NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[Uptowner]

Originally Posted by ardecila

It won't meet Interstate standards, but the project can still get Federal dollars. That way the highway can be at or near grade level when it crosses St. Bernard Hwy and Perez Drive, and those communities aren't impacted by 4-6 lanes of traffic whizzing above their heads. It's not likely, but it is possible.

Crossing the river at that low of a point is going to require a large approach whether it's straight or looped since this bridge would have to be higher than the CCC to let ships through that already can't pass the CCC, but dock just short of it. A loop would actually take up more space because it's going to have a more square-shaped foot print and that's not considering any connections to Judge Perez or St Bernard Hwy. It doesn't help that there's a refinery directly underneath all of this. The CCC approach would roughly stretch from the levee to Judge Perez without being curved. This one would be longer.



The Florida Avenue "Bridge" does have to be built by law, but not in any particular form. It just has to cross the Industrial Canal and extend into St. Bernard Parish. The state is looking into lower-cost options, thank god. Katrina's devastation was awful, but it opened up a corridor inside the 40 Arpent levee so that the new Florida Avenue can be built as a neighborhood boulevard instead of a long causeway. [/quote]

As I was saying, it has to be built. Not saying that it has to be interstate standard. Although it may not necessarily be freeway spec, it'll more than likely be expressway spec which allows for limited at-grade access.

You'd also get the views of an elevated structure without the drawbacks of limited exits and runoff into the wetlands.

It would still run off somewhere and if it's on the levee as in the first picture access will probably still be limited.

[N.O.L.A.]

I assume that yall saw the results of the 2010 census. If not, the population of New Orleans is now close to 344,000. The 343k count is actually down from the 2009 prediction which was at about 354k. Apparently the 2000 census count was off by about 10,000 citizens, so maybe we really are actually at 354,000.....Here's the article from about a week ago.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s..._2010_pop.html

What are yalls thought's on the recovery of population? Now that its been over 5 years I doubt the remaining 100,000 plan on returning. It looks like New Orleans population growth will now depend on attracting new never-before New Orleanians. Remember right after the storm all of those crazy predictions that it would be 10 yrs+ to break 300,000?! Thank goodness they were wrong!

[N.O.L.A.]

Here's a couple of charts as well...

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by N.O.L.A.

I assume that yall saw the results of the 2010 census. If not, the population of New Orleans is now close to 344,000. The 343k count is actually down from the 2009 prediction which was at about 354k. Apparently the 2000 census count was off by about 10,000 citizens, so maybe we really are actually at 354,000.....Here's the article from about a week ago.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s..._2010_pop.html

What are yalls thought's on the recovery of population? Now that its been over 5 years I doubt the remaining 100,000 plan on returning. It looks like New Orleans population growth will now depend on attracting new never-before New Orleanians. Remember right after the storm all of those crazy predictions that it would be 10 yrs+ to break 300,000?! Thank goodness they were wrong!

I think New Orleans will eventually reach 500,000 again but it will be a different place. Remember the city itself was almost 700,000 back at its peak population. Much more diverse city than before and a higher per capita wage. Ultimately, the area will achieve a better economic balance than before the storm. Part out of necessity part out of oppurtunity. For sure New Orleans will be a less african american city and will become more white, hispanic and asian. The key will be observing the metro area population... that is pretty close to where it was... shockingly that article fails to mention that Washington and St James parishes were included in the MSA in 2000.. thats a good bit of people who are there and not counted because of archaic MSA rules..

[urbanwatcher]

I think New Orleans will have a slow population growth in the coming years but i think the overall quality of it's citizens will continue to improve.I hate hearing people talk negatively of non native new comers.We have needed new blood down here for a while and I have no fear of the city changing character or any other rubbish like that.I also know of a number of people who left and and are now returning better skilled giving the city an improved chance of succeeding.Everyone across the country knows that there is no place like New Orleans period.We need to maintain that and promote that fact even more.The main problem is convincing people that left,is that what they read on NOLA.com is an uneven view of the city.People need to know that it's worth moving back and that the city will be viable for them.I for one believe this is true and that the city is out of the mud for once and at least is in second gear.Mitch still has a lot of work ahead of him making the city less archaic for business but so far he is leagues above past mayors.

[camkazaam]

A friend of mine is staying at the Westin. She took a photo of her view. It's the gorgeous turn of the river / French Quarter view. But it would be so much nicer if there weren't enormous parking lots right in front of her, between Decatur and the river. Couldn't we build some 3-story parking garages with retail on the ground floor instead??? I'd suggest apartment buildings, but the fact is that the city needs its public parking. Such a stupid waste to just have parking lots. And yes, obviously there should never be high-rise buildings along the French Quarter riverbank. 3 story buildings max.

