemingly bombed out Texaco building, etc. Although it is great to know the Texaco building will be under renovation soon. It's important for our image nationally and internationally during the Super Bowl to eliminate as much blight in 2012 as possible (Iberville, fix Texaco) among other things. I know we probably won't see much upgrading of the Canal St. retail, but another great step would be to have the Woolworth's building eliminated or u/c for the Kailas project.

What is the status update on that, or any other new developements on Canal that could be completed by year's end?

I passed by 1031 Canal this weekend and noticed there's a for sale/lease sign on the building that I don't remember seeing before. Hopefully the project is still going forward.

[tennis1400]

Foundation for LSU Health Sciences Center picks firm to replace headquarters
by CityBusiness staff reports

May 11th, 2012 · Blog
The foundation for the LSU Health Sciences Center has selected Satterfield and Pontikes Construction to build its new office building. The new building will replaces the facility damaged in Hurricane Katrina.

The $6.7 million, four-story, 30,000-square-foot building features lobby space and parking on the first level and offices on the upper three floors. With work now under way, the building is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2013.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is paying for two-thirds of the construction cost and the foundation is picking up the remainder.

Mathes Brierre Architects of New Orleans is providing architectural and design services for the new building.

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/thenewsroom/

$600M bulk liquid terminal planned for St. James Parish
by CityBusiness staff reports


May 9th, 2012 · Blog
Baton Rouge-based Petroplex International announced today it will develop a $600 million bulk liquid terminal in St. James Parish with an initial storage capacity of 4 to 6 million barrels.

The terminal will store and distribute of crude oil and other refined petroleum products and chemicals. It’s being designed to receive deliveries from trucks, railroad and ships. It will also connect to existing pipeline infrastructure systems, according to Petroplex. The project will be the only independent “for-hire” terminal services company serving the crude and refining market in St. James Parish.

Building Sales in the Warehouse District:

Flex building sold again as well as a building on corner of Julia and Church Street sold for 1.2 million. No idea on the plans yet.

Angel fund gets startup Crescent Unmanned Systems ‘off the ground’
by Jennifer Larino, Staff Writer

May 8th, 2012 · Blog
The South Coast Angel Fund has agreed to invest more than $250,000 in Crescent Unmanned Systems, its first investment in a New Orleans-based startup venture.


The company develops and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles and systems that used by law enforcement and the military as well as for civilian aerial photography. It’s headquartered in the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission’s Business Innovation Center in Avondale and will manufacture its product at the Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans.

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/thenewsroom/page/2/

City ready to makeover Milne Home, use uncertain
by Maria Clark, New Media Specialist

May 8th, 2012 · Blog
The city is poised to spend $10 million to restore the Milne Boys Home, but there’s no word yet on how it will be used once the repairs are made.

It’s been close to three decades since the home has had any residents. The campus was used as a meeting space for community groups until Hurricane Katrina.

9th Ward road repairs to begin in June
by Maria Clark, New Media Specialist

May 9th, 2012 · Blog
Road repairs on segments of Forstall, Tupelo, and Alvar streets in the 9th Ward will begin in June as part of the federally funded Paths to Progress program.

It will mark the first time road repairs in the Lower 9th Ward are conducted through the program administered by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Federal Highway Administration and the city of New Orleans.

About $2.4 million will be spent on resurfacing the street segments with new asphalt, repairing curbs and installing wheelchair accessible ramps.


Postal Service halts closure of urban stations

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2012/05/14/postal-service-halts-closure-of-urban-stations/


Rene Bistrot returns
  The second rendition of Rene Bistrot (700 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2350) is set to open Tuesday, May 15. It's the return of a restaurant that had a loyal following prior to Hurricane Katrina and the latest move from a chef, Rene Bajeux, who has made a lot of them lately.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/rene-bistrot-returns/Content?oid=2004813


Burgers and beignets


The local chain New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. had been grilling burgers and frying catfish for 26 years without a location actually in New Orleans proper. But two of the three new locations the company has added in the last 16 months alone are in Orleans Parish, and more are in the works.


http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/burgers-and-beignets/Content?oid=2004822

Article talks about future expansion as well as their new concept

 The company is planning to expand further in New Orleans and the region, McGoey says, and it also will expand its New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co., a coffee and sweet shop concept first introduced as part of its Uptown location.

  "We have three locations for New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co. planned in the next six months," he says.


Construction has really gotten moving on these three projects:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6164/6198138513_bd9f69e8b8_z.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6053/6278383794_4439c84b40_z.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/561946_325107000878637_130270950362244_796520_2066513844_n.jpg


New Crane At Orleans Parish Inmate Processing Center
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/545808_440138922681558_211293668899419_91886146_579061434_n.jpg

A look Inside Almost Completed New Orleans Cold Storage:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558660_433219973373453_211293668899419_91864774_1392300408_n.jpg

Recently Finished Belleville Assited Living Facility:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/555033_325880920801245_130270950362244_797947_609327701_n.jpg

The New Orleans Hotel as the recently rebranded Hyatt Place Hotel.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/292126_344631575592846_130270950362244_845449_1199631987_n.jpg

Recently Finished Gold Seal Lofts in Mid City
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/398915_344631412259529_130270950362244_845447_616748693_n.jpg

Student Center at Xavier University
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/428747_300942199961784_130270950362244_737473_1475472328_n.jpg

Finished Blue Plate Lofts

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/564926_344631132259557_130270950362244_845446_48339927_n.jpg

[ardecila]

That loft building on Josephine is looking really great... Saw it yesterday.

I still remember climbing up inside there a few years ago.

Where is the Belleville assisted living at?

[tennis1400]

That loft building on Josephine is looking really great... Saw it yesterday.

I still remember climbing up inside there a few years ago.

Where is the Belleville assisted living at?

Its in Algiers. Looks like a really nice project that has transformed the whole block.

BTW doing my best to breathe life into this board , seems to have gone dead!:slob:

[ardecila]

Ah yea it has been kinda sleepy around here.

