NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by camkazaam

This city is no longer in existence for the convenience of Slidell, Belle Chase, etc. That period of history (1960-2005) is over.

As anti-suburban as I am... no, seriously. In my opinion this city has too many issues to even think of winging it on it's own without the suburbs and in my opinion provincialism is one of the issues that hurt growth in this region. I feel that we need a revitalised core no doubt, but that won't fix problems like our schools and crime. That'll push them somewhere else and make it appear to be someone elses problem, when it's really everyone's problem. That will still drive away growth. Let's not mention we're banking on a medical center here, that isn't exactly funded (although I'm sure good ol' LA politics will find it) and is supposedly heavily invested in by area doctors who stand to gain a lot from it. Let's not mention that every other city (including Baton Rouge) is pushing for their own version of Texas Medical Center, UAB, etc. Now if we can take advantage of the PANAMEX deal that would be great and could lead to increased traffic in and out of New Orleans and possible development outside of the city itself. Either way we need to diversify as well as clean up this mess that is ingrained into our society. Getting New Orleans to stand on it's own is going to require work on the entire city and not little boutique projects that look pretty. Build it and they will come is still a misnomer.

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by camkazaam

We have no choice but to tear the overpass down, once you look at it. This city is no longer in existence for the convenience of Slidell, Belle Chase, etc. That period of history (1960-2005) is over.

I'm in favor of tearing it down, but not because I'm anti-suburb, not because of any radical improvements to crime or education, and not because it will directly create any new good jobs. I'm in favor because its existence is bad urban planning, and there are easy alternatives to the traffic problem. The section of I-10 we are talking about actually demolishing is a convenient cut-through, and not a necessary artery unable to be re-routed. One proposal had a diamond-interchange at Broad Street and another at Claiborne, which could divide East/West traffic for those not wishing to drive the extra distance to I-610. A little more street traffic on those streets could mean more feasible retail, grocery, convenience stores, and gas stations. That is something that may actually create jobs and enhance the neighborhoods. Furthermore, the many unusable blocks of land where the interchange is near the Superdome could finally be put back into commerce (as suggested by the biodistrict master plan).

Basically, with this project I see all of the minuses as being easily fixable, and the pluses being too good to pass up.

[IceCream]

Finally the vacant lot at the intersection of Louisiana and St. Charles shows some activity.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&...,202.2,,0,0.49

The google street view shows the old gas station, but that was torn down well over a year ago and a rendering for a First Bank & Trust was put up on the site. That has since been taken down. My friend at the bank said they decide against the new branch since it takes 2-3 years for a branch to become profitable and they're leery of new investment right now.

Now though, Iberia Bank has put up a rendering at the site. Oddly enough I feel like the Iberia rendering is EXACTLY the same as the First Bank & Trust was except the name has changed. Anyone else notice that?

Related note, the First NBC bank (confusing I know) was completed months ago across the intersection (next to McDonalds). Both that and the Iberia rendering look faux-historic....

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by IceCream

Finally the vacant lot at the intersection of Louisiana and St. Charles shows some activity.

I had forgotten all about that lot. I'll check out the rendering next time I head that way. I'm still wondering what will become of Borders.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by Uptowner

I had forgotten all about that lot. I'll check out the rendering next time I head that way. I'm still wondering what will become of Borders.

Wasn't there a sign saying something special coming soon?

On a side note, i stopped by the W Hotel French Quarter this past weekend and inquired about what was happening in the old Baccos space. The check in desk said it will be a very high scale martini wine bar and they started construction on it already.

[camkazaam]

Originally Posted by Uptowner

As anti-suburban as I am... no, seriously. In my opinion this city has too many issues to even think of winging it on it's own without the suburbs and in my opinion provincialism is one of the issues that hurt growth in this region.

You missed my point. I just meant that the city can no longer be in the business of completely sacrificing urban neighborhoods for the convenience of transportation to the suburbs. We did that for decades, and we have a lot of damage to show for it. We need to balance urban living with transit convenience. I agree that we need to work together as a region, which means that NOLA should reach out to the burbs, but it also means that the burbs need to realize that as the city goes, so they go.

