NEW ORLEANS | Project/Development Thread

[BlueDot]

Originally Posted by NOLAslimm

ok, drunk but lets post pics lol


Zavier has the stairwell going up along with all the pilings driven



504 golf unfucking the previous stuff



cant get a pic from this side



opp on phase 3



friend didnt come through so I got the 4/12/24 Convention center blvd caesars pic





got caught in traffic just to get the pic, former basketball player Avery Johnson ordered a parade for his daughters wedding, complete with St. Augustine marching band lol, Johnson was on the 1st float with a megaphone yelling random stuff

Thanks for the pics. How are things progressing with Tulane Medical Center and The Convention Center (I heard it’s under major renovation)?

[NOLAslimm]

Originally Posted by BlueDot

Thanks for the pics. How are things progressing with Tulane Medical Center and The Convention Center (I heard it’s under major renovation)?

0 clue about Tulane, I didnt know they were doing anything new with the convention center other than the new roof, not sure if they completed it or in progress, I didnt go down that way, just turned off poydras a few blocks to double back around and get the Caesars hotel from convention center blvd pic

[socigradstudent]

Thanks everyone for the updates!

The DDD released their Economic Development strategy: https://downtownnola.com/ddd-release...ment-strategy/

"In March, Downtown Development District released a new Economic Development Strategy identifying both broad strategies and specific initiatives to improve the local economy Downtown. As a long-range planning document, this new strategy will be used to develop new programs, influence policy decisions, and ensure consistent progress toward establishing a strong urban core in the heart of the Crescent City.

The updated strategy is divided into six focus areas: (1) Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion, (2) Built Environment, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Workforce Development, (5) Advocacy and Funding, and (6) Canal Street Revitalization. It also incorporates public safety and equity issues into its outline for future Downtown development.

Since the implementation of this strategy, work to fulfill its initiatives has already taken place. In March, for example, the DDD Board of Commissioners awarded an Open Space Activation contract to Manning Architects. This contract will allow Manning to develop plans to reimagine and create use for presently underutilized green spaces Downtown. This project greatly speaks to the Economic Development Strategy #2, “Built Environment,” which calls for “the development of high-quality parks and open spaces that act as catalysts for neighborhood improvement and enhanced quality of life.”

With this exciting project already underway, DDD is excited to witness how this updated strategy can continue to shape organizational action and Downtown development in the years to come."


Mid-City:

Is there any update on the Trader Joe's on Tulane Ave? When do we think they will break ground? Also, is the car wash still happening further up by Chick Fil A?

[broadmoor]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

A few thoughts on this:

1. If the train line is never going to be built, don’t waste the money on a road, just build new garages and rental car facilities on the north side connected to the existing terminal and save everyone’s time. There’s plenty of space.
2. If a train line is going to be built, LA needs to think regionally. No one wants to take a people mover, to a train, to a streetcar, to their hotel. Just build a light-rail system that connects to the terminal directly and goes to BR and downtown Nola. Instead of stopping at Union Station, it should just continue down the Loyola streetcar tracks to Canal Street to the River.

1. It would be a lot more expensive to build new garages and rental car facilities at the new terminal than it would be to build the access road. Several other major airports in the country have parking and rental cars much farther away than the distance between the north and south terminals, and the most expensive infrastructure is already built and relatively new, just a drive away. Besides, the access road is already being built, so this ship has sailed.

2. See number one about distance traveled at major airports around the country to their ancillary facilities. This light rail is hardly a trek compared to many. And similarly, the train tracks that will be used for regional rail between BR and NOLA are already in place. Moving them would be astronomically expensive. What this plan does create is a regional transit hub that provides a potentially better spot for airport passengers to catch a bus or Uber, as well as connecting them to a future commuter rail that can take them straight into the city. If this all finally gets in place, it will absolutely outperform Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Nashville in terms of ease, time, and expense of getting from your gate to downtown. This finally IS people thinking about regional transportation and planning across agencies to do it, so I personally think it should be applauded that we're finally behaving with some foresight around here.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Blitzen

A few thoughts on this:

1. If the train line is never going to be built, don’t waste the money on a road, just build new garages and rental car facilities on the north side connected to the existing terminal and save everyone’s time. There’s plenty of space.
2. If a train line is going to be built, LA needs to think regionally. No one wants to take a people mover, to a train, to a streetcar, to their hotel. Just build a light-rail system that connects to the terminal directly and goes to BR and downtown Nola. Instead of stopping at Union Station, it should just continue down the Loyola streetcar tracks to Canal Street to the River.

This kind of tram-train thing isn't really legal in the US. You can't have a train that shares tracks with freight on the way to BR, then turns and runs down the middle of a street. You either need to kick out the freight entirely* (which will never happen, KCS won't sell their tracks since the Port of NO traffic is too important) or you need to build a line that meets mainline standards thru the middle of the CBD - see what South Shore Line built in Michigan City, IN. But that can't happen either, it would be tremendously destructive to historic neighborhoods.