The construction on the Magazine St Walgreens has begun... the parking lot will be poured soon and I saw workers doing demo inside the VFW hall.

[IceCream]

Tentative approval from the neighborhood association.

http://uptownmessenger.com/2012/05/carrollton-riverbend-neighborhood-association-live-coverage/

[tennis1400]

Permits:

3819 MAGAZINE ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70115
SECOND FLOOR ADDITION OF 1800 SQ FT (EXISTING SQ FT 2000). ALSO, RENOVATIE/RESTORE FIRST FLOOR PRIVATE OFFICES AS PER PLANS. (MIXED OCCUPANCY 2-OFFICES, 1-RESIDENTIAL, UNITS 3819 A,B,&C)
Job Value($):
$200,000.00

9900 LAKE FOREST BLVD
NEW ORLEANS LA 70127
SELECTIVE DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES INTO A NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC AS PER PLANS. ELECTRICAL,HVAC,MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING. SIGNAGE REQUIRES A SEPERATE PERMIT.
Job Value($):
$1,180,000.00

The city has an RFP for redevelopment of the NSA FAcility on the East Bank:http://www.purchasing.cityofno.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?bidId=2188-01249&parentUrl=activeBids

New Wine Place on Howard and Carondelet Called Keife & Co. :

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/154550_404792659561091_360928767280814_1189094_895244053_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556184_404792846227739_360928767280814_1189097_231327655_n.jpg

[TulaneJeff]

Great article that supports the city's push for cabbie reform:

3 simple buttons raised tipping by $144M in NYC cabs
http://thenextweb.com/shareables/2012/05/14/how-3-simple-buttons-raised-tipping-by-144-million-in-nyc-cabs/

“During payment, the user is presented with three default buttons for tipping: 20%, 25%, and 30%. When cabs were cash only, the average tip was roughly 10%. After the introduction of this system, the tip percentage jumped to 22%. Those three buttons resulted in $144,146,165 of additional tips. Per year. Those are some very valuable buttons.”

http://cl.ly/0E0K1C1x3o2i3n210d3a/Image%202012.05.13%203:33:44%20AM.png

In New York, Taxi Revenue and Tips From Credit Cards Rise
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/nyregion/08taxi.html?_r=1

New York’s cabbies howled when the city began forcing them to take credit cards. Some even went on strike, calling the requirements a kowtow to tourists and a burden on drivers.

But two years later, the back-of-the-cab swipe has emerged as an unlikely savior for New York’s taxi industry, even as other cities’ fleets struggle to find fares in a deep recession.

[tennis1400]

Thats what I tell all the cabbies that complain. The more consistent and pleasant cabbing not only will people who use cabs use it more but more people will use it. I also generally out of experience tip better when the cab driver and his car is better. Seems obvious to me! Will some cabbied quit? yes and that may not be a bad thing!

BTW I noticed that TAxi Magic is now working here in New Orleans. Its a pretty cool app that lets you book a cab and alerts you to where it is on googlemaps.

[WesternSon]

Looks like work is underway at 1029 OC Haley. The Gambit article mentions it should be done by August- good deal!

[IceCream]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7209523606_95732848fe_b.jpg

This building at 2727ish S. Broad (across from the old Ford building) is undergoing a major renovation. That's a good pick-me-up to Central City. I think this is one of the public private things in the area, but I thought that was all limited to the Ford building?

This is just a googlemaps shot..didn't have time to stop and take a photo of the current state, but it's been completely gutted, walls have been stripped interior and exterior so its clear something is going on.

[Blitzen]

More details about the FQ/CBD streets/sidewalk repaving job. I'm glad they've also budgeted money for crosswalk signals, new signs, and traffic lights. Also, very pleased to see bike racks in the budget too.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/french_quarter_street_repairs.html#incart_river

http://media.nola.com/politics/photo/no-30mil-infrastructure-improvementsjpg-cd952562844c21bc.jpg

Source: Times Picayune

[TulaneJeff]

BTW I noticed that TAxi Magic is now working here in New Orleans. Its a pretty cool app that lets you book a cab and alerts you to where it is on googlemaps.

Taxi Magic is a great app; however it suffers from the same broken system which the new reform legislation will hopefully solve.

I once booked a cab on Taxi Magic and upon arriving at our destination the cabbie refused to accept the fare payment via the app, stating "I don't know where that money goes...!".

Another flaw is that the dispatched cab is usually not the closest. I once looked at the map and saw that my cab was departing the airport in Kenner!

Currently, Carriage Cab is the only service available for digital booking and cab tracking. United is listed, but you're only able to phone their dispatch and unable to track your cab. Despite the flaws, it's cool to see where your transportation is while waiting.

[Foley Santamaria]

Man its killing me how all the new Walgreens/grocery stores are one story affairs without several floors of housing on top. Given these are typically in prime locations (and rents are high and vacancy low), near transit and other services, it seems like a no brainer. Anyone have any ideas how to combat this? Don't these companies want to make more money? I would love to see Mitch speak about this/try to influence it. I know he is pretty smart with urban planning.

[Blitzen]

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Zulu-reportedly-looking-to-purchase-former-Schwegmanns-for-new-clubhouse-151750445.html

Wasn't this the building that was supposed to be converted into a neighborhod market a while back? I'm glad it will be used for something at least.

[tennis1400]

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Zulu-reportedly-looking-to-purchase-former-Schwegmanns-for-new-clubhouse-151750445.html

Wasn't this the building that was supposed to be converted into a neighborhod market a while back? I'm glad it will be used for something at least.

It was supposed to be some sort of grocery tulane hybrid deal they even had plans. Guess the project isnt happening. Hope if Zulu does buy it they upgrade it a bit since its horrendous looking right now. WOuld prefer the grocery concept as I think that would be more catalytic to the neighborhood.