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by camkazaam

You missed my point. I just meant that the city can no longer be in the business of completely sacrificing urban neighborhoods for the convenience of transportation to the suburbs. We did that for decades, and we have a lot of damage to show for it. We need to balance urban living with transit convenience. I agree that we need to work together as a region, which means that NOLA should reach out to the burbs, but it also means that the burbs need to realize that as the city goes, so they go.

Sorry, I sorta interpreted that as a giant 'FUCK THE SUBURBS, WE DON'T NEED THEM'. Something I've heard a lot of lately which, as much as I wish it was true, I can't agree with.

[Uptowner]

Anyone seen this?
http://www.newhospital.org/

[annie himself]

With all this talk about the region, I thought I should post this:
http://cpex.org/work/louisiana-speaks

You should all look through the study. They surveyed over 27,000 (supposedly) in Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and even included some talk about the Houma MSA. I liked how they showed many different projections of each city and the paths of development we are taking versus developing smarter. Many Louisianans voted for smarter development and transit systems, which was a shock to me seeing that it mean tax increases and the rest of the population, outside of Orleans Parish, is conservative. Nonetheless, this study gives me hope in a bright, prosperous, and more well respected south Louisiana.

[tennis1400]

New Renderings of various projects across the city:























Heres a link to a rendering of the new dixie mill steakhouse:

http://www.montgomeryroth.com/defaul...0rendering.jpg

Two new projects on Bidclerk:
1269034 New Orleans, LA Retail 04/26/2011
Description Renovation of a national chain retail store in New Orleans. Working drawings call for the renovation of a 15,000-square-foot retail store and pharmacy, which will include drive-thru facilities. Construction documents are expected to be complete i...Click here for complete Project Details

1295708 New Orleans, LA Elderly Care / Assisted Living 04/26/2011
Description Site work and new construction of an assisted-living development in New Orleans. Completed working drawings call for the construction of a 51,093-square-foot nursing home. Plans include a common area and kitchen. The owner has determined a list o...Click here for complete Project Details

[urbanwatcher]

Regarding Claiborne overpass:
If the federal money arrives then they will more than likely tear it down.Mitch wants to compete with other cities and this will play a role.

[Blitzen]

From: CityBusiness

Demolition work begins on Lindy Boggs Medical Center

POSTED: 03:15 PM Tuesday, April 26, 2011
BY: Jenny Peterson, Associate Editor

Work is under way to clean up the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center in Mid-City, marking the first significant activity at the buildings since Hurricane Katrina.

The McDonnel Group of Metairie is heading up the first phase of demolition on the back two buildings between Bienville and Conti streets.

David McDonnel, project manager, said it’s the first phase of a $20 million project to renovate the site into St. Margaret’s Daughter’s Home, a faith-based nonprofit nursing home.

The $400,000 demolition contract includes tearing down all the non-structural building elements, removing the
exterior and roof and removing hazardous materials from the two buildings, McDonnel said.

About $20,000 will be spent on removing hazardous materials and abatement. The rest will go toward stripping the buildings down completely.

“We’re not really keeping anything; it’s being brought down to the bare bones structure,” McDonnel said.

The contract says the demolition phase must be complete by mid-June. The 116-bed nursing home expects to open in 2012.

That's a pretty ambitious time-frame. Does anyone have a rendering of the completed facility?

