NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[tennis1400]

Originally Posted by NOLAslimm

thanks, this was from some people who work there, actually bar tend at the current bar. they said that it was going to be renovated but that they were going to keep and fix the current circular ice bar itself.

i think they are just confused by the fact it was always planned to still have a bar in the center just completely renovated .

[BlueDot]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

For the 20,000th post on this forum about New Orleans development, I want to first say thank you to everyone who posts here, especially Tennis!! I started following this blog after Hurricane Katrina because I loved reading about the rebuilding and new developments of the city I love.

I think it would be good to recap ongoing major developments and future likely developments:

1. Charity Hospital renovation by Tulane University/Medical.
2. Riverfront/Spanish Plaza upgrades.
3. River District, subdividing, adding streets, new Shell office building.
4. WWII Museum continued expansion.
5. Downtown Bus/Streetcar Hub.
6. Former Winn-Dixie/Iberville development.
7. Caesar’s Casino Hotel expansion/renovation.
8. South Market District next phase.
9. Superdome renovation.
10. Former Bywater Navy Base redevelopment.

Near future potential developments:
1. Plaza Tower.
2. Market Street Powerplant.
3. City Hall renovation/relocation.
4. Lindy Boggs Hospital.
5. Former 6 Flags site redevelopment.

And I’m sure there’s a lot more I’m forgetting…

Don’t forget the Biodistrict’s growing footprint which will likely tie into a possible new City Hall/Civic area. The Municipal Auditorium redevelopment is still waiting in the wings, improvements to City Park and hopefully a new or massively renovated arena for the Pelicans.

[sguil1]

https://www.nola.com/news/politics/n...e=featured-top


But funding denied for New Orleans-Baton Rouge service

The return of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans moved one step closer to reality Thursday when the Federal Railroad Administration authorized a $178 million grant to improve the tracks and build a new platform in Mobile, Alabama.

The announcement means the service, which has been suspended since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, could resume as early as the first quarter of 2024. At a meeting in New Orleans earlier this year, officials with the Southern Rail Commission, which is spearheading efforts to restore the service, said grant approval was the final hurdle the longstanding project needed to clear.

“It’s a big win,” said John Spain, a Baton Rouge-based commissioner. “The Southern Rail Commission is delighted, as are our partners in Alabama and Mississippi.”

No grant for Baton Rouge
Another local rail project did not fare so well. The federal agency denied a $108 million grant application for the proposed proposed New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line, U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves, R-Baton Rouge confirmed. That money would have paid to replace the old wooden trestle across part of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, where trains now must slow to 10 mph....


The railroad through Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, could carry passenger trains between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

[NOLAslimm]

Originally Posted by tennis1400

i think they are just confused by the fact it was always planned to still have a bar in the center just completely renovated .

very well could be...talked with a friend whos an inspector now, he said last night that they want Emerils new place inside Harrahs open in 2 weeks. we shall see

[prokowave]

Originally Posted by sguil1

The return of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans moved one step closer to reality Thursday when the Federal Railroad Administration authorized a $178 million grant to improve the tracks and build a new platform in Mobile, Alabama.

But funding denied for New Orleans-Baton Rouge service

Of course to get some funding, but very disappointing that the bridge for the BTR service did not get funded.

The agreement Amtrak made with the host railroads was basically that they had to allow service to start as soon as Mobile allowed for a new platform and siding to be built. So the funding will certainly improve the service, but it is still dependent on the Mobile council leasing the land to Amtrak for the station.

On the other hand, the NO-BTR service could be doomed depending on the next governor. I had hopes that if at least a chunk of it was already under construction that it could stand a chance. But unless the feds are planning to fund it under another project, it's not looking good.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by prokowave

Of course to get some funding, but very disappointing that the bridge for the BTR service did not get funded.

The agreement Amtrak made with the host railroads was basically that they had to allow service to start as soon as Mobile allowed for a new platform and siding to be built. So the funding will certainly improve the service, but it is still dependent on the Mobile council leasing the land to Amtrak for the station.

On the other hand, the NO-BTR service could be doomed depending on the next governor. I had hopes that if at least a chunk of it was already under construction that it could stand a chance. But unless the feds are planning to fund it under another project, it's not looking good.

Looks like there were two separate grant requests for the NO-BR service. The smaller one was for the Spillway bridge, but there was a 2nd grant request for a larger amount. The latest article doesn't speak to the larger grant request, so maybe there's still hope.

Of course there are more funding rounds to come, they do this every year. Although you're right, a Republican governor could kill it again like Jindal did, or a Republican Congress or president could stop handing out the many billions in rail dollars from BIL.

[broadmoor]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Looks like there were two separate grant requests for the NO-BR service. The smaller one was for the Spillway bridge, but there was a 2nd grant request for a larger amount. The latest article doesn't speak to the larger grant request, so maybe there's still hope.

Of course there are more funding rounds to come, they do this every year. Although you're right, a Republican governor could kill it again like Jindal did, or a Republican Congress or president could stop handing out the many billions in rail dollars from BIL.

Last I read, they didn't expect a response on the larger grant until December, so let's hope they were denied for this smaller one because approval for the more all-encompassing one is in the works. I have to believe the state setting aside millions recently will make a big difference in that consideration process.

[tennis1400]

i would rather we get a Brightline route.. something connecting san antonio, austin , nola, dallas and houston would be amazing. it would be nice if it became better all around to take a high speed train

[NOLAslimm]

part of the Canal street interior construction walls coming down as of last night...peeked in, Emerils looked close