A train system will never replace taxis and Ubers to get people from MSY to their French Quarter/Canal St hotels, because you can't get a train anywhere near the French Quarter. BUT tourism is increasingly spreading across the city post-Airbnb. A new train link would spur new hotels around the station along Loyola, Howard, and maybe even OC Haley, and it would be a convenient option for those folks. If they can add a rail station at Carrollton and extend the St Charles streetcar then you get an Uptown/MidCity connection too.

The bigger possibility for the train system is not in NO but in BR. There's plenty of folks who would ride a train from BR to MSY if it was reasonably fast and frequent - LSU students first and foremost, anyone doing business with state government, or just BR residents who want better flight options. Then you have a crop of people going BR-NO who have nothing to do with the airport. If Hotard can do it, so can Amtrak...


* = technically there is a "time separation" option here too (see RiverLine in NJ) but KCS won't agree to that either since the Port traffic is too important to run it all at night.

[NOLAslimm]

Originally Posted by ardecila

This kind of tram-train thing isn't really legal in the US. You can't have a train that shares tracks with freight on the way to BR, then turns and runs down the middle of a street. You either need to kick out the freight entirely* (which will never happen, KCS won't sell their tracks since the Port of NO traffic is too important) or you need to build a line that meets mainline standards thru the middle of the CBD - see what South Shore Line built in Michigan City, IN. But that can't happen either, it would be tremendously destructive to historic neighborhoods.

A train system will never replace taxis and Ubers to get people from MSY to their French Quarter/Canal St hotels, because you can't get a train anywhere near the French Quarter. BUT tourism is increasingly spreading across the city post-Airbnb. A new train link would spur new hotels around the station along Loyola, Howard, and maybe even OC Haley, and it would be a convenient option for those folks. If they can add a rail station at Carrollton and extend the St Charles streetcar then you get an Uptown/MidCity connection too.

The bigger possibility for the train system is not in NO but in BR. There's plenty of folks who would ride a train from BR to MSY if it was reasonably fast and frequent - LSU students first and foremost, anyone doing business with state government, or just BR residents who want better flight options. Then you have a crop of people going BR-NO who have nothing to do with the airport. If Hotard can do it, so can Amtrak...


* = technically there is a "time separation" option here too (see RiverLine in NJ) but KCS won't agree to that either since the Port traffic is too important to run it all at night.

the only thing that they have talked about is a train/tram to get you from the new airport to the other side by the old airport for the rental car service that is still there, they have built some new ones on the north side...from there they are talking about making a terminal by the tracks by airline highway, this wont be used by an airport tram but by Amtrak. just like the New Orleans to Mobile route that they are trying to get going, they have been talking about a NOLA to Baton Rouge line, that train will bring airport passengers to union terminal and from there they can do whatever. great for BR people but not so much for airport passengers as youll still need to walk/cab/bus or uber to your destination.

one of the biggest hold ups with the the Nola to BR route is they cant take the i10 north by the lake tracks with the new bridge, they have to use the southern tracks through the spillway and they need a new bridge there before it can proceed with passengers

[BlueDot]

Originally Posted by socigradstudent

Thanks everyone for the updates!

The DDD released their Economic Development strategy: https://downtownnola.com/ddd-release...ment-strategy/

"In March, Downtown Development District released a new Economic Development Strategy identifying both broad strategies and specific initiatives to improve the local economy Downtown. As a long-range planning document, this new strategy will be used to develop new programs, influence policy decisions, and ensure consistent progress toward establishing a strong urban core in the heart of the Crescent City.

The updated strategy is divided into six focus areas: (1) Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion, (2) Built Environment, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Workforce Development, (5) Advocacy and Funding, and (6) Canal Street Revitalization. It also incorporates public safety and equity issues into its outline for future Downtown development.

Since the implementation of this strategy, work to fulfill its initiatives has already taken place. In March, for example, the DDD Board of Commissioners awarded an Open Space Activation contract to Manning Architects. This contract will allow Manning to develop plans to reimagine and create use for presently underutilized green spaces Downtown. This project greatly speaks to the Economic Development Strategy #2, “Built Environment,” which calls for “the development of high-quality parks and open spaces that act as catalysts for neighborhood improvement and enhanced quality of life.”

With this exciting project already underway, DDD is excited to witness how this updated strategy can continue to shape organizational action and Downtown development in the years to come."


Mid-City:

Is there any update on the Trader Joe's on Tulane Ave? When do we think they will break ground? Also, is the car wash still happening further up by Chick Fil A?

Uh Oh, look at New Orleans trying to grow up and get serious about its economy?! 😆 Very encouraging sign.