[prokowave]

1. Costco Plans Made Official

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/05/costco_confirms_plans_for_firs.html#incart_river
After more than a year of behind-the-scenes planning, the Costco Wholesale Corp. has committed to bring a big-box warehouse store to the Carrollton area, marking the retail giant's first venture in Louisiana and filling a commercial void in post-Katrina New Orleans. Although the 148,000-square-foot project still needs design approval from the City Planning Commission and the City Council, officials in Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration said Wednesday that they are hopeful that those steps will be formalities as all parties work toward a mid-2013 opening.

2. There seems to be quite a bit of work going on at the Elks Building downtown. Does anyone have info on this?

This is the last I've heard about it:http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/thenewsroom/2011/08/01/elks-building-in-downtown-new-orleans-has-new-owner/

3. There's been a lot of progress on the Saenger Theater. I may post pictures later. I was also wondering about the Civic Theater. I've seen work going there but I've heard very little about it.

[rschin2]

More details about the FQ/CBD streets/sidewalk repaving job. I'm glad they've also budgeted money for crosswalk signals, new signs, and traffic lights. Also, very pleased to see bike racks in the budget too.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/french_quarter_street_repairs.html#incart_river

http://media.nola.com/politics/photo/no-30mil-infrastructure-improvementsjpg-cd952562844c21bc.jpg

Source: Times Picayune

When is this work set to begin? It'd be great if they could get it done before the superbowl

[ardecila]

Man its killing me how all the new Walgreens/grocery stores are one story affairs without several floors of housing on top. Given these are typically in prime locations (and rents are high and vacancy low), near transit and other services, it seems like a no brainer. Anyone have any ideas how to combat this? Don't these companies want to make more money? I would love to see Mitch speak about this/try to influence it. I know he is pretty smart with urban planning.

Walgreens doesn't build housing. Even in big cities like Chicago and DC, Walgreens builds standalone stores with small parking lots. Sometimes a developer will build a housing project with a large retail space on a bottom, and he will approach Walgreens or other retailers about opening a location.

Now: here's the problem I see. New Orleans is overwhelmingly a city of 1-3 story woodframe buildings, singles or doubles. True multifamily buildings are rare, and the most desirable neighborhoods Uptown will oppose anything denser than a handful of doubles.

There are only a few places where this kind of multi-story building with retail would be feasible. The Power Plant area is eventually planned to become a dense mixed-use retail district, the Warehouse District would work, or somewhere along Tulane Ave. You've also got a few sites on Elysian Fields in the Marigny.

[SlidellWx]

The Costco store is official. Great news for the Mid-City area. Not sure where the story went on nola.com...it was up for a while, and now it's gone.

Also...the final list of food vendors and locations is out at the airport. A great improvement overall. It now relies on a city council vote. Hopefully, our district D & E councilmembers will show up.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/05/upgraded_pre-flight_menu_on_ho.html

http://media.nola.com/business_impact/photo/diagram-airport-051712jpg-dbbc954467954161.jpg

[ardecila]

WOW Wingery? :yuck:

Oh well, Olde College Inn is a huge upgrade (and Dooky Chase!) Unfortunately there are no connections between the concourses behind security, so you can only visit these establishments if they are by your gate.

What is Le Petit Bistro? Is that an outgrowth of La Petite Grocery or the planned restaurant in Le Petit Theatre?

[NOLADevelopmentFan]

Le Petit Bistro is a national chain with restaurants in lots of airports (http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-petit-bistro-express-philadelphia).

[Foley Santamaria]

Now: here's the problem I see. New Orleans is overwhelmingly a city of 1-3 story woodframe buildings, singles or doubles. True multifamily buildings are rare, and the most desirable neighborhoods Uptown will oppose anything denser than a handful of doubles.

Fair enough, I guess. Since almost everything is built now on top a level of parking, I don't see why that wouldn't satisfy the NIMBYs. They are short sighted - all the most valuable places in the US don't have easily accessible parking.

[Foley Santamaria]

Good video on the Claiborne corridor, also.

What is the next step for bringing down the overpass?

[Blitzen]

Good video on the Claiborne corridor, also.

What is the next step for bringing down the overpass?

There is a study being conducted which will conclude Fall 2013. Based on the attitude of the politicians who found the funding, I suspect the study will overwhelmingly support tearing down the structure. Next the City will wholeheartedly endorse the plan and it will go to the state.

Depending on who is in office, the state will either:
1. agree with the plan and budget its share of the cost, with the feds picking up 75% or so;
2. disagree with the plan and budget for repairs to the existing structure;
3. apply for and win a grant from the feds to remove/redevelop the whole thing;
4. ignore the NOLA delegation of legislators and do nothing, and the overpass will continue to decay. If you don't think this option is possible, look at the Claiborne and Florida Avenue Bridge replacement projects which have sat idle for years.

Supposing the state gets the money and votes to go ahead with the plan, there will need to be a formal environmental study conducted, and then a few years of construction.

BEST possible scenario, this is completed by the City's 300th anniversary in 2017.
Likely? Definitely not.

[ardecila]

If you don't think this option is possible, look at the Claiborne and Florida Avenue Bridge replacement projects which have sat idle for years.

St. Claude, not Claiborne. The Claiborne bridge is in good shape, it just needs a bigger budget for repainting.

The St. Claude project is tied up in the Industrial Canal lock replacement project... the Army Corps pledged to replace the bridge as part of the project, but the neighborhood keeps fighting the lock tooth and nail. IMO the lock project should be scaled down... there's no need for deep-draft anymore, but the current lock is on its last legs and needs replacement badly. Same goes for the bridge.

Besides, I'm tired of Jefferson Parish getting all the funding. The Causeway interchange cost nearly $100 million. The I-10 widenings have cost twice that much. The Twin Spans project was technically in Orleans Parish, but that was a storm-recovery project primarily, and the extra lane was gravy.

[cameron70115]

There are only a few places where this kind of multi-story building with retail would be feasible. The Power Plant area is eventually planned to become a dense mixed-use retail district, the Warehouse District would work, or somewhere along Tulane Ave. You've also got a few sites on Elysian Fields in the Marigny.

