NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread - Page 60

DillardAlum · #**1181** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 8:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nolacat157

Chevron Place to Become the City Centre of New Orleans

Download image NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- An institutional caliber New Orleans skyscraper formerly known as Chevron Place today joined the billion dollar business momentum that New Orleans has generated since hurricane Katrina remodeled the city. The 21-story office tower located at the corner of O'Keefe and Gravier streets was acquired today by Kingfish Development, LLC. The skyscraper will be renamed City Centre of New Orleans and it will become a hub for technology based companies, entrepreneurs and companies who want a prestigious downtown business address. Once fully occupied City Centre will bring 700-800 jobs into the Central Business District.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...105245828.html

Not only does this plan put the office tower back into commerce, but it is a type of commerce, which is better suited for the 21st century--"technology based companies." It fits the DDD's campaign to nurture "industries of the mind," and it will hopefully keep demand up for all the residential developments in the CBD. Additionally, it is quite symbolic for creating a more economically viable Nola... a former big oil building put back into commerce as a tech hub. I hope it gets off the ground and is successful. It also is nice, because all the pro-Chevron for City Hallers claimed that it would be years before Chevron Place would be redeveloped since it was built for a single tenant. It is nice to see this type of investment in that context.

DillardAlum · #**1182** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 8:41 PM**

From New Orleans City Business:
"Kingfish principal Hugh Uhalt, who described himself as the lead investor, said the closing itself generated enough calls to fill up two floors of the 21-story tower.

So far the interest is local, Uhalt said, but he intends to attract businesses that left New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

“You can’t have a building that big and vacant in this city,” Uhalt said. “I’m gonna get this thing done if I have to fly to Houston and pack people up myself.”"

"Lease space is going for $12 to $14 per square foot"

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...as-new-owners/

DillardAlum · #**1183** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 8:44 PM**

"Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar is stepping into the Crescent City. The Baton Rouge–based sports bar and grill is set to open its first New Orleans location on Poydras Street, a few blocks from the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena, in the old Smith & Wollensky building. Plans are to open the restaurant in fall 2011, according to the Walk-On's website. This will be the second Walk-On's outside of Baton Rouge; a Lafayette location is set to open in early 2011."

http://www.businessreport.com/archiv...report/latest/

Nolacat157 · #**1184** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DillardAlum

"Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar is stepping into the Crescent City. The Baton Rouge–based sports bar and grill is set to open its first New Orleans location on Poydras Street, a few blocks from the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena, in the old Smith & Wollensky building. Plans are to open the restaurant in fall 2011, according to the Walk-On's website. This will be the second Walk-On's outside of Baton Rouge; a Lafayette location is set to open in early 2011."

http://www.businessreport.com/archiv...report/latest/

We need a sports bar down there so I'm all for this but I can imagine this is not going to go over real well with a lot of people being such a historic building.

tennis1400 · #**1185** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 9:26 PM**

I dont have a problem with it if they do a good job with the renovation. if they are smart they will work hard to make it look sophisticated like Smith and Wollenskys did!

tennis1400 · #**1186** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 10:16 PM**

On bidclerk there is mention of a building being renovated into a 103 room hotel. Is this the Hotel Indigo on Canal or is it something else?

SlidellWx · #**1187** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 7:17 AM**

The next building in the CBD I would really like to see some activity on is 225 Baronne. This was a functioning office building before the storm. If I remember correctly, a group of TX based investors bought the building shortly after Katrina. They had plans to develop it into a mixed-use facility. Haven't heard a peep about the project in a long time.

sguil1 · #**1188** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 7:34 PM**

City Hall gets $2 million to study Claiborne Ave., possible elevated I-10 teardown

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s...ion_to_st.html

I don't really care either way about this story, but it seemed like a hot topic earlier so I thought I would pass it on.

sguil1 · #**1189** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nolacat157

We need a sports bar down there so I'm all for this but I can imagine this is not going to go over real well with a lot of people being such a historic building.

I don't see why anyone would have a problem with it. Putting a historic building back into commerce with a viable business, the preservationists should be overjoyed. There is definately a market for restraunts in that area, especially during the day and it will only add to the sports-entertainment district on gamedays.

camkazaam · #**1190** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 1:18 AM**

I noticed something I haven't seen anyone mention: The old St. Charles General Hospital on St. Charles Ave. is finally being gutted out. I used to live next to this building, and I can tell you its one of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. If they can turn it into something that looks nice, it would be a huge benefit for the neighborhood. Does anyone know if Touro is finally going to turn it into a psychiatric hospital? That was the original plan, I think.

tennis1400 · #**1191** Posted **Oct 22, 2010, 2:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlidellWx

The next building in the CBD I would really like to see some activity on is 225 Baronne. This was a functioning office building before the storm. If I remember correctly, a group of TX based investors bought the building shortly after Katrina. They had plans to develop it into a mixed-use facility. Haven't heard a peep about the project in a long time.