[sguil1]

Originally Posted by Geaux NOLA

I've been reading this thread for a year or so but wanted to jump in and 'introduce myself' while also thanking everyone for regularly sharing all the updates/improvements across the city. I know Tennis recently stepped away but his name stands out.

New Orleans is truly a special place with so much potential. I'm glad I've found a board that's just as passionate about sharing and discussing development happenings across the city. I currently live in Atlanta and do not share the same passion. Like many, we just live here because of work.

Plan to be in Nola soon.

Welcome aboard!

[kingque]

Thanks for the pics, Slimm! Looks great from the Convention Center.

[sooperpaz]

Looks like the Charity project is even worse off than we knew.

"More than six months after a new development team was brought in to help jumpstart the stalled redevelopment of the former Charity Hospital building in downtown New Orleans, the project remains in limbo with unpaid bills to its architect, contractor and other vendors that total at least $5.7 million."

https://www.nola.com/news/business/s...a06f4a18f.html

[sooperpaz]

A couple more hotel photos from FQF. I'm really liking the gold trim on the windows, the materials are decent so it doesn't come off as cheap:

[BlueDot]

Originally Posted by sooperpaz

Looks like the Charity project is even worse off than we knew.

"More than six months after a new development team was brought in to help jumpstart the stalled redevelopment of the former Charity Hospital building in downtown New Orleans, the project remains in limbo with unpaid bills to its architect, contractor and other vendors that total at least $5.7 million."

https://www.nola.com/news/business/s...a06f4a18f.html

At this point - doesn’t look as if Charity will ever get redeveloped. Seems like the goal post is constantly moving whenever progress is being made. Very disheartened to read that article.

[sooperpaz]

Originally Posted by BlueDot

At this point - doesn’t look as if Charity will ever get redeveloped. Seems like the goal post is constantly moving whenever progress is being made. Very disheartened to read that article.

Yeah it's really disappointing to hear. I'm just hoping that Tulane has already invested too much, financially and strategically, to back out of this project.

[broadmoor]

Originally Posted by sooperpaz

Yeah it's really disappointing to hear. I'm just hoping that Tulane has already invested too much, financially and strategically, to back out of this project.

I honestly think they have, and there are too many wheels in motion there already for them to lose such a huge volume of square footage. I'm hearing people think a year or two delay but that it'll still move forward, but who really knows.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by NOLAslimm

the only thing that they have talked about is a train/tram to get you from the new airport to the other side by the old airport for the rental car service that is still there, they have built some new ones on the north side...from there they are talking about making a terminal by the tracks by airline highway, this wont be used by an airport tram but by Amtrak. just like the New Orleans to Mobile route that they are trying to get going, they have been talking about a NOLA to Baton Rouge line, that train will bring airport passengers to union terminal and from there they can do whatever. great for BR people but not so much for airport passengers as youll still need to walk/cab/bus or uber to your destination.

one of the biggest hold ups with the the Nola to BR route is they cant take the i10 north by the lake tracks with the new bridge, they have to use the southern tracks through the spillway and they need a new bridge there before it can proceed with passengers

Right, the aviation board can only control what happens on its property or nearby. If they're gonna do a people-mover from the new terminal on the north side to the old garages on the south side, it's actually really smart to just extend it two blocks further to the future Amtrak station and build an intermodal facility like Miami, Orlando, and Newark have. The people-mover needs a maintenance depot anyway, so they can put that south of Airline.

What I was saying before is, there's no realistic way to build a train that goes all the way from Baton Rouge to the foot of Canal St, whether it is Amtrak or light rail. But even a train that ends at the UPT is still very useful!

[NOLAslimm]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Right, the aviation board can only control what happens on its property or nearby. If they're gonna do a people-mover from the new terminal on the north side to the old garages on the south side, it's actually really smart to just extend it two blocks further to the future Amtrak station and build an intermodal facility like Miami, Orlando, and Newark have. The people-mover needs a maintenance depot anyway, so they can put that south of Airline.

What I was saying before is, there's no realistic way to build a train that goes all the way from Baton Rouge to the foot of Canal St, whether it is Amtrak or light rail. But even a train that ends at the UPT is still very useful!

once the people get to Union station, they should utilize the street cars, that will get you to most main places including the foot of canal

as for the airport, they should just shore the old tunnel under the runway up properly and use that area, will get you across the airfield quick

[NOLAslimm]

friend took this from FQF this weekend, can see Harrahs/Caesars pretty good from algiers

[BlueDot]

Originally Posted by broadmoor

I honestly think they have, and there are too many wheels in motion there already for them to lose such a huge volume of square footage. I'm hearing people think a year or two delay but that it'll still move forward, but who really knows.

So Tulane’s in it for the long haul ?