NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[ardecila]

Awesome! I've never been there but I was always excited that they serve Intelligentsia coffee. (I used to mail-order it, now buy it at Fresh Market)

First Freret and now OC Haley... how is this happening so fast after so many years of neglect? Whatever the magic ingredient is, we need to figure out what it is and get that mojo workin' in other parts of town. I don't think so many people are flocking to New Orleans that gentrification is a serious concern... not enough new wealthy residents to push out the old poor ones.

[NOLAforME]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Awesome! I've never been there but I was always excited that they serve Intelligentsia coffee. (I used to mail-order it, now buy it at Fresh Market)

First Freret and now OC Haley... how is this happening so fast after so many years of neglect? Whatever the magic ingredient is, we need to figure out what it is and get that mojo workin' in other parts of town. I don't think so many people are flocking to New Orleans that gentrification is a serious concern... not enough new wealthy residents to push out the old poor ones.

For the past 30 years whenever someone would visit from another state or another country I'd hear the same thing over and over again "This City has Soooo Much Potential, but......" I guess anyone can fill in the blank with something negative to say. I think NOLA is drawing in people from other places and giving natives a new incentive to bring out all that potential,,,,I hope it continues~!!!

[tennis1400]

I think there are a few factors that have changed. Once one of the corridors found success(oak Street) the others realized it was possible. Two: I think social media has made it easy and trendy to locate on these once undesirable streets. Three: out of towners have shows an interest in locating in these areas that many natives didnt. Four: I will say that a lot of the buildings on these streets were often owned by one or two familys. Lots of times with bad blood between them. Now that many of these familys have shown a willingness to sell ,along with the citys blight enforcement, encouraged them to offload these properties. Oc Haley has an amazing stock of old buildings.



Alfred Lawless High School

Sector Est. Start Date
Public Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Estimated Value*
$5,000,000.00
Address
5300 N. Rocheblave St.
New Orleans, LA 70117
Orleans County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region


Description Site work and new construction of an educational development in New Orleans. Preliminary design development plans call for the construction of a new high school on the site of a school destroyed by the hurricane.

The architect is working on preliminary design development plans and the project is still in the early stages of development. Construction is not expected to commence until the third quarter of 2013. No inquiries will be accepted at this time.



Rouses Opens a Full-Service Restaurant at its Uptown StorePosted on October 15, 2012 by gnorealestatenews
Reply
The Times-Picayune reports that Rouses is opening a new restaurant called, The Cellar, inside their uptown store at 4500 Tchoupitoulas St.

Chef Melissa Montero, who previously worked at Commander’s Palace, is running the kitchen which will have wait staff and sit-down table service.

The restaurant, hidden behind the wine department, is currently only open for lunch, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but dinner service should start soon. There’s no alcohol served yet, but within a few weeks, the restaurant will begin offering wines by the taste, glass and bottle and a beer selection.



New Burrito Joint Opening in the CBD

Posted on October 15, 2012 by gnorealestatenews
Reply
The former Froots at 222 Carondelet St. is becoming an Oso’s Baja Burrito. No word on when the new restaurant is opening, but there is a lot of activity going on in the space (and the hotel above it) and a sign was recently hung up

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

Rouses Opens a Full-Service Restaurant at its Uptown StorePosted on October 15, 2012 by gnorealestatenews
Reply
The Times-Picayune reports that Rouses is opening a new restaurant called, The Cellar, inside their uptown store at 4500 Tchoupitoulas St.

Chef Melissa Montero, who previously worked at Commander’s Palace, is running the kitchen which will have wait staff and sit-down table service.

The restaurant, hidden behind the wine department, is currently only open for lunch, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but dinner service should start soon. There’s no alcohol served yet, but within a few weeks, the restaurant will begin offering wines by the taste, glass and bottle and a beer selection.