I think the real blown opportunity was Carrollton at Canal. That's a massive intersection by New Orleans standards, and really prime centrally located real estate. The fact that a cookie cutter Walgreens took over that huge lot is extremely piss poor. The lot could've handled a six-story apartment building, or offices, or a hotel. It could've been a catalyst to make that stretch of businesses even bigger and better. Instead of being an exclamation point of progress for a busy corner, it's a reminder that we aren't as big time as we like to think we are. It may as well be a Dollar General store, heh.

[ardecila]

I totally agree but I've pretty much come to grips with the limited potential for density in established neighborhoods. The Tulane corridor, if developed properly, offers plenty of opportunities for midrise, since the whole strip between Tulane and I-10 has tons of developable land and zero NIMBYs due to its no-mans-land status.

Plus, if we can ever come to a regional consensus around light rail, it will have to run through that corridor and there will already be built in TOD.

[ardecila]

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/latest_version_of_hospitality.html

Finally, somebody has some sense. Karen Carter Peterson upped the percentage of hospitality-zone funds for infrastructure... previously only 1/3 was going to infrastructure and the rest to tourism marketing campaigns. :rolleyes: Now it's an even split - still far less than ideal, but a huge upgrade nonetheless. The article also says the funds can be used for "hospital zone" improvements, so there's a possibility that some of the infrastructure funds could be spent along the Tulane corridor as well.

If my math is right, the new plan translates into $60 million over 10 years for infrastructure, not counting unrelated projects like the FQ streetcar loop, etc.

[Foley Santamaria]

Good post Cameron.

There is still the old Popeyes site at that intersection but it is much smaller.

Also I've seen on the MCNO listserv folks complaining about there being too many apartments on Tulane Ave - so I wouldn't call it a no mans land. That was a couple years back, however, and now that those complexes have been resounding successes hopefully some of that has dissipated. I must say that out dated thoughts about parking and apartments seem to die hard, though.

[tennis1400]

Good post Cameron.

There is still the old Popeyes site at that intersection but it is much smaller.

Also I've seen on the MCNO listserv folks complaining about there being too many apartments on Tulane Ave - so I wouldn't call it a no mans land. That was a couple years back, however, and now that those complexes have been resounding successes hopefully some of that has dissipated. I must say that out dated thoughts about parking and apartments seem to die hard, though.

Something zipcar could help alleviate. Anybody want to partner with me on a franchise here :cheers:

[sgray]

The only supermarket in downtown New Orleans is the first grocery in the country to develop an aeroponic urban farm on its roof.

What exactly is an aeroponic urban garden?

Think vertical instead of horizontal. The garden "towers" use water rather than soil, and allow plants to grow upward instead of outward. It was developed by a former Disney greenhouse manager, and is used at Disney properties, the Chicago O'Hare Airport Eco-Farm and on the Manhattan rooftop of Bell Book & Candle restaurant.

"This is very cutting edge for urban farming," Donny Rouse said. His company has named the farm "Roots on the Rooftop."

Parsley, basil and cilantro are among the herbs the company is growing to package and sell in the market on the building's main floor.

"The flat rooftop on this store is perfect for urban farming," Rouse said. "And the view of downtown is postcard-perfect. I imagine we will do a lot of dinners up here on the farm."

The Rouses Market downtown opened in 2011 in a former auto dealership and is the first full-service grocery in the Central Business District in more than four decades.

[Chris from N.O.]

The only supermarket in downtown New Orleans is the first grocery in the country to develop an aeroponic urban farm on its roof.

What exactly is an aeroponic urban garden?

Think vertical instead of horizontal. The garden "towers" use water rather than soil, and allow plants to grow upward instead of outward. It was developed by a former Disney greenhouse manager, and is used at Disney properties, the Chicago O'Hare Airport Eco-Farm and on the Manhattan rooftop of Bell Book & Candle restaurant.

"This is very cutting edge for urban farming," Donny Rouse said. His company has named the farm "Roots on the Rooftop."

Parsley, basil and cilantro are among the herbs the company is growing to package and sell in the market on the building's main floor.

"The flat rooftop on this store is perfect for urban farming," Rouse said. "And the view of downtown is postcard-perfect. I imagine we will do a lot of dinners up here on the farm."

The Rouses Market downtown opened in 2011 in a former auto dealership and is the first full-service grocery in the Central Business District in more than four decades.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[ardecila]

Interesting. I wonder how feasible it is economically, though... if the rooftop stuff is more expensive than the stuff trucked in from the fields, then the rooftop stuff will always be some kind of niche curiosity product that people only buy because they have too much money.

Urban farming is a bit overrated in my view, especially if you have to erect giant structures and irrigation systems to make it work, or spend millions removing contamination from polluted urban lots, etc.

Also I've seen on the MCNO listserv folks complaining about there being too many apartments on Tulane Ave - so I wouldn't call it a no mans land.

I think that's just minor grumbling. Powerful NIMBY groups live in the neighborhoods they're concerned with. Since nobody really lives south of Tulane except the new apartment dwellers, the neighborhood can't form NIMBY groups unless the apartment dwellers adopt some kind of hypocritical position. Tulane is six lanes wide, which is more than enough to handle another 20 apartment complexes. Plus, each of them so far has included parking at a 1:1 ratio, which is perfectly adequate - there should be no serious demand for street parking except for visitors. This is ideal for the introduction of proper urban retail to the neighborhood, since new retail developments will not need their own parking unless they exceed a certain size.

I'm holding my breath for the massive Fontainebleau at Carrollton to come down. Down with the seedy motels! Put that ish out on Chef Hwy!

[Foley Santamaria]

Something zipcar could help alleviate. Anybody want to partner with me on a franchise here :cheers:
I do think it would work quite well in NOLA. You would need to have quite a few cars throughout the city, imo, to make it work, though? Startup costs would probably be quite high to have those cars? I guess they probably finance them though. Especially with all the various companies doing this across the country, I'm surprised there aren't any here.

