NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[ardecila]

The same restaurants that are in Times Square, probably. Applebee's? Maybe an ESPN Zone?

[Nolacat157]

Originally Posted by ardecila

The same restaurants that are in Times Square, probably. Applebee's? Maybe an ESPN Zone?

Disney closed all of the ESPN Zones outside of LA. I would imagine Dave and Busters or Buffalo Wild Wings type places.

[prokowave]

City Business has this update on the Mid-City Market:
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/th...lding-permits/

Four building permits on the Mid-City Market construction site on Carrollton Avenue have been filed within the past two weeks, Stirling Properties Vice President Townsend Underhill said.

Good to see that this project is still chugging along. I had become a bit worried with the lack of activity on the site over the last few weeks. There has been a huge amount of good news on the retail front lately.

[UPT]

The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel is being auctioned Aug. 22 at a reserve price of $105 million on auction.com.

The Astor Crowne has 32,000 square feet compared with 200,000 at the Hyatt, 130,000 at the Hilton Riverside and 80,000 at the Marriott on Canal Street.
“With 700 rooms and only 32,000 square feet of meeting space, you’re kind of fish nor foul at that point so far as being a convention hotel,” Miestchovich said. “Then you’re only betting on the leisure and travel market. I thought they would have at least 100,000 square feet because then you can do the mid-tier conventions.”

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...-hotel-afloat/




John Georges has officially purchased Colonial.

While at least four developers have approached Georges with interest in the property,

Georges said that he and Ducote are in no rush to develop. They're open to hear any ideas from the site. J.W. Colonial will maintain the property until a plan is put together. Georges he does not intend to approach the council until then.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.s..._river_default

[tennis1400]

Sno Dog, the snowball stand in the original Dat Dog space—across the street from the new Dat Dog space—could potentially open within the week. NoDef talks to owner Skip Murray: "I can't give you exact opening times as we live in a place that has no need of dates on a calendar," but he hopes to be up and running by the first week of August. [NoDef]




http://nola.eater.com/

[v-chop]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

Sno Dog, the snowball stand in the original Dat Dog space—across the street from the new Dat Dog space—could potentially open within the week. NoDef talks to owner Skip Murray: "I can't give you exact opening times as we live in a place that has no need of dates on a calendar," but he hopes to be up and running by the first week of August. [NoDef]




http://nola.eater.com/

Hooray for $5.00 Sno Balls!!!

[tennis1400]

http://www.nola.gov/en/sitecore/cont...ests-2012.aspx


Check out the proposed Capital Projects over the next 5 years. Lots of interesting stuff.

[jbs2886]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

http://www.nola.gov/en/sitecore/cont...ests-2012.aspx


Check out the proposed Capital Projects over the next 5 years. Lots of interesting stuff.

Personally, Im hoping for all the airport projects to be approved!

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by jbs2886

Personally, Im hoping for all the airport projects to be approved!

Because it directly affects me, I hope the HDLC, safety and permits etc one stop shop will happen. This one is a no brainer as it pays for itself easily and will dramatically improve efficiency not to mention the whole experience will be more pleasant.

[Blitzen]

The article doesn't give a time-table, but says the food store will be able to be re-opened, thanks to this million dollar loan. I hope the Claiborne overpass comes down and the traffic circle that gives the store its name is restored. I could see this being a prosperous commercial intersection in the future.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Circle-Foo...164734986.html

______________________________________________________________________________________

French Market

http://www.nola.gov/en/sitecore/cont...ests-2012.aspx


Check out the proposed Capital Projects over the next 5 years. Lots of interesting stuff.

I noticed the parking garages/commercial space the French Market Corp want to build on Elysian Fields isn't mentioned in this. Is it seperate? Does anyone have a time-table or anymore info on this?

[ardecila]

I thought they were looking to bring in a private partner to operate the garages and manag retail leasing.

[Blitzen]

http://blog.prcno.org/2012/08/01/pro...da-aug-8-2012/

520 Natchez - demolition of the building and stabilization of the facade (site to be used for parking)

The property proposed for demolition with the stabilization of the facade at this month’s CBD HDLC meeting, is part of “Natchez Alley,” a row of three-story brick buildings built as commercial space in 1851.

I normally am ok with demolishing uninteresting old buildings for the sake of progress, but this building is beautiful and exists as a row. We would forever regret tearing it down just to allow for more parking. Please write to the email addresses in the link above and urge them not to demolish this!