Does anybody know about the cool little brick building behind the Rouses loading dock facing Tchoup? I'm not sure if it belongs to the self-storage place or the Rouses, but it's an awesome old building perfectly sized for a cafe, with a huge skylight facing north.

It's even got its own parking lot...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=cadiz+...142.9,,0,-3.49

[v-chop]

The Magazine Street Walgreens project is really taking shape, the great weather has allowed the roofing to be completed as well as the final topping out of the new rear wall. The front façade stone and brick were delivered last week, and final touches on the front were done to allow the veneer to start today, Monday October 15th. Interior progress is moving along at a fast pace, drywall framing, sprinkler rough in, electrical and plumbing rough in work is happening just about everywhere you look.

Stirling Properties

[NOLAforME]

Originally Posted by v-chop

ehhhhhhh......traditional....but anything is better than that old brick facade......


Stirling Properties

[tennis1400]

Soma #5207 / Metairie

Estimated Value* Square Footage
$125,000.00 2345
Address
3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70002
Jefferson County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region
Description Tenant improvements for a national chain retail store in Metairie. Completed working plans call for the build-out of a 2,345-square-foot retail space to include a sales floor, storage space and restrooms.

The owner has determined a list of select general contractors to bid on this project. Subcontractor bids are due to the GC Bidder(s) by October 24, 2012.*

Zoe's Kitchen / Harahan

Estimated Value* Square Footage
$150,000.00 2400
Address
1208 S. Clearview Pkwy.
Harahan, LA 70123
Jefferson County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region
Description Tenant improvements for a restaurant development in Harahan. Completed working drawings call for conversion of 2,400 square feet for restaurant tenant space.

This project has been awarded to a general contractor and all trades have been let. No further inquiries will be accepted.


Aquarium of the Americas Caribbean Improvements

Sector Bid Date Est. Start Date
Public Thursday, November 8, 2012 Monday, December 17, 2012
Estimated Value* Solicitation #
$800,000.00 1210-003
Address
1 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Orleans County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region
Description Bid started:Oct 10, 2012 8:27:54 AM CDT

Bid ends: Nov 08, 2012 1:00:00 PM CST

Mandatory Conference on Oct 25, 2012 1:00:00 PM CDT
Location: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
6500 Magazine Street
New Orleans,LA 70118

[NolaWave]

"The owners of the massive Market Street power plant – prime riverfront real estate that also plays a role in the Ray Nagin investigation – got out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner approved the plan by investors Adam Swickle, John Mannone and Dennis Sunshine to redevelop or sell the property within a year.

Swickle's team has been using the site for movie shoots here and there, but he says film companies have their eyes on it as a long-term anchor for Hollywood South.
"Big producers have come to town and said, ‘Why are you just using it for a location scene? Let's make it kind of like the crown jewel of movies. Let's do production. Let's do site. Let's do sound stages. Let's do everything right there in that neighborhood,’” Swickle said.
“And some major players have stepped forward now and said they're ready to move forward and we're going to explore those opportunities together starting immediately."

Read more here:

http://www.wwltv.com/news/4investiga...174501751.html

[IceCream]

Originally Posted by NOLAforME

Do you know if there are any plans for commercial lease space at street level or will it be just a garage? Seems like it would be a good opportunity to add something other than parking at street level

I dont think so. It's a pretty small space so most of the footage on Union will likely have to be dedicated to ingress / egress for the garage.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by IceCream

I dont think so. It's a pretty small space so most of the footage on Union will likely have to be dedicated to ingress / egress for the garage.

I actually think I remember seeing in the permit that there will be some street level retail. Not 100% sure though!

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by NolaWave

"The owners of the massive Market Street power plant – prime riverfront real estate that also plays a role in the Ray Nagin investigation – got out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner approved the plan by investors Adam Swickle, John Mannone and Dennis Sunshine to redevelop or sell the property within a year.