Back to the Walgreens, if not I'm mistaken, most of the buildings are put pretty cheaply, right? I say that as a positive so hopefully in 15 to 20 years the city and its neighborhoods will be much more dense and you can just tear down the one story drugstores and build more appropriate buildings.

[Foley Santamaria]

Also, I'd love the focus to be on expanding transit, improving pedestrian and bicycle amenities and walkable retail than parking. I'm sure most here would agree. The transit for nola folks and where ya rack are doing great things.

Also, how come there aren't any plans for a bikeshare system yet? It's been a resounding success in many places throughout the country (dc had its two millionth ride today) and is expanding to sf/nyc/chicago this year. Plus many of these program make money or at least break even on an ongoing basis. NYC's is funded completely with advertising and user fees (that's the plan at least).

[ardecila]

There isn't enough bike infrastructure (lanes, paths, public racks) for tourists to bike comfortably around the city yet. The FQ has pretty quiet streets so cycling is pretty safe there but crossing Canal, Decatur, or Rampart is pretty scary unless you're a seasoned urban cyclist. Side streets always provide an easy option but then it becomes easy to get lost, and anybody cycling down a sidestreet will miss all the businesses and destinations. Hell, I live here and it's a b*tch to remember what cross-street to take so I come out on just the right spot along Magazine for a given business.

Now, there's not a single bike lane in all of Uptown until you get to Carrollton (I heard a few months ago that the St. Charles bike lane was imminent). I was amazed to see just how many bike lanes have been striped in places like Lakeview and Gentilly. I'm guessing that with the big road repaving projects coming up, we'll see a network start to form in Uptown as well - I'm pretty hopeful. The Lafitte Corridor will also provide a great way to move between the FQ/CBD and Fairgrounds/City Park areas.

In the meantime there are several private businesses offering bike rentals.

[lamsalfl]

Maybe it's because I'm not used to it, but I think the bike lanes that were just painted on the street are a joke, and dangerous. Not only do you have to worry about cars clipping you even at a low speed, but people opening their car doors not seeing you riding by. Why does the bike lane have to be between the traffic and parked cars? Why can't the bike lanes be against the curbs? Bikers won't get doored, and they'd have a layer of protection from traffic as well.

[broadmoor]

I seem to remember hearing that business groups in New Orleans and Baton Rouge weren't giving up on commuter rail, but this is promising news. It can use current tracks if it's not "high-speed," which means it would still be able to go around 80mph. If they get that started, then maybe it will build up ridership until some point in the future when it's more feasible to build a high-speed rail. But for the time being, I know a handful of people who commute between the two cities on a daily basis and would rather not have to focus on driving, and I have family there, so I would much prefer paying for a train rather than drive. That drive is so boring, and I have other things I could get done! Anyway, hopefully this works out.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/money_set_aside_to_study_new_o.html#incart_river

[Uptowner]

I honestly don't see the point in having "high-speed" service if it's going to be stopping every 10-20 miles. A regular express/local service could suffice IMO with the express train making it NO to BR in about 45 min to an hour, assuming the tracks don't deviate too far from the route of I-10.

[ardecila]

Well, the alignment is already pretty set in stone - the state can't afford to build a whole new railroad, so the new line would follow existing Kansas City Southern tracks with some upgrades. If there's no local service, I don't see much point. On a properly-managed railroad, a station stop only adds 1-2 minutes, and if there are only six stations, it makes sense to gain that extra ridership.

Plus, the KCS line hits the town centers for LaPlace and Gonzales, stops near the airport, at the Mall of Louisiana, etc. It has an inconvenient location in BR, unfortunately. What I'd like to see, and I think this is a definite possibility, is some kind of transit-oriented development at each of the stations. Various places on the North Shore have already moved in this direction, and BR has Perkins Rowe, so it's certainly possible. The planning for the line should keep this foremost in mind, though, and make the construction of new stations contingent on local zoning changes.

If the state were willing to spend a little extra money, they could build a connector line along Bayou Manchac between KCS and the CN line. This would allow the commuter trains to have a stop right on LSU's campus and another one right on the riverfront in downtown BR. Both of those things would add immensely to the ridership and success of the line. Eventually, if the state ever seriously gets behind rail, it should rebuild the SP bridge across the Atchafalaya swamp and link Lafayette into the system... then the Sunset Limited could be rerouted to hit the major population centers instead of the towns out in Cajun country.

If DOTD were smart, they'd pounce on Wisconsin's trains - WI currently has two Talgo trains they already paid for, but aren't planning to use. Those trains are brand-new and could be purchased for a song.

[Uptowner]

All in all, I think my biggest concern is getting people to the trains in numbers. I'm only familiar with NJTransit, SEPTA, and the MTA which all have access to levels of transit we could only dream of in New Orleans, much less Baton Rouge. Do you all think Park-N-Rides would do the trick? How do they do it in California and Illinois?

[ardecila]

There are differing schools of thought, but I think the majority of rail stations should act as centerpieces to a community, surrounded by walkable environments - this is how most American small towns originally developed, so it makes sense to stick with that pattern. The infrastructure (street grids, sidewalks, utilities) is already in place, but zoning needs to be adapted to allow for mixed-use with reduced parking requirements and slightly greater density. If station parking can be integrated in a compact lot or garage nearby, great. If not, then perhaps a park-and-ride station on the outskirts of town makes sense in addition to the town center station.

There are some people who vehemently decry park-and-rides, believing that transit in suburban environments should only be a catalyst for major changes in land use or it's not worth building the transit in the first place. I'm less dogmatic - land use changes are certainly the end goal but park-and-rides make sense for occasional users and in heavily-dispersed areas.

