Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

For Immediate Release: Dec. 30, 2009
Contact: Virginia Blanque (504) 416-1429

Who knew that the New Year’s Baby had elves? The Mid-City Bonfire was saved, a decades old tradition which city officials had threaten to quash this year, after a small band of Mid-Citizens dedicated themselves to finding a solution the city would approve.

The New Orleans Fire Department issued a flyer to the media and leafleted area homes for a meeting to discuss what it called “The Illegal Bonfire” at a local church on Monday, Dec. 22. Over 150 supporters of the Mid-City bonfire hooted down official’s suggestion that a safe fire was not possible and challenged the city to respect local city tradition. After Council member Shelly Midura promised a quick follow up meeting with city agencies, a small ad hoc committee of area residents met the following morning, with Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow in attendance, and produced a proposal for a revamped bonfire.

A small delegation was sent to City Hall, and won preliminary approval of city officials. The fire department imposed conditions that will change the bonfire from the event of recent years. A double row of barricades will be erected around the fire, and only the fire department will be allowed to add Christmas Trees to the fire. The ad hoc group of Mid-City residents had to produce a metal fire box and a 20×20 foot square of expensive welder’s cloth to protect the neutral ground.

The neighborhood responded by finding a donor of a firebox, the required fire-proof cloths, and organized bonfire marshals to help with the event as well as a clean-up crew of area volunteers to supplement the neighbors who have cleaned up after the event for years.

The citizens who worked frantically around the Christmas holiday to work out a compromise wish to thank the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department and the Parks and Parkways Commission for their willingness to find a compromise. Also, thank you to New Orleans Roofing and Metal for volunteering to build a metal fire pit, John Cummings for your support in obtaining the necessary insurance and to the Friends of St. Patrick Park organization which agreed to request the necessary permits.

The Mid-City Bonfire Committee requests that visitors to the Bonfire observe the following:

The Mid-City Bonfire Committee Guidelines

• No Fireworks In or around bonfire
  City Ordinance No. 123-45.a
  The N.O.F.D. will extinguish the fire immediately if fireworks are tossed into the fire. If you want to see this tradition continued, no fireworks.
• Do Not Throw Items in Fire
  Only fire personnel only can place items in fire.
  If you bring a tree place it in the designated area.
• No Glass Containers
• Respect the barricades, volunteer marshals & the NOPD & NOFD
• Be Nice or Leave
  This is a family-friendly neighborhood event. Please behave accordingly.

The City of New Orleans has approved the bonfire and both citizens and businesses have volunteered to make this event safe and enjoyable for everyone. MCNO is not the official sponsor of this event, but we will post details here the morning of December 31 (or sooner if possible).

MCNO has been informed that the City of New Orleans is taking steps to prevent the New Year’s Eve Bonfire (typically in the 4200 Block of Orleans Avenue), due to the risk to public safety and violation of a number of City codes. An informational session will be jointly hosted by NOPD, NOFD, and Parks & Parkways on Monday December 22, 2008 at 6:30pm, at Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal Street. The purpose of the session is to proactively inform residents and business owners about the City’s enforcement plans for the night of the event.

MCNO has questioned whether an engineered bonfire could receive a permit, and was told that City Code prevents any permit from being issued for an open burn on this neutral ground because of the proximity to homes. MCNO also questioned whether any permits for a block party, without a fire, might be issued. This is a possibility, should the organizers of the NYE event wish to pursue it through the normal permitting channels.

Attached is a flyer for the Informational Session. Please distribute this information to your Mid-City friends and neighbors. Also note that NOFD representatives will be distributing these flyers door-to-door for a 2-3 block radius around the event site starting tomorrow.

There will be a City of New Orleans Office of Recovery and Development public meeting with Mid-City community residents regarding the Tulane Ave. @ Jeff. Davis streetscape project. On Thursday December 11, 2008 at 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, 3401 Canal Street (Canal at Jeff. Davis) Minister Shaun Davis, Pastor.

Lavon Wright klwright@cityofno.com is the scheduler of this meeting.

Please attend and advise your near neighbors of the public meeting.

The next MCNO Monthly Membership Meeting is on Monday, December 1st. Two big items on the agenda include:

1) ELECTIONS!!! Several board positions are open for the 2009-2010 term. We hope to welcome new faces and fresh ideas! Please see below for additional info.