Swickle's team has been using the site for movie shoots here and there, but he says film companies have their eyes on it as a long-term anchor for Hollywood South.
"Big producers have come to town and said, ‘Why are you just using it for a location scene? Let's make it kind of like the crown jewel of movies. Let's do production. Let's do site. Let's do sound stages. Let's do everything right there in that neighborhood,’” Swickle said.
“And some major players have stepped forward now and said they're ready to move forward and we're going to explore those opportunities together starting immediately."

Read more here:

http://www.wwltv.com/news/4investiga...174501751.html

Hope something like this does happen!

Woodward won this contract. Should start in a week or two!
Estimated Value* Square Footage
$700,000.00 13702
Address
862 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Orleans County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region


Description Tenant improvements for a commercial building in New Orleans. Completed working plans call for the tenant up-fit for a two-story, 13,702-square-foot commercial building, with designated office space on the second floor, and either retail or restaurant space on the first floor


Tulane University - New Dining Facility
$1,000,000.00
Address
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70112
Orleans County
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Region


Description Site work and new construction of a dining facility in New Orleans. Schematic design plans call for the construction of a dining hall at an existing university.



Funky Butt To Reopen on Freret StreetPosted on October 16, 2012 by gnorealestatenews
Reply
OffBeat reports that The Funky Butt, originally located on North Rampart Street, is set to reopen as the Funky Butt Jazz Club at 4716 Freret Street. Club operator Shanekah Peterson, said that the club can accommodate 200 to 250 and and will not have food. Peterson and her former husband, Sam “Big Sam” Williams, operated the Funky Butt at Congo Square at its 714 North Rampart Street location before Hurricane Katrina. Post-Katrina various operators attempted to reopen the venue, but could not obtain the proper live music permits.

Peterson says the permits are in place, thanks to the new location on Freret Street, which is designated as a cultural district, a fact which makes it easier to obtain permits for live entertainment.


The Lucky Rooster, 518 Baronne
Projected Opening: Fall, Winter 2012?
The Lucky Rooster, the much anticipated pan-Asian street food joint from Warren Chapoton, Joe Briand, and Chef Neal Swidler, is building the coop, so to speak. These contruction pics were posted on their bloggy blog recently, along with some of Swidler's killer banh mi teaser porn .

Looks like the food is going to rock, but the place still needs a lot of work, with two dumpsters out front and a gutted bathroom that looks like the home of that scary Ringu girl. The place will no doubt be totally rad when finished, but burn some sage, y'all. The location is no longer a mystery, kids: the restaurant appears to be in the former home of Gregory & Pete's near the Civic lofts.

[NOLAforME]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

I actually think I remember seeing in the permit that there will be some street level retail. Not 100% sure though!

Union is a very nice street downtown, and with so many commercial and office buildings available for residential these days, I hope someone on the design team could work out something for street level retail if possible even with so small of a lot, but it may not be possible. Probably would need retail as the population grows downtown. These are really good days for Nola, so good to see downtown opening up to more residential.

[ardecila]

Seriously? There are so many underutilized retail spaces downtown it's insane. Tons of lunch joints that are only open 8-2. As the residential population grows these will morph into full-service places that serve dinner. There are also a ton of spaces that are just plain empty, especially in the smaller historic buildings.

Also: looks like foundations were poured for the Michael Maltzan-designed "Mandeville Crossing" bridge at Elysian Fields/N. Peters. I had heard this was value-engineered into a bridge with an elevator, but it didn't look like they were building an elevator pit. Hopefully that means the original design will move forward.

[NOLAforME]

Very Good news for Magazine Street as printed in NOLA city business

This is a surface parking lot one address over from the corner on the uptown side of Washington and the River side of Magazine

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...gazine-street/

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Seriously? There are so many underutilized retail spaces downtown it's insane. Tons of lunch joints that are only open 8-2. As the residential population grows these will morph into full-service places that serve dinner. There are also a ton of spaces that are just plain empty, especially in the smaller historic buildings.

