NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by sgray

Received the following from the DDD

823 Canal Street Undergoing Major Facade Renovation;
DDD Facade Improvement Matching Grant Aids Project


There is a major historic renovation underway at 823 Canal Street, the site of an Italianate commercial building originally constructed in the 1890's. Since then, two major renovations have taken place, including the removal of the historic architectural elements in the 1950's, and a further alteration in the 1970's.

With the assistance of a DDD Facade Improvement Matching Grant, property owners at 823 Canal Street are working to restore the facade to its original design. The work includes the removal of a steel exterior stairway, installation of six windows matching the original architecture, new paint, glass, and stucco.

"This project is significant for many reasons," says DDD Retail Attraction Specialist Ryan Bordenave. "Not only is this an investment in the facade of the building, but it will help the DDD and the property owner in efforts to attract a national brand retailer to the property. Futhermore, the neighboring property owner is also now considering an historic renovation to the facade of his property at 827 Canal Street."

The renovations at 823 and 827 Canal Street are part of a three-block improvement strategy, and these two projects will complete the 800 block. The restoration of the facades in the 800 block of Canal Street will greatly aid the DDD in its retail attraction efforts by creating a much more inviting environment.

For more information on the DDD's Facade Improvement Matching Grant program, visit www.neworleansdowntown.com/facade_grant.

These two buildings are some of the most run-down embarrassing ones on Canal Street. If they are returned to their original appearance, we'll have a cast-iron district going, like Soho or something.

Here's the original appearance (the building on the far right, DH Holmes, was renovated in the 1920s and is now the Chateau Bourbon)

[Mission Most Livable]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

I didn't know anything about Rail Gateway until I googled it after reading your comment. I found a few presentations like this one: http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltc_09/pdf/Goodell,%20Dean.pdf.

So my question to anyone who knows is, is the Middle Belt alternative going to happen? It seems like a great idea, and an obvious choice to anyone who's ever looked at a map of New Orleans, or had to wait 15 minutes at Metairie Road for a train to pass.

My second question is, when they say "separate/close" grade crossings, do they mean to car traffic? or build bridges above them? or what exactly?

Last I heard from RPC the middle belt alternative was going to happen mainly due to the removal of the carrollton and I-10 flyovers.

This would mean the city could then elevate those sections and eliminate the flooding that shut these roads down as evacuation route during a hurricane.

The Carrollton flyover floods when it drizzles which will be a big relief to get fixed.

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by Mission Most Livable

Last I heard from RPC the middle belt alternative was going to happen mainly due to the removal of the carrollton and I-10 flyovers.

This would mean the city could then elevate those sections and eliminate the flooding that shut these roads down as evacuation route during a hurricane.

The Carrollton flyover floods when it drizzles which will be a big relief to get fixed.

I would love to see plans for a reconstructed Carrollton interchange. My biggest concern, however, is how would the city be able to do anything with the interchange or the Mound Underpass since they aren't allowed to touch it. Now, the plans that I've seen only show plans to realign the geometry on the I-10 -> Carrollton/Airline ramps which will also allow room to run a new track underneath I-10 at Airline.

[Mission Most Livable]

Originally Posted by Uptowner

I would love to see plans for a reconstructed Carrollton interchange. My biggest concern, however, is how would the city be able to do anything with the interchange or the Mound Underpass since they aren't allowed to touch it. Now, the plans that I've seen only show plans to realign the geometry on the I-10 -> Carrollton/Airline ramps which will also allow room to run a new track underneath I-10 at Airline.

I'm not sure they'll be doing any reconstruction or reconfiguring of the Carrollton interchange and/or Carrollton/Airline ramps per se in the very near future.

All that concrete belongs to the state and as we continue to reduce taxes and revenue it's almost mathematically impossible for us not to run budget deficits every year from this point forward.

Pretty tough to fund big projects like this with massive budget shortfalls and a political environment which glorifies refusing federal highway dollars that then go to other states versus back to some magical deficit fairy.

[skyscraperfan23]

Trump Towers needs to be built, that would be a higher step for the N.O.

[Mission Most Livable]

Originally Posted by skyscraperfan23

Trump Towers needs to be built, that would be a higher step for the N.O.

Not happening. I'd much rather see the South of Market development happen.

That has the potential to completely transform downtown to destination living if done right.

[Reverend_Cletus]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

New items on Bidclerk:


Freret Streetscape Project
1441317 New Orleans, LA Sidewalks / Parking Lot 05/19/2011
Description Bid Number: 5001-00996 Description: Freret Streetscape Scope: Removal of Exisitng Sidewalk New Concrete Sidewalks (4" Thick) in Neutral Ground Existing Tree Prunning and Arborist Work Sawcutting Existing Concrete Curb The owner has a...Click here for complete Project Details


No Idea what this is for?