By the way, living in Los Angeles has turned me on to the idea of free public garages. How about tucking 1 in somewhere along Magazine, make it free parking for 2 or 4 hours. This is how Magazine can compete better with suburbia?

[FrenchTwins]

Originally Posted by camkazaam

A friend of mine is staying at the Westin. She took a photo of her view. It's the gorgeous turn of the river / French Quarter view. But it would be so much nicer if there weren't enormous parking lots right in front of her, between Decatur and the river. Couldn't we build some 3-story parking garages with retail on the ground floor instead??? I'd suggest apartment buildings, but the fact is that the city needs its public parking. Such a stupid waste to just have parking lots. And yes, obviously there should never be high-rise buildings along the French Quarter riverbank. 3 story buildings max.

By the way, living in Los Angeles has turned me on to the idea of free public garages. How about tucking 1 in somewhere along Magazine, make it free parking for 2 or 4 hours. This is how Magazine can compete better with suburbia?

I can't even imagine how much money that parking lot makes. I would love to see some residential development there. It seems like there is enough available space around that area for most types and sizes of retail. I think if someone were to present a clean, new, well maintained residential development right in the heart of the french quarter with nearby street car lines and riverfront access, people would jump on it.

I agree that any development should be max 3-5 stories. You could put a parking garage in the middle and line the outer edges with the residences similar to how many parcels in the quarter have interior courtyards with parking.

[N.O.L.A.]

Originally Posted by urbanwatcher

I hate hearing people talk negatively of non native new comers.We have needed new blood down here for a while and I have no fear of the city changing character or any other rubbish like that.I also know of a number of people who left and and are now returning better skilled giving the city an improved chance of succeeding.Everyone across the country knows that there is no place like New Orleans period.We need to maintain that and promote that fact even more.The main problem is convincing people that left,is that what they read on NOLA.com is an uneven view of the city.People need to know that it's worth moving back and that the city will be viable for them.I for one believe this is true and that the city is out of the mud for once and at least is in second gear.Mitch still has a lot of work ahead of him making the city less archaic for business but so far he is leagues above past mayors.

When I said that we would now depend on attracting never-before New Orleanians I didn't mean to imply that in a negative way. I agree that it is something that we would benefit from.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by FrenchTwins

I can't even imagine how much money that parking lot makes. I would love to see some residential development there. It seems like there is enough available space around that area for most types and sizes of retail. I think if someone were to present a clean, new, well maintained residential development right in the heart of the french quarter with nearby street car lines and riverfront access, people would jump on it.

I agree that any development should be max 3-5 stories. You could put a parking garage in the middle and line the outer edges with the residences similar to how many parcels in the quarter have interior courtyards with parking.

The sites are already zoned for development, but the zoning prohibits new garages.

I'm not sure who owns the site - I think it may be Canizaro.

[camkazaam]

Originally Posted by ardecila

The sites are already zoned for development, but the zoning prohibits new garages.

I'm not sure who owns the site - I think it may be Canizaro.

I can see how this would play out. It's like Abbott and Costello.

X: "We can't get rid of the lots. We need the parking."
Y: "So how bout this. I build a giant parking garage."
X: "It's not zoned for parking."

[Blitzen]

Originally Posted by FrenchTwins

I agree that any development should be max 3-5 stories. You could put a parking garage in the middle and line the outer edges with the residences similar to how many parcels in the quarter have interior courtyards with parking.

Those 3-4 blocks are tricky because you have to make a lot of people happy in order to be allowed to develop that space. These are the general options:

1. Make it look historic which might upset some, since there was never a lot of buildings there besides warehouses and wharfs, and it would be faux-historic.

2. Make it look super modern, so as not to be confused with the actual historic buildings - like Canal Place. That will certainly upset the VCC.

3. Make it look old/traditional circa 1930s, which is a happy medium, and not faux at all -using brick/stone facades that do not match the Spanish/French architecture of the rest of the FQ, but do not stand out as tacky either.

I would choose the 3rd option. I would also attempt to place the parking underground, and before you tell me it's impossible, I remind you that the Royal Sonesta, Supreme Courthouse, and Harrah's Casino all have it already.

[DillardAlum]

Originally Posted by N.O.L.A.

. It looks like New Orleans population growth will now depend on attracting new never-before New Orleanians. Remember right after the storm all of those crazy predictions that it would be 10 yrs+ to break 300,000?! Thank goodness they were wrong!