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nzr...=b&form=LMLTCC

[prokowave]

I have sent an email strongly opposing the demolition of this building and I hope you'll all do the same. There are dozens of similar buildings throughout the CBD and it astounds me that so many are sitting vacant. With rents and occupancy so high in this safest and most walkable area of the city, it is unthinkable that we should allow these beautiful buildings to be demolished for more surface parking.

We really should have more incentive to fix this and similar buildings up and return them to commerce. In the CBD alone there are enough to provide space for hundreds of shops, restaurants and apartments.

/End Rant

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by prokowave

I have sent an email strongly opposing the demolition of this building and I hope you'll all do the same. There are dozens of similar buildings throughout the CBD and it astounds me that so many are sitting vacant. With rents and occupancy so high in this safest and most walkable area of the city, it is unthinkable that we should allow these beautiful buildings to be demolished for more surface parking.

We really should have more incentive to fix this and similar buildings up and return them to commerce. In the CBD alone there are enough to provide space for hundreds of shops, restaurants and apartments.

/End Rant

Im going to send an offer in to the guy to purchase the building. It absolutely can be saved. Hes been so slow responding to my request to purchase it. So yeah everyone send in their complaints..

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

The article doesn't give a time-table, but says the food store will not able to be re-opened, thanks to this million dollar loan. I hope the Claiborne overpass comes down and the traffic circle that gives the store its name is restored. I could see this being a prosperous commercial intersection in the future.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Circle-Foo...164734986.html

______________________________________________________________________________________

French Market



I noticed the parking garages/commercial space the French Market Corp want to build on Elysian Fields isn't mentioned in this. Is it seperate? Does anyone have a time-table or anymore info on this?

I think you mistyped something in your comments about the circle food store. Should be will be able to be reopened

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

The article doesn't give a time-table, but says the food store will not able to be re-opened, thanks to this million dollar loan. I hope the Claiborne overpass comes down and the traffic circle that gives the store its name is restored. I could see this being a prosperous commercial intersection in the future.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Circle-Foo...164734986.html

______________________________________________________________________________________

French Market



I noticed the parking garages/commercial space the French Market Corp want to build on Elysian Fields isn't mentioned in this. Is it seperate? Does anyone have a time-table or anymore info on this?

While its owned by the French Market Corporation the third party RFP is solicited by the New Orleans Building Corporation.

[IceCream]

^^ Just sent mine...the general gist of my email was about why would we allow this historic CBD biulding to be demolished and turned into surface parking, while just a few blocks away on Rampart we are fighting tooth and nail to prevent surface parking lots from spreading further....

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

I think you mistyped something in your comments about the circle food store. Should be will be able to be reopened

Thanks you are correct, and an update: The owner hopes construction will begin September 1 and have an Easter re-opening.

http://www.wwltv.com/video?id=164734...=articlevidmod

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by IceCream

^^ Just sent mine...the general gist of my email was about why would we allow this historic CBD biulding to be demolished and turned into surface parking, while just a few blocks away on Rampart we are fighting tooth and nail to prevent surface parking lots from spreading further....

I had atempted to buy the building back in January of this year and the guy was responsive at first and then just ignored me for months. The building can be reused. Sure the likely path to rebuilding is to basically bulldoze the interior and rebuild the insides but the problem here isnt nescessarily the demolition request its the surface parking. We dont need anymore surface parking in this city. Sure it may be more convenient sometimes but people dont come to New Orleans to see surface parking lots. I think the city should consider a special tax on all surface parking lots in the core area. Encourage landowners to pursue other means to develop their property.

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

I think the city should consider a special tax on all surface parking lots in the core area. Encourage landowners to pursue other means to develop their property.

I share your goal, but think the best means to do that is to stop taxing everyone to pay for suburban sprawl projects, letting them rely solely on gasoline taxes and tolls, which is more of a statewide issue.

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On another note, according to http://www.nola.gov/RESIDENTS/reinventingthecrescent/, the park should be opened sometime next month. Has anyone been down there recently? Does it look ready for opening? Any sneak peek pictures?

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Also, we talked about it a while back on the forum, but looks like there's a good push happening to get a bikeshare in NOLA.

http://www.abc26.com/news/newswithat...,6815791.story