[rcp11889]

Here's a link to some renderings of the new Drexel Chapel being build on Xavier's campus. I had forgotten all about this until I noticed the construction the other day.

http://www.xula.edu/institutional-ad...dex_chapel.php

[skyscraperfan23]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

New Renderings of various projects across the city:























Heres a link to a rendering of the new dixie mill steakhouse:

http://www.montgomeryroth.com/defaul...0rendering.jpg

Two new projects on Bidclerk:
1269034 New Orleans, LA Retail 04/26/2011
Description Renovation of a national chain retail store in New Orleans. Working drawings call for the renovation of a 15,000-square-foot retail store and pharmacy, which will include drive-thru facilities. Construction documents are expected to be complete i...Click here for complete Project Details

1295708 New Orleans, LA Elderly Care / Assisted Living 04/26/2011
Description Site work and new construction of an assisted-living development in New Orleans. Completed working drawings call for the construction of a 51,093-square-foot nursing home. Plans include a common area and kitchen. The owner has determined a list o...Click here for complete Project Details

This is what new orleans should be.

[Uptowngirl]

That retail chain is the Walgreen's on Magazine which the neighbors are very much against (and I'm siding with the neighbors...esp. since others were interested in the site for a restaurant...but no one can put up the money to buy the property from Sterling_

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Uptowngirl

but no one can put up the money to buy the property from Sterling_

Stirling's ridiculously high expectations for the New Orleans market are the rumored reason for the Borders closure... the store was not unsuccessful by the standards of the Borders chain, but sales could not cover the high rent. That's why an Apple Store there would not surprise me; Apple is willing to lose money on their stores because it views them as a marketing expense for their products, not as an individually-profitable venture.

Walgreens must have pretty high expectations for sales on that stretch of Magazine if they're willing to deal with Stirling. Really, I hate chain drugstores, but I don't like independent pharmacies either. The chains wreak havoc on dense cities with their ugly architecture and parking lots, while the independent pharmacies don't keep late hours, so they're pretty irrelevant.

[midcity]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

That's a pretty ambitious time-frame. Does anyone have a rendering of the completed facility?

I haven't seen a rendering, but I'm so glad there is finally movement on this massive building. It has been an eyesore, especially with standing water in the garage, since katrina, but has become even worse since St. Margarets announced its purchase nearly 2 years ago. More broken windows and graffitti. Hopefully, visible progress soon.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by Uptowngirl

That retail chain is the Walgreen's on Magazine which the neighbors are very much against (and I'm siding with the neighbors...esp. since others were interested in the site for a restaurant...but no one can put up the money to buy the property from Sterling_

I certainly think everyone is entitled to their own opinions but Im amazed at people who think they have the right to dictate what private landowners do what their own property. Especially when the proposal conforms to existing zoning, affects nothing historic and is clearly not a public nuisance. BTW the chain argument is fallacious too considering there is a chicos, radio shack, whole foods and pinkberry all within the block. That said Im not sure why Walgreens thinks this site is better than the Tchoupitoulas location other than they cant have a drive thru over there. Either way they should be free to pursue their business where they want as long as it conforms to city zoning.

[Uptowngirl]

We know it conforms to zoning (via bad zoning) that's why we want to encourage Walgreens to look elsewhere. Parking in a major issue in the area and it is/was to be a 24 hr Walgreens with a liquor license.

New Orleanians kept Starbucks out of Jackson Square via public opinion...we want the same

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by Uptowngirl

We know it conforms to zoning (via bad zoning) that's why we want to encourage Walgreens to look elsewhere. Parking in a major issue in the area and it is/was to be a 24 hr Walgreens with a liquor license.

New Orleanians kept Starbucks out of Jackson Square via public opinion...we want the same

So its acceptable because it happened before? Thats not logic I can follow! BTW these two situations are not comparable. Do you remember who owned the buildings at Jackson Square? I dont recall it being a private enterprise. .It was the Louisiana State Museums board of directors that chose Stanley over Starbucks as a result of public opinion, a situation that was totally reasonable. Somehow, youve interpreted that as now meaning you can tell private landowners what they can/cant do with their own property. In regards to parking the property has more than current zoning requires. As for the zoning, bad or not (a subjective statement) thats what the zoning is currently. Last, the liquor license is allowed in that location as well. St Joes Bar is right on the same block. Two options here : dont shop in the store or buy the building yourself. Otherwise, I cant support your view!