And let us not forget the New Orleanians who left for opportunities before the storm, and are seeing progress and are longing to return. You can count me in that number!! I'm in Chicago for grad school at the moment, but the first opportunity to move back I'll be on it like red beans on rice! I truly believe when Mayor Landrieu exclaimed "Come Home!" in his inaugural speech that he wasn't just referring to Katrina's displaced, but to all who left before (and even to all the Tulane, Xavier, Loyola, Dillard, UNO grads who considered Nola their second home). On that note, we would do much better if we could just retain a majority of our college grads!

[SlidellWx]

I was very pleased with the census numbers when they came out. The numbers were closely in line with previous estimates, and showed a fairly impressive recovery considering the level of complete devastation we all saw 5 years ago.

I was most impressed with the fact that New Orleans East has 67% of the pre-Katrina population back. This part of the city didn't even have power until January 2006 since Entergy had to replace most of the underground power lines. After looking at the numbers on a neighborhood level...the old housing projects along with the Lower 9 saw the largest decreases in population. The vast majority of the other severely impacted neighobrhoods are at least 60% of the previous population with many closer to 75% or even higher.

The city is definitely on the upswing, and I would not be surprised to see the population approach 400,000 residents by the middle of the decade. In fact, I'd venture to guess that the current population is probably closer to 350,000 given the continued rebuilding of homes and the number of new projects recently completed. The biggest caveat will be how the medical corridor proceeds and if any of the many new startup companies become wildly successful.

[DillardAlum]

Statistics from 2007 to 2009 show a brain gain pattern across the Nola metro. Hopefully, this pace can be sustained!

http://www.newgeography.com/content/...-brain-magnets

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

I would choose the 3rd option. I would also attempt to place the parking underground, and before you tell me it's impossible, I remind you that the Royal Sonesta, Supreme Courthouse, and Harrah's Casino all have it already.

It's not impossible - at least not at that site, which sits on some of the highest land in the city.

It's just expensive, and tricky from both an engineering and archaeological standpoint.

Originally Posted by DillardAlum

Statistics from 2007 to 2009 show a brain gain pattern across the Nola metro. Hopefully, this pace can be sustained!

http://www.newgeography.com/content/...-brain-magnets

Bear in mind that the article was written by Joel Kotkin, with data provided by Wendell Cox. That's an unholy alliance of two men with axes to grind against traditional dense Northern cities. So... take it with a grain of salt.

[Blitzen]

The renderings get an A+ from me. I was pleasantly surprised to see the addition of the vine wall along the grand staircase and the ramps on both sides, as well as the ability to sit/eat/enjoy the show while sitting in the middle of the staircase itself. And the vine walls, trees, and other landscaping ought to help keep things slightly cooler and shadier.

http://www.superdome.com/site.php?pageID=45


A permanent Grand Staircase will be installed and will feature brick pavers. The top of Gate C will be widened to allow for easy access and accommodate patron flow to the Exterior Plaza Level of the Superdome.


The center portion of the Grand Stair Case will provide an area for patrons to sit and enjoy food and drinks with a fantastic view of the entertainment on the main stage in Champions Square.


A natural, green vine wall will cover the ramps and sides of the Grand Staircase leading up to Gate C of the Superdome. On La Salle Street, under the green vine wall will be benches for patrons to relax and enjoy the Square. As well, numerous trees will be planted along La Salle Street.


Breaks along the green vine wall will allow access to permanent restroom facilities under the ramps on each side of the Grand Staircase. La Salle Street and Champions Square will be paved with brick pavers, giving it the look and feel of a pedestrian mall.

[ardecila]

I like it!

What are they doing with the square itself? This is just the staircase... I guess the square itself is a later phase. They can rip down the roof over Hyatt's car court and open up the back wall of the plaza to a new S. Liberty Street.

I'm hoping for something like Nokia Plaza in LA...

[Blitzen]

Looking at the BioDistrict's master plan, it shows the new Loyola Streetcar line turning down Tulane Avenue for a block to connect with Rampart Street, instead of going down Loyola Avenue until Canal, then turning from Canal Street to Rampart Street and continuing down Rampart Street for the second phase.

I hope that's an error, because I liked the original plan better. Does anyone have an inside scoop?

http://biodistrictneworleans.org/wp-...g_02-04-11.jpg

[urbanwatcher]

I really don't care that much about superdome stuff outside of the saints but wow they are really making the dome look great.I think those extended street car lines are just a proposal.It's more than likely that it will take a while before any changes are put into effect.By the way does anyone know what CNI Target neighborhood means?

[DillardAlum]

Originally Posted by urbanwatcher

.By the way does anyone know what CNI Target neighborhood means?

CNI are initials for Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, and I believe that it has something to do with the potential HUD grant associated with the redevelopment of the Iberville.

http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/cn/