Most successful commuter lines in the US are good as a result of transit-oriented development that occurred 100 years ago. The more recent lines have pretty much all failed. Minneapolis' Northstar Corridor has anemic ridership, but its stations are virtually all park-and-rides in middle-of-nowhere locations - planners purposefully avoided putting stations in town centers, but this was the exact wrong move to make. The SMART system under construction in California's Marin/Sonoma Counties is far better - stations at town centers with a few park and rides, frequent service, and DMU trains that run fast using relatively little fuel. On the other hand, that line needs some serious cost control.

[MNT]

My apologies if this is too far from on-topic, but I just ran across this article about Whole Foods opening specially-formatted stores in distressed urban markets. With New Orleans' infamous food deserts, and Whole Foods' history here, I'd love to see them expand this initiative into the city.
http://www.freep.com/article/20120515/BUSINESS06/205150329/Whole-Foods-breaks-ground-on-Midtown-site-looks-to-serve-area

[IceCream]

Thanks for the compliments on Where Ya' Rack? I put one more out Saturday but let's just say I wasn't in the shape to do anything beyond that.... Sippin In Seersucker suuuure was fun Friday night.

Bikeshares...good idea, but super high start up costs since you would literally need hundreds of bikes, multiple locations, etc to make it feasible. Not something you can slowly roll out over time...definitely have to hit it and hit it hard. Would be nice though..

Bike lanes and racks..well they're coming along. WyR is moving along and as long as we keep getting sponsors we'll keep installing racks and the FQMD, etc planon their own racks in downtown and the quarter.


Drury, construction crane went up over the weekend:

WOOOOOO

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5117/7241610756_587cd220bd_k.jpg

[tennis1400]

Permit finally pulled for the building on the corner of Poydras and Rampart Streets across from Walk Ons. Place will be called Little Gem Saloon.

445 S RAMPART ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70112

Project Description:
CONVERT VACANT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE TO JAZZ CLUB/RESTAURANT AS PER PLANS AND HDLCP-12-0594. (445-449)
Job Value($):
$880,456.00

Also glad to see Tulane sue the city. Appears the mayor is on Tulanes side in this. Cant see how a court wouldnt rule in Tulanes favor on this.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/tulane_university_sues_city_ha.html#incart_mce

[n3rdw0p]

The roberts on broad just needs to be redeveloped into a whole foods or trader joes so they can get their jollys off by saying they opened an "urban" market. Once again zulu trashed broad yesterday, so I am against everything Zulu, I really wish Broad street connections would open their "healthy" market with Libertys Kitchen, ANYTHING is better than that large parcel going to waste next to a damn dollar general.

[WesternSon]

They also opened there doors for the Bicycle Second Line yesterday and were very gracious hosts. I don't know of many fraternal organizations that would throw open their club/frat house doors for a group that was very different from themselves.

Yeah, they might have trashed the neutral ground, but realize they had help with all of that and helped make the City a more bike-friendly place.

Stongly recommned the Bicycle Secondline- was an awesome day! Cheers to BikeEasy!

http://bikeeasy.org/

[IceCream]

Coincidentally I opened my Bloomberg businessweek and found this today...

10,000 bikes for NYC (and all related equipment, etc) at $47.5 million....holy crap. I know it probably includes some operating money, other equipment, etc to get it off the ground,but take that average of $4,750 a bike and say maybe 1,000 bikes for nola....still $4.75 million. ARticle says 600 dockin stations

Don't know how you are going to raise that without a major corporate donor (like in NYC).

Here's http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-07/citigroup-pays-41-million-to-sponsor-nyc-bike-sharing-program.htmlthe article online:


Here's a picture:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7243635794_728c4a7db3_h.jpg

[tennis1400]

They had a similar program like this in London. It was very well done and had a corporate sponsor.

[Foley Santamaria]

A lot of the ones in the US are getting some federal help to open up.

Also 4.75 million isnt that much, especially assuming they could get some sponsorship help with ads. It would be a huge hit in New Orleans.

[n3rdw0p]

I'm a member of bikeeasy but couldn't attend the second line, I also live two blocks away and the Zulu effect continues to my house. I picked up a box crawfish, corn etc that was dumped along with numerous bags of McDonalds at what was just approved to be a bike shop at 2700 orleans Ave. But is now an abandoned building. I've never once seen a crew pick up after Zulu, it all blows around into the surrounding area. Zulu is training me to be a nimby.

[ardecila]

Bikeshare systems are self-sustaining once you get the initial costs out of the way (this is where the ads come in.) It's usually best to bring in a private company like Alta to run the system, because if city bureaucrats were involved we'd get bike stations in all sorts of random unprofitable places. But if it is planned correctly, there's no doubt that these systems can be profitable.

[Blitzen]

1. With the frequent events, tourists, and mon-fri business people, I could see a parking scheme like this working in our CBD...if it were implemented correctly and maintained properly... a big if...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/parking-in-downtown-la-la-express-park_n_1533625.html

2. The Youth Study Center along Bayou St. John (big mistake) requires a variance, since it is in a residential zone. This will be decided at today's Planning Commission meeting at 1:30pm, and hopefully does not pass (in my opinion).

3. According to WWL, the hospitality bill is dead in the legislature. I wonder what this means for the convention center money promised to repave streets.

[tennis1400]

1. With the frequent events, tourists, and mon-fri business people, I could see a parking scheme like this working in our CBD...if it were implemented correctly and maintained properly... a big if...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/parking-in-downtown-la-la-express-park_n_1533625.html

2. The Youth Study Center along Bayou St. John (big mistake) requires a variance, since it is in a residential zone. This will be decided at today's Planning Commission meeting at 1:30pm, and hopefully does not pass (in my opinion).

3. According to WWL, the hospitality bill is dead in the legislature. I wonder what this means for the convention center money promised to repave streets.

Im confused about the hospitality bill to be honest. I think its great to want to raise money for the tourism industry but Im confused about why they dont work within the ddd. Seems to me to be unnescessary to create another beauracracy to do something the ddd could do or at least create a subgroup within the ddd to manage these funds.