While I understand what you are saying the concept behind putting retail in the bottom is twofold. One to help create critical mass and two to ensure that critical mass can happen in the future. Three residents dont really like to live on the ground floor so its either this or parking space. Parking places just dont bring the same kind of vibrancy to the street that retail, residential or other brings/.

[ardecila]

I'm aware, but you don't build retail space you can't lease, and the high proportion of vacant space suggests it will be difficult to lease.

It's on a tiny side street anyway... if retail is gonna be successful anywhere, it'll be on the Carondelet side.

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I'm aware, but you don't build retail space you can't lease, and the high proportion of vacant space suggests it will be difficult to lease.

It's on a tiny side street anyway... if retail is gonna be successful anywhere, it'll be on the Carondelet side.

Once again its for future anticipated need. Yes that means it may sit there for awhile.


Heres a photo of the progress on the Civic Theatre:



Also talking to a source the old Cafe Alpine(former tourist trap on chartres by sylvain) is going to become a very high end argentinian steakhouse. Let you know more details if I hear about them.

Also new progress at the airport:





These black boxes are part of a new LED lighting system for the Parabola Lobby. There will be different colored lights projected up the "spines" of the ceiling.

[NOLAforME]

:[QUOTE=ardecila;5870564]Seriously? There are so many underutilized retail spaces downtown it's insane. Tons of lunch joints that are only open 8-2. As the residential population grows these will morph into full-service places that serve dinner. There are also a ton of spaces that are just plain empty, especially in the smaller historic buildings.

Also: looks like foundations were poured for the Michael Maltzan-designed "Mandeville Crossing" bridge at Elysian Fields/N. Peters. I had heard this was value-engineered into a bridge with an elevator, but it didn't look like they were building an elevator pit. Hopefully that means the original design will move forward.



There are many good books on what makes a city livable (as opposed to undesirable) for residents and pedestrians. Parking garages at street level have a way of disrupting the continuity of a small commercial area. It's visually unattractive and adds nothing to the overall experience of walking down a small narrow intimate street. There are many food joints but other businesses may need retail in a small tight commercial street such as Branch Banks, electronics even hardware or any other conceivable type of business that may be frequented by people that want a walkable environment. Union has a very intimate feel; Carondelete can feel a bit Manhattanish at times. If all of these residential developments are successful then there will be a future demand for retail. Even if it sits vacant for a while it would still be desirable over renovating an older building if $$$ is the issue. A neighborhood environment is a necessary ingredient in keeping residents in an area. The stronger it "feels" like a neighborhood the more successful the residential development. As the population grows the need will grow for retail. There is the potential on Union of building more parking structures on surface parking lots with street level retail, eliminate street parking, widening the sidewalks would allow outdoor dining or coffee shops etc. adding trees and streetlights etc. The DDD could create incentives to help some of the buildings facing the major streets to install entrances onto Union or windows, public art etc. Many exteriors at street level are windowless. There is a need for an "off the beaten path" street that is attractive, inviting and gives residents a place to walk, dine and relax without walking too far. Let's just hope downtown if successful in attracting residents.

[rcp11889]

Originally Posted by NOLAforME

Very Good news for Magazine Street as printed in NOLA city business

This is a surface parking lot one address over from the corner on the uptown side of Washington and the River side of Magazine

http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/bl...gazine-street/

I love to see infill like this!

[IceCream]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

Also talking to a source the old Cafe Alpine(former tourist trap on chartres by sylvain) is going to become a very high end argentinian steakhouse. Let you know more details if I hear about them.
.

That's correct. They presented to the VCC the same day that I was there for Where Ya Rack (we are appealling the VCC to the city counvil at 11am this morning).

The restaurant sounded to be amazing, with the backing of very experienced restauranteurs who knew exactly what they were doing. It got me very excited. Also, they showed existing interior pics of the Alpine that made me want to puke.....SOO glad it's gone...