2) POT LUCK!!! Just like last year, come one, come all, and bring a dish to share. The food was great last year and the company was even better. Great occasion to meet and greet fellow mid-citizens. We’ll keep the meeting short so there is able time to eat and conversate.

Several board positions will be coming to term at the end of this year. We are actively seeking new candidates for several open positions. Please review the info below and consider joining the team!

• helping support the mid-city library
• fighting for more public green space
• weighing in on zoning & planning issues
• writing grants
• boosting preservation efforts
• supporting Mid-City schools
• making Mid-City a safer place
• communications to help keep all Mid-citizens informed

If you would enjoy activities such as these, please consider joining the MCNO Board!

YOU’D PROBABLY MAKE A GOOD BOARD MEMBER IF YOU CAN:

• discuss issues calmly;
• retain your own viewpoint while respecting the right of others to disagree;
• work as a member of a team; and
• remember that the good of the neighborhood is our goal.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RUN?

Candidates must be a member of MCNO at the time of the election and must reside within the organization’s boundaries (see map).

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF BOARD MEMBERS?

Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings and MCNO events and to chair a committee or perform another equally important assignment (examples: publishing the newsletter, acting as a liaison to other civic organizations, serving as an officer of MCNO). Board members are not compensated for their service.

For complete requirements and more details, see the bylaws.

HOW DO I NOMINATE SOMEONE ?

Nominations are made at the November Board meeting or at the December general membership meeting. Nominating yourself is perfectly acceptable! Before you nominate someone else, check with them to be sure they’re are willing to serve if elected.

HOW DO MCNO MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT THE NOMINEES?

Beginning now, anyone interested in running for a Board seat should supply a brief profile of themselves which MCNO will publish on its Yahoo discussion group and on its website. Please include the following in your profile:

• Name & Home Address; Contact email and phone
• A brief bio highlighting your service to MCNO/other non-profit/civic causes
• A brief summary of the skills and expertise that you can bring to the Board

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE MCNO BOARD ELECTION?

All members in good standing (dues paid up) are eligible to vote. You will be able to join MCNO or renew your membership at our election meeting prior to the start of voting.

WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE ELECTION BE HELD?

Elections for the Mid City Neighborhood Organization’s 2009 Board of Directors are coming up Monday, December 1st, 6:30PM at Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal St.).

QUESTIONS?

Please address questions and send profiles to Angela Brenneke, MCNO Secretary

Email (preferred): angelabrenneke [*] gmail.com
Phone (evening): 504-606-2584
Postal Mail: 3019 Banks St., NOLA 70119

The next Mid-City Security District meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, 11/17/2008 at 7:30 PM. The meeting will be at the new Old City Building Center at 341 N. Hennessey St. This meeting is open to the public and we encourage participation!

The agenda includes, but not limited to:

1. Creation of a resolution for an expected budget for 2009 to be sent to City Council for approval.
2. Bylaws – we need to establish some rules of order for facilitation of meetings (possibly Roberts Rules of Order or similar)

Best regards,

Angela E. Brenneke
Commissioner, Mid-City Security District

ATTENTION NEIGHBORS:

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization
Requests Your Attendance
at a Public Meeting
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 6:30 PM
Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal St.)

To Give Input on a Proposed, 54-Unit, Mixed-Income Housing Development
that is funded largely with public grants and tax incentives.
It Will Front on Bienville Street and Be Bounded By
N. Salcedo Street, N. Rendon Street, and Conti Street

The Legal Notice Published in the Times Picayune Follows:
Notice to Public: BPBM, LLC is making an application for Housing Tax Credits and LRA/OCD Piggyback funds, with the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency and LRA/OCD to develop Bienville Square, a new construction Mixed Income development consisting of 50 new apartment units. The project will also include an on-site community center which will provide social services, including after school programs, adult education program, and computer training. The site is located in the 3100 block of Bienville Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119. The site is bounded by Bienville Street, North Salcedo Street, North Rendon Street, and Conti Street. The total cost of development will be $11.285,750 and will be funded with approximately $3,527,350 in investor equity generated from the sale of tax credits, $6,100,000 in CDBG LRA/OCD Piggyback funds, and $1,658,400 in private equity and deferred developer fee.
Published in The Times-Picayune 8/10. Updated 8/10

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEVELOPER, THE BANKER,
AND THE ARCHITECT WILL BE PRESENT TO DISCUSS THE PLANS.