[Blitzen]

Im confused about the hospitality bill to be honest. I think its great to want to raise money for the tourism industry but Im confused about why they dont work within the ddd. Seems to me to be unnescessary to create another beauracracy to do something the ddd could do or at least create a subgroup within the ddd to manage these funds.

According to the WWL article (http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/orleans/Support-dies-for-bill-creating-hospitality-zone-in-NO--152511995.html), the bill fell apart when Peterson's amendment to dedicate more funding to infrastructure passed, and the hospitality industry pulled support.

Translation: this whole time, the bill wasn't about creating a clean, welcoming "hospitality zone", it was about the state subsidizing some hotels by doing their marketing work for them. In NOLA/LA there are already numerous boards, agencies, and departments that do this redundantly... from the Lieutenant Gov's office, CVB, DDD, Port of NOLA, and the list goes on.

The instant the bill took more focus onto the actual role of government (streets, sidewalks, infrastructure) it died... which is fine by me. All along, I thought this is solely the city's responsibility.

________________________________________________


On an unrelated note, the Convention Center will hold a topping off ceremony tomorrow at noon for its new front hall:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/morial_convention_center_to_ma.html

According to the article, the junior hall being built as part of this expansion will have a rooftop terrace!! This is the first I've heard of this. Great idea!!!

[tennis1400]

According to the WWL article (http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/orleans/Support-dies-for-bill-creating-hospitality-zone-in-NO--152511995.html), the bill fell apart when Peterson's amendment to dedicate more funding to infrastructure passed, and the hospitality industry pulled support.

Translation: this whole time, the bill wasn't about creating a clean, welcoming "hospitality zone", it was about the state subsidizing some hotels by doing their marketing work for them. In NOLA/LA there are already numerous boards, agencies, and departments that do this redundantly... from the Lieutenant Gov's office, CVB, DDD, Port of NOLA, and the list goes on.

The instant the bill took more focus onto the actual role of government (streets, sidewalks, infrastructure) it died... which is fine by me. All along, I thought this is solely the city's responsibility.

________________________________________________


On an unrelated note, the Convention Center will hold a topping off ceremony tomorrow at noon for its new front hall:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/morial_convention_center_to_ma.html

According to the article, the junior hall being built as part of this expansion will have a rooftop terrace!! This is the first I've heard of this. Great idea!!!

Thats what my concern was all along. Infrastructure improvements are very important. Not sure why the change in allocated funds was a dealbreaker for them but it makes me less supportive of it.

The rooftop terrace idea is visible in most of the renderings.

Speaking of rooftop terraces Rouses is hosting its first rooftop garden dinner May 31.

http://www.nolalocavore.org/calendar-of-events/


Also another new watering hole opening in the French Quarter next month.

This is turning into a really good summer for French Quarter drinkers. The new Hyatt French Quarter announced via a press release today that they are just about ready to roll out a new bar concept, Batch, as part of the hotel's $18 million change from the Chateau Bourbon. The hotel's website calls the bar a "tavern with a focus on regional offerings and bar snacks." Batch will open sometime next month, and next year, the new 10,000 square foot Hard Rock Café will join it inside the Hyatt.


http://nola.eater.com/archives/2012/05/22/batch-rolls-into-french-quarter-drinking-scene-with-barrels-of-house-infused-spirits.php

[IceCream]

Well it went from being planned as a major resort to now a casino and restaurant. At a mediocre 26,000 square feet it's many times less than the 85,000 sq ft of gambilng space alone at the Beau Rivage (which also has a massive hotel and convention / meeting areas).

Well, still neat I guess, but quite a "womp...womp..." from the original. There's potential for phase 2.

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/05/jimmy_buffett_expands_his_marg.html

http://www.buffettworld.com/images/news_biloxiext.jpg

[Foley Santamaria]

Bikeshare systems are self-sustaining once you get the initial costs out of the way (this is where the ads come in.) It's usually best to bring in a private company like Alta to run the system, because if city bureaucrats were involved we'd get bike stations in all sorts of random unprofitable places. But if it is planned correctly, there's no doubt that these systems can be profitable.

Agreed. Since it is transportation infrastructure, why can't rta/Veolia partner with Alta and get this crackin? They've got 90 million in the bank for the streetcar on rampart/st claude. No reason they can't afford to do both.

[ardecila]

Like I said before, the city will have to build a substantial bike lane system in the CBD/FQ, Marigny, Uptown and Bywater before tourists can feel comfortable using these bikes around the city.

I have no doubt that we'll get there, but it might take awhile so long as the city has no dedicated funding source for bike lanes. I am hopeful that DPW will start to install protected bike lanes that run between the parking lane and curb.

I was ecstatic when bike lanes appeared on Jeff Davis near the Earhart/Washington intersections... that area was always really treacherous, but it was still the only safe way to bike between Uptown and Mid-City. Now the situation is vastly improved.

[Foley Santamaria]

Bikeshare systems are used by tourists, but they are primarily for residents. And NOLA is already 6th in the country in terms of persons who commute by bike. I agree that there are a lot of needed infrastructure improvements, though.

[IceCream]

845 Carondelet is moving quick! I saw they had poured the slab a few weeks ago (it was just a mudhole without a roof behind the facade) but now they have a substantial amount of framing done. Sorry for the blur...took it while driving:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/7255449666_e99801a577_b.jpg

There was no activity at Drury yesterday at all after they finished erecting the crane,but this morning they were unloading a lot of rebar.

[Nolacat157]

Permit finally pulled for the building on the corner of Poydras and Rampart Streets across from Walk Ons. Place will be called Little Gem Saloon.

445 S RAMPART ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70112

Project Description:
CONVERT VACANT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE TO JAZZ CLUB/RESTAURANT AS PER PLANS AND HDLCP-12-0594. (445-449)
Job Value($):
$880,456.00

Great to see the Little Gem Saloon returning to commerce. Hopefully that will spur some revitalization along S. Rampart.


