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Three Development Teams Selected to Participate in Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Master Development RFP Process
NEWSDECEMBER 6, 2019 SHARE
A select team of senior staff and consultants from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center have recommended three highly-qualified development teams for participation in the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Request for Proposal (RFP) process, as the Authority moves toward development of a 39-acre mixed-use development project that will complement the planned 1,200 room headquarters hotel along the New Orleans riverfront.

After completing a detailed interview, qualifications, and capabilities review process that included five 5 respondents, the Authority has selected three Master Development teams to compete in the Master Developer RFP process. The three selected teams are as follows:

Woodward, Leventhal, Carpenter (JV)
The Domain Companies
River Park Neighborhood Investors.
The Authority expects to issue the RFP by December 13, 2019 with an established final submittal deadline of February 28, 2020.

“We are extremely gratified by the interest shown by five well-regarded and highly-experienced development teams, and believe the three finalists demonstrate the kind of vision, experience, and capabilities necessary to bring this transformative project to life,” said Michael J. Sawaya, President of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The Request for Qualifications, made available to interested parties on September 6, 2019, called for respondents to detail their capabilities and approach to developing 39 acres of property owned by the Exhibition Hall Authority and adjacent to acreage designated for the Convention Center’s planned 1,200 room hotel.

The RFQ stipulated that submittals should outline each respondent’s vision for creating a “mixed use development that will lead to a vibrant neighborhood, serve as an economic driver for the State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans, develop a compelling value proposition that will attract visitors and uses to the site, and build a consensus among public and private stakeholders.”

“In addition to their outstanding track records as developers of other highly successful projects, we are especially pleased that all three finalists exhibited a commitment to inclusion of Small and Emerging Business (SEB) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in their responses,” said Melvin J. Rodrigue, Chairman of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. We are confident that any of the three finalists can help the transformational vision of the Authority to be realized.”