NEIGHBORS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND, ASK QUESTIONS, AND EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.

Two Mid-City stalwarts are featured in Gambit’s annual 40 Under 40.
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The Planning District 4 (Mid City) Round 1 Meeting for the new Master Plan will take place as scheduled. All residents should attend and speak their minds about their vision for New Orleans’ next 20 years. This is plan will be a working document, not a visionary but currently unrealistic description like so many previous plans have been since Katrina. It is incumbent upon every Mid City resident to plan NOW to attend!!!

When: Thursday, November 13, 2008 6:30 PM-8:30 PM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

Where: Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St.

Those who do not speak their mind are denying themselves a voice.

The Old City Building Center will be holding it’s first “Fun Raiser”, Green Costume Party, at our new location: 341 N. Hennessey Street (corner of Conti St.), November 1st from 7-10pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the building Monday through Friday or on-line at mcno.org/ocbc. $25.00 per person / $40.00 a couple in advance.

We will also have tickets at the door the night of the event.

Live music; Margie Perez Band, silent auction, costume contest and more.

Please check out the PDF flier. Hope to see everyone there!!!

MCNO is proud to join the Big Easy Roller Girls for a cleanup of the Jeff Davis overpass this Sunday. Read on for details.

Hi,

My name is lacy smith, also known as lacy underalls of the Big Easy Roller Girls. We are organizing a clean up of the S. Jeff Davis Parkway overpass by Xavier and would love for you to join in.

Although the bike path running in the middle of the overpass is a great way to connect uptown and mid-city, it is often littered with trash and glass, making it dangerous for cyclists. As a group that understands the need to have a hazard-free surface to roll on, we rollergirls want to clean it up!

The clean up will take place on October 19 at 11 am. We will meet at the statue at the foot of the overpass on Tulane Ave. We’ll bring some push brooms and trash bags, but encourage everyone to bring their own brooms, bags and dustpans. (In the event of rain, we will reschedule).

We’re inviting Critical Mass, NolaCycle, Tulane Law School’s Environmental Law Society, Metro Bicycle Coalition and you! Please pass this along to anyone that may be interested.

Thanks!

lacy underalls
Big Easy Rollergirls

The Education Committee prepared the following response to the School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish. This response was approved by the MCNO Board and was submitted to the planners, to become part of the official public comments.

–Jeannette Thompson, Co-Chair, Education/Library Committee, MCNO

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Good News for Mid-City! MCNO worked with Lakeview Civic Improvement Association to submit an application for the State’s Cultural Product District Certification several months ago. The State announced the winners yesterday, and our District is on the list!! The benefits of the designation include historic restoration tax credits and tax-free sales of original art. More details of how this affects you as residents and business-owners will follow.
Read the rest of this entry »

Update: The zoning meeting planned for this Thursday evening has been canceled, as Jesuit has just notified MCNO that the purchase has been put on hold indefinitely. We don’t have details beyond this. We will keep the community abreast of any changes.
Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to everyone who attended last night’s Mid-City neighborhood meeting. For those who were unable to attend, here is a brief summary. The next meeting is Monday October 6th, 6:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal Street.

Lt. Cambiotti and Sgt Davillier of the First District reported on their efforts during Gustav — evacuation through re-entry– and the results. There were only 2 instances of Looting, 4 Auto thefts, 5 Business Burglaries and 10 residence burglaries from Sunday Aug 31 - Sat Sep 6th. There were NO persons crimes in the First District during this time. The First District numbers were very low compared to other districts, which they attribute to the manner in which they utilized their national guard and NOPD patrols. They also made a number of successful arrests related to these crimes. Lt. Cambiotti also reported that their clearance rate for armed robberies is 50% (compared to a national average of less than 30%) and is 28% for business burglaries (again, higher than national average).

Due to the 12-hour shifts and shift change time of 7pm, Major Elder was not able to attend, but did provide some info which was delivered by MCNO Crime Prevention Chair Angie Brenneke.

Angie also spoke about the Mid-City Security District, which comes up for a vote on November 4th. Detailed info on the district can be found at the website. Free Yard signs supporting the creation of the District will be available at the October meeting.