Gibbs is putting out bids on the Arena renovation according to thier website. Really looking forward to seeing what those plans are.

http://www.gibbsconstruction.com/bid-list/

[Blitzen]

This would be good news, the NFL wants all its stadiums to have Wi-Fi, and might start with the Superdome this year:

http://www.wrno.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=135361&article=10145974

I hope they kill two birds with one stone and use this opportunity to do the same for the Arena as well.

[Blitzen]

6 more streetscape projects will break ground soon scattered throughout the city:
http://www.nola.gov/PRESS/City-Of-New-Orleans/All-Articles/20120522-CITY-ANNOUNCES-SIX-STREETSCAPE-PROJECTS

EDIT!: Here are some renderings of these projects: http://www.nola.gov/PRESS/City-Of-New-Orleans/All-Articles/~/media/AA3BA930C64A467F9AB63F1B57DB76EB.ashx

I love that all of these should be completed by the end of the year. I hope New Orleans shines like a new penny for the Superbowl in 2013.

[tennis1400]

Everyone needs to sign the petition to keep the Crescent City Connection lit up at night. Once the tolls sunset the state is saying it wont pay for the lights even though that was part of the agreement it signed with the YLC years ago.


www.savethelights.com

[tennis1400]

845 Carondelet is moving quick! I saw they had poured the slab a few weeks ago (it was just a mudhole without a roof behind the facade) but now they have a substantial amount of framing done. Sorry for the blur...took it while driving:


Way to keep your eye on the road lol :jester:

Permits:

This one is for GEs offices:

201 ST CHARLES AVE
30FLR
NEW ORLEANS LA 70130
PARTIAL INTERIOR DEMOLITION OF TENANT IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDER TO BUILD BACK TENAMT IMPROVEMENTS APPROPRIATE FOR ANOTHER TENANT (GE). PLANS TO FOLLOW

This ones for a new restaurant on OCH
1721 ORETHA CASTLE HALEY BLVD
NEW ORLEANS LA 70113
Project Description:
SUPPLEMENT TO 09COM-01024 TO COMPLETE THE WORK - CHANGE OF USE FROM VACANT COMMERCIAL TO A RESTURANT AND 1 RESIDENCE.

9511 CHEF MENTEUR HWY
SUITE 105
NEW ORLEANS LA 70127
CONVERT VACANT SPACE TO FITNESS CENTER(HEALTH CLUB) AS PER SKETCH

4710 S CARROLLTON AVE
NEW ORLEANS LA 70119
Renovate existing 8511 sq ft building into a Medical clinic as per plans.
Job Value($):
$325,000.00

9511 CHEF MENTEUR HWY
SUITE 111
NEW ORLEANS LA 70127
CHANGE OF USE FROM VACANT TO RETAIL CELLPHONE STORE AS PER SKETCH. ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING.

7701 DWYER RD
SUITE 108
NEW ORLEANS LA 70126
CONVERT VACANT SHELL INTO A RETAIL SWEET SHOP. STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL SHALL BE TIED TO THE C OF O.

3200 BROADWAY
LA
CONSTRUCT NEW CONCESSION BUILDING & ENTRY PLAZA; INSTALL FENCE AROUND PLAY AREA, GRADE BALLFIELD, REMOVE & REPLACE SIDEWALKS; PLANT TREES AT EXISTING PARK AS PER PLANS.

111 AUDUBON ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70118
NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A 4 STORY MULTI-FAMILY CONDOMINIUM BUILDING WITH PARKING ON THE BOTTOM LEVEL AS PER PLANS AND DKT #: 11-32 AND PUBLIC WORKS APPROVAL.
Job Value($):
$2,098,650.00

821 BARONNE ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70113
INTERIOR EXPLORATORY DEMOLITION OF VACANT ST AND ST AND ND FLOOR OF COMMERCIAL BUILDING. NO USE AND OCUPANCY OF THIS BUILDING. PLANS TO FOLLOW.
Job Value($):
$21,000.00


826 HARRISON AVE
NEW ORLEANS LA 70124
Tenant build-out of vacant commercial structure into a 3300 sq ft medical clinic as per plans

4901 CHEF MENTEUR HWY
8
NEW ORLEANS LA 70126
CONVERT VACANT COMMERCIAL SHELL, SUITE #8, TO LARGE DAY CARE CENTER AS PER STATE FIRE MARSHAL APPROVAL.

817 DECATUR ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70116
Renovate existing 4-story mixed-occupancy structure to include retail space at ground floor, two-residential units on floors 2-4. Renovate existing 2-stry accessory building to include one residential unit as per plans and BBSA dkt #11-19.
Job Value($):
$265,000.00

1300 MAGAZINE ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70130
EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO STABLIZE EXISTING VACANT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE (1300-02) AS PER HDLCP-12-0585. NO USE & OCCUPANCY. PLANS TO FOLLOW.

616 ST PETER ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70116
PHASE II - RENOVATE EXISTING THEATRE AND CONVERT A PORTION OF BUILDING TO RESTAURANT AS PER PLANS AND VCCP ???
Job Value($):
$4,675,000.00

4927 FRERET ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70115
REPAIR VACANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING - ROOF INCLUDING ROTTEN RAFTERS,DECKING,PAPER AND SHINGLES.REPAIR SUPPORTING WALLS WHERE NECESSARY. NO USE AND OCCUPANCY

333 CANAL ST
NEW ORLEANS LA 70130
MODIFICATIONS TO THE THIRD FLOOR TO ACCOMMODATE NEW CINEMA EXPANSION(UNDER SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT) INCLUDING CHANGES TO THE STAIRWELL DOORS AND MODIFICATION OF EXIT CORRIDORS TO INCREASE EXISTING CAPACITY AS PER PLANS.


Criollo opens this week


The historic Hotel Monteleone marked its 125th anniversary last year by beginning a major renovation, and this week the hotel debuts the latest part of the project: the new Criollo Restaurant & Lounge (214 Royal St., 681-4444; www.hotelmonteleone.com). It will open for breakfast Wednesday and add lunch and dinner in June.