1593740 New Orleans, LA Multi-Residential, Retail 05/19/2011
Description Renovation of a mixed-use development in New Orleans. Completed working drawings call for the renovation of 12 apartment units and four retail spaces totaling approximately 40,000 square feet. The owner has determined a list of select general con...Click here for complete Project Details

I think the next two have to do with the Hotel Monteleone but Im not sure!
1593764 New Orleans, LA Hotel / Motel 05/19/2011
Description Renovation of a national chain hospitality development in New Orleans. Completed working drawings call for the 60,000-square-foot renovation of a hotel to include flooring, painting, carpentry and doors on floors eight through 18. The owner has d...Click here for complete Project Details


1593745 New Orleans, LA Hotel / Motel 05/19/2011
Description Renovation of a hospitality development in New Orleans. Completed working drawings call for the renovation of three ballrooms in an existing hotel totaling approximately 25,000 square feet. The owner has determined a list of select general contra...Click here for complete Project Details

Project ID 1593740 is the Poydras Apartments and Retail Space at 900 Poydras St.

Project ID 1593764 is the Holiday Inn on Loyola.

Project 1593745 is the ballroom at the Marriott on Canal.

[skyscraperfan23]

Originally Posted by Mission Most Livable

Not happening. I'd much rather see the South of Market development happen.

That has the potential to completely transform downtown to destination living if done right.

I Don't think so, trump towers needs to be built, N.O. already has emeril lagasse, we need a bigger superstar.
we need to turn new orleans into south beach.

[C.Lan]

Originally Posted by Reverend_Cletus

Project ID 1593740 is the Poydras Apartments and Retail Space at 900 Poydras St.

Project ID 1593764 is the Holiday Inn on Loyola.

Project 1593745 is the ballroom at the Marriott on Canal.

Why did it take them so long to get the H.I. up on loyola, i'd heard there was an opening for that ages ago. Not maybe specifically for that specific hotel but, you know, there was an opening. I took a look at the area on google maps just now, it's always hard to tell how out-of-date the imaging is. the Good Shepherd Miss school down the street is completely blocked by the buildings around it but i know for a fact there have been renovations. and Union street further north doesn't show anything about the proposed developments near the hibernia building.

[Mission Most Livable]

Originally Posted by skyscraperfan23

I Don't think so, trump towers needs to be built, N.O. already has emeril lagasse, we need a bigger superstar.
we need to turn new orleans into south beach.

Maybe, but like almost all Trump projects it's a pipe dream and he doesn't have the money to build it himself.

Not sure what Emeril has to do with a condo development or what Miami South Beach has to do with a downtown mixed use project but it's like comparing apples to lawn furniture.

[ardecila]

We'll never be like South Beach, chiefly because we don't have a beach. (spare me, nobody from out of town will visit the city to lounge on Pontchartrain Beach) The few beaches that do exist in South Louisiana are far from populated areas and they keep getting destroyed by erosion and oil spills.

I do kinda wish the city was more pro-active in encouraging clubs to open, though. I'm not really the clubbing type but I do see its value in attracting a certain class of wealthy, sophisticated tourist. The appeal of Bourbon Street to this class of tourist is limited.

[IceCream]

Here's a link to the google street view of the two buildings. Absolutely terrible..... They are the two with the windows completely bricked up:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...2.72,,0,-26.34

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by IceCream

Here's a link to the google street view of the two buildings. Absolutely terrible..... They are the two with the windows completely bricked up:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...2.72,,0,-26.34

Well that will certainly be a big improvement. I like the idea of taking blocks at a time.

[skyscraperfan23]

Originally Posted by ardecila

We'll never be like South Beach, chiefly because we don't have a beach. (spare me, nobody from out of town will visit the city to lounge on Pontchartrain Beach) The few beaches that do exist in South Louisiana are far from populated areas and they keep getting destroyed by erosion and oil spills.

I do kinda wish the city was more pro-active in encouraging clubs to open, though. I'm not really the clubbing type but I do see its value in attracting a certain class of wealthy, sophisticated tourist. The appeal of Bourbon Street to this class of tourist is limited.

We can be like south beach, New Orleans needs a futuristic condo.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by skyscraperfan23

We can be like south beach, New Orleans needs a futuristic condo.