Matt Schwartz of Domain Companies discussed their planned retail development in the 3001 block of Tulane Avenue (across from the Crescent Club apartment development which is under construction). He showed renderings and plans to the group. The development is single-story construction fronting Tulane Avenue with 70 parking spaces in the back (there are houses between the end of the parking lot and Baudin street, so the streetscape on Baudin will not change). Capitol One Bank is one of the anchor tenants, with a Restaurant or Restaurant/Gourmet Market combo sought for the other Corner Anchor. The smaller tenants will include a nail salon and dry cleaner. They are seeking other “neighborhood convenience” retailers to finish out the space. They expect to begin construction in November.

Kris Potthurst of New Orleans Food and Farm Network announced their new home at 4840 Banks Street. They will hold their first “Grow Mo’ Better” training session — Getting Started on a Vegetable Garden at this location on Saturday Sep 20. You can find details and sign up (there is a $3 fee) on their website. Also, Kris announced that they are developing a sustainable farmers market and urban training farm at the former Guillot’s Nursery on Olive Street in Holly grove (behind the Carrollton Ave Post Office). This is spitting distance from Mid-City and will be a great amenity to the City!

Tracy Hamlin of MCNO discussed the Block Captain program which still needs a number of volunteers from all areas of Mid-City to fully establish a complete communication network. Were you contacting your neighbors to inform them when power came back after Gustav, or perhaps to let them know what businesses were open? If so, you were an impromptu Block Captain. This is the type of communication network we are trying to establish! Please contact Tracy at hamlinhs@bellsouth.net and provide your name, email, phone and address to become a Block Captain.

Jeannette Thompson of MCNO discussed the recently released School Facilities Master Plan which poses some serious changes for Mid-City. If you are able to volunteer in the next two weeks to help read and write comments on the Mid-City aspects of the plan, please contact Jeannette at library@mcno.org. The Public Comment period ends Sept 20, so this is urgent.

I gave a brief update on the Housing Survey. A detailed update will be provided by Jennifer Farwell at the October Meeting.

The Zoning Committee announced a Zoning Meeting to be held Thursday Sept 18th, 6:30pm at Grace Episcopal to hear a presentation by Jesuit regarding the square bounded by Baudin, D’Hemecourt, Alexander, Hennessey. Jesuit would like to convert this square into a practice field.

Finally, we heard from 2 candidates for School Board District 3 (Downtown side of Canal). These were Davin Boldissar and Amy Lafont. We also heard from Hunter Harris, Candidate for Criminal Court Section F Judge.

As you can see, we covered a lot of ground and some very important issues. Make plans now to attend the October 6th meeting!

We will hold the September neighborhood meeting on Monday Sept 8 at 6:30 pm as planned.

Please join us at Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal street.

Grace Episcopal Church is offering two free “Food for the Soul” family unity dinners held on both Saturday September 13, 2008 and September 20, 2008.

Learn more: Download the PDF [208 KB]

The following comes from our “neighboring neighborhood” of Parkview. The property in question is right on the border of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization’s boundary. We encourage all concerned residents to take action on this matter.

Neighbors,

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE A REAL CHANCE TO KEEP ANOTHER INAPPROPRIATE BAR FROM OPERATING AT 3841 ORLEANS AVENUE. ON BEHALF OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, I AND OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE WORKED HARD ON THIS BEHIND THE SCENES. WE NOW NEED YOU TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE HAD TO LIVE NEAR THESE BARS BY ATTENDING THE HEARING IN BATON ROUGE NEXT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, AT 10 A.M. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ATTEND. IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND, PLEASE SEND A LETTER, AS STATED BELOW.

On June 20, 2008, a company named “Scotto’s Cafe, LLC” posted signs on the door and window of 3841 Orleans Avenue, the former site of Lyric’s Cafe and Tyler’s, announcing that Scotto’s had applied for a high and low alcohol content permit. The city application states that Scotto’s planned to begin operation by July 18, 2008. We originally went to the city with our objections, which at least seemed to slow the city permitting process down. Councilmember Shelley Midura’s office assisted in setting up a meeting with one of the owners of the property and someone who is supposed to “operate” the business. The owner of Scotto’s did not attend. This meeting confirmed that yet another bar was in the making, despite the fact that the application is for a restaurant, not a bar. However, the city officials at the meeting indicated that they might not be able to stop the new business from getting a city permit.