If im correct part of it is now the Baronne Plaza Hotel. But yes would like to see this revamped. Hopefully the Chevron(City Center) deal is successful as that could set a good precedent for more niche office space. Especially as 225 Baronne has quite large floorplates that are better suited for office space. Dont get me wrong I love all the residential and hotel conversions but I think its important to have a well balanced downtown. New Orleans is certainly one of the better ones and it would be nice to not just keep it that way but to improve upon that fact.

tennis1400 · #**1192** Posted **Oct 22, 2010, 3:05 AM**

Saenger Theatre News! Looks to finally be moving!

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s...cil_is_ex.html

ardecila · #**1193** Posted **Oct 22, 2010, 6:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by camkazaam

I noticed something I haven't seen anyone mention: The old St. Charles General Hospital on St. Charles Ave. is finally being gutted out. I used to live next to this building, and I can tell you its one of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. If they can turn it into something that looks nice, it would be a huge benefit for the neighborhood. Does anyone know if Touro is finally going to turn it into a psychiatric hospital? That was the original plan, I think.

Yea, I saw this when I was going down St. Charles yesterday. That building was always super-creepy, so I hope they can do something nice with it.

Nolacat157 · #**1194** Posted **Oct 22, 2010, 1:56 PM**

Is that building next to Superior Grill? If so, LSU bought that and they're putting office space in there.

tennis1400 · #**1195** Posted **Oct 23, 2010, 12:13 AM**

Then thats what it is Nolacat. Yes it will be nice to something decent there.

camkazaam · #**1196** Posted **Oct 23, 2010, 4:18 AM**

Here's the press release about the medical building near Touro Infirmary. It's great news!

Renovation Begins on New LSU Clinical Offices
9/15/2010

Media Contact:
Leslie Capo
LSU Health Sciences Center
New Orleans
(504) 568-4806
lcapo@lsuhsc.edu

NEW ORLEANS (September 15, 2010) – Renovation of the former St. Charles General Hospital for the clinical practice of LSUHSC faculty will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the green space next to the facility. Participants include Dr. John Lombardi, President of the LSU System, Dr. Larry Hollier, Chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Jim Montgomery, President of Touro Infirmary, Steve Worley, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital and Louisiana Children’s Medical Center, Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the LSUHSC School of Medicine, and Dr. Cathi Fontenot, Interim CEO of the LSU Healthcare Network.

The 7-floor, 70,000 square-foot facility will house 95 exam rooms and 15 procedure rooms for the primary care faculty, specialists, and sub-specialists of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans’s schools of medicine, dentistry, and allied health professions. Specialties include OB/GYN, Comprehensive Medicine, Oncology, Psychiatry, Surgery, Neurology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Podiatry, Family Medicine, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Rheumatology, Orthopaedics, Thoracic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Immunology, Allergy, Pulmonary, Nephrology, Vascular Surgery, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, General Dentistry, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

“This is another step forward in rebuilding the health infrastructure in New Orleans,” notes Dr. Larry Hollier, LSUHSC Chancellor. “This facility will serve as the home of our faculty’s clinical practice so we can function as a true integrated multispecialty group. Patients will benefit from having a single point of contact for a broad array of academic medical, dental, and allied health specialties, and the neighborhood will enjoy a renovated, repurposed facility that will once again contribute to the health and economy of the area.”

The $7.8 million project will produce hundreds of local construction jobs.

“The renovation of the former St. Charles Hospital will transform the existing building into a state-of-the-art medical office facility and will offer convenient access to quality healthcare care for this community,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Touro Infirmary.

The estimated completion date for the renovation is September 2011.

http://www.touro.com/content/pressre...inor=0&major=1

rcp11889 · #**1197** Posted **Oct 24, 2010, 12:27 AM**

Not sure if anyone's seen this but the new green business hub that's supposed to be renovating the old Bohn Ford on Carrollton has a website. They seem pretty legit.

http://www.thebuildingblock.com/

prokowave · #**1198** Posted **Oct 25, 2010, 5:16 PM**

United Airlines recently announced that it will be adding a long-needed direct flight from MSY to San Francisco.
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...san-francisco/

Also they have unveiled a new website to replace the old eyesore!
http://www.flymsy.com

All this while the expansion of concourse D is well underway and work is beginning on the consolidated rental car facility.

tennis1400 · #**1199** Posted **Oct 25, 2010, 10:16 PM**

So happy about the direct flight to Frisco. The other cities in US we need are Seattle, Austin, San Diego and Portland.

SlidellWx · #**1200** Posted **Oct 25, 2010, 11:33 PM**

We had a flight to Austin for a while when ExpressJet was flying. Too bad high oil prices killed that operation in 2008. They flew to Austin, Jacksonville, San Antonio, and Raleigh. The flights out of MSY were doing well from what I've heard. One of the more profitable stations. Southwest used to fly to San Diego before the hurricane. I'm hoping they will resume that flight and the flight to Oakland soon. Seattle and Portland will be tough to get unless the airport lands Alaskan.

I actually just flew up to St. Louis this weekend for a wedding on Southwest. Got to see some of the upgrades to the airport first hand. The new flight info displays are a great addition and easy to read. Also...the new bathrooms in Concourse B are a vast improvement over what was there before. Very modern...completely touchless...and clean. Now if they could only get baggage claim modernized. That's my least favorite section of the airport. The check-in and concourse areas are fine for now.