I think the warehouse district could eventually have some of that scene, but New Orleans is always going to be a bit different. Tons of giant clubs that come and go every few years just isnt the scene here.

[dgpatel]

Here are some interesting reads from an organization called Connect, by the Center for Planning Excellence. These documents study the impact/need for a joint coordination between NOLA and Baton Rouge to create a "Super Region", including a passenger rail connection between the two cities.

http://connect.cpex.org/projects/policy-briefs/

[tennis1400]

I agree with the idea of making this region into an area like the Bay Area. The northshore, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Each offers something that can make the area as a whole a very attractive place to locate.


Link to new Freret and Claiborne Avenue streetscapes





http://uptownmessenger.com/2011/05/p...orleans-roads/

[NOLAmike]

tennis1400: What is that building at the bottom of your post?

dgpatel: Thanks for those links. After having lived in Baton Rouge for 6 years its interesting to hear that CATS has no firm income base besides fares. To be honest with you Baton Rouge is a mess from an urban planning perspective. There are no sidewalks anywhere and a lot of the time there are ditches on the side of the road so the car will run you into the ditch if you are walking or on a bike. Thanks goodness they finally built bike lanes on brightside though. Its a shame they only did that after one of the LSU cyclists was killed by a traffic accident on his bike. Hopefully there will be better service connecting the 2 cities one day though. LA swift is a big improvement on what was there before, but rail would be a nice addition. Just have to somehow improve transit within the city limits of BR itself

[tennis1400]

Its an idea of what the Hotel Indigo on Canal will look like. The original name is the Audubon Building!

[polemic]

Awhile back there was a discussion about adding light rail from downtown to the airport. Thinking about it, I think the most sensible position for an expansion of light rail in New Orleans would be an airport connector running down Claiborne and Jefferson Hwy.

The proposed route would be:
Leaving the UPT and snaking into the Claiborne neutral ground
Through the Claiborne neutral ground, across the parish line and down the Jefferson Hwy. neutral ground
Turn onto Elmwood Park Blvd. until it ends at Citrus, down the Citrus Blvd. median until it ends at Dickory Avenue, then down the Dickory Avenue median, over the rail flyover to Airline
Then down Airline to the Airport.


Stops could be at (just approximations)
UPT
MLK
Toledano
Napoleon
Jefferson
Audubon (Tulane)
Carrolton (St. Charles Line)
Monticello Ave
Brooklyn Ave
Ochsner
South Causeway
Arnoult/Shrewsbury
Riverdale Dr.
Central Ave.
Clearview
South Elmwood
North Elmwood (Yenni)
Dickory (River Oaks Hospital)
David Dr. (Saints Hall of Fame / Zephyr Field)
Lynette Dr.
Roosevelt
Williams (Kenner River Town)
MSY Airport

Advantages include:
Connecting the 1st biggest job center (Downtown) in the region with the 3rd biggest (Elmwood)
Hitting two medical centers that are part of Ochsner the region’s #1 employer on the way, plus connecting with River Oaks (And getting them close to connecting directly to the new medical center – is there a way to solve this problem and get a direct link?)
Adding the airport, the last major tourist site that is not on the New Orleans streetcar system.
Passing by neighborhoods that are transit friendly on both the Orleans and Jefferson side of the route
Major opportunities for Transit Oriented Development, including the return of Claiborne as a commercial shopping destination; a quicker connection from the universities to downtown; potential large scale redevelopment at the Sewerage and Water Board / Harrell Stadium sites, areas that are underutilized as of now; vacant land on the eastern end of Jefferson Hwy. At the Parish line and at the shopping center at Causeway and Jefferson; connecting the Saints Training / Zephyr field to downtown, to the extent that is an attraction for Orleanians.

With light timing/bypass, the route should not be too bad/take too long for tourists riding the whole route from the airport; it runs about 14 miles from start to finish, which is no different mileage-wise than taking the interstate and only slightly more than going the Airline Hwy. Route. It’s shorter than a lot of the Dallas light rail lines going in with about the same number of stop counts.

Moreover its advantages over taking an Airline route to the airport are clear: the neighborhoods near a Claiborne/Jefferson route are more oriented towards transit with a better connected grid making residents more willing to take transit, the obstacles to accessing transit are much less than crossing Airline Hwy., and the route will not involve negotiating with the commercial rail carriers. The neighborhoods also probably skew a little more middle/lower middle class, which is where non-tourist transit growth in NOLA will likely come, seeing as how our traffic is not so bad that many upper class / upper middle class people will be dissuaded from driving. Finally, most of the route is down neutral ground, so it will be relatively cheap to acquire ROW.