So, we turned to the state. On behalf of PNA, on July 24, 2008, I filed a Petition with the State Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control stating our opposition to the state granting a liquor permit to Scotto’s Cafe. Among other grounds, I allege that the property has been run by a number of “businesses,” but that the property owner is the true operator, and that the people seeking the permits are not really operating the business. This is against state law. I also stated the history of Lyric’s and Tyler’s with illegal live entertainment, illegal parking and noise, and customers loitering, intimidating neighbors, causing property damage and selling drugs, etc.

The state has subpoenaed the owner of the property, the owner of Scotto’s Cafe, LLC, and the intended “operators” to appear and provide evidence that Scotto’s is a valid company that will operate a restaurant at the location. I must also provide evidence that the facts that I allege in the Petition of Opposition are true.

We need your support. If you experienced any of the problems with Lyric’s and Tyler’s, if you have any knowledge of the number of operators that have been involved, if you attended any of the meetings between the owner, previous operators, neighborhood organizations and/or the city, please reply to this email and take the time to attend this hearing. If you did not experience these events, but want to show your support for your neighbors’ struggle on this serious quality of life issue, please reply to this email and attend to show our solidarity. If you can not attend, please send a letter by fax or mail to Commissioner Murphy J. Painter at the below address. The fax number is 225-925-3975.

The public hearing will be held at the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, 8585 Archives Ave., Ste. 220, Baton Rouge, Wednesday, August 27, 10:00 a.m.

Thanks to all who helped get us to this point and to all who will help us going forward.

Susan Guidry
President
Parkview Neighborhood Association

From Virginia Blanque:

Thanks to everyone who attended the public scoping meeting hosted by the VA on Monday August 11th. The purpose of this meeting was to seek public input on VA’s consideration of the Lindy Boggs site for their new Medical Center. There were more than 300 people in attendance (by my estimate), and approximately 30 people made comments or asked questions. I continue to be impressed by the insight, engagement and passion that Mid-City residents and business owners bring to the table regarding issues of recovery.

Presentations were made by VA, Victory Real Estate Investors, Dr. Ed Blakely, Councilmember Midura and Councilmember Head. This was followed by more than 90 minutes of comments and questions from the audience.

Some of the facts that were established:

* The Lindy Boggs site as offered by Victory is 39.8 acres, spanning from Jeff Davis to Carrollton, and from Bienville Avenue to Toulouse Street which is a light industrial and medical use zone.

*The Lindy Boggs site was offered as a response to the Section 106 meetings, in which any viable alternative sites can be proposed.

*The Victory offering excludes the city block that Mid-City Center sits on. It excludes the properties that Victory owns south of Bienville and West of Carrollton Avenue.

*The VA’s premise for the project is a 1.1 million square foot medical complex including a hospital and outpatient clinics spread over the ~17 block area. The tallest building would be the hospital at 6-7 stories. The VA refers to the design of the medical center as “campus-style”.

*The existing Lindy Boggs Hospital and office building is approximately 500,000 square feet on 2 city blocks.

*The total square footage of existing buildings (hospital, offices, warehouses, retail) on the proposed site is 980,000 square feet.

* Dr. Ed Blakely stated that the City will not assist VA in any way if they choose the Lindy Boggs site. The package of CDBG funds and other incentives offered by the City would not be offered for this site.

*Residents of Mid-City/Lower Mid-City who spoke at the meeting were overwhelmingly in favor of the Lindy Boggs site.

*Veterans who spoke at the meeting are in favor of whatever decision will get them quality healthcare in New Orleans faster. They are suffering from the lack of available quality care at this time.

Some additional information that was not presented in the Scoping Meeting but has been discussed either directly with Victory/VA or in the Section 106 meetings:

*VA is aware of the plans for the Lafitte Corridor Greenway. They have invited Friends of Lafitte Corridor to join the Section 106 process as a Consulting Party. There initial response was that they liked the idea of this planned greenspace and could work with it in their design.

*Victory has stated that if the project goes through at the Lindy Boggs site, they have arranged for Rouse’s to move across the street to the Bohn Ford site with new construction. We have not yet independently confirmed this with Rouse’s.

*VA confirmed that they are able to move forward with the project without funding from the City.

*LSU confirmed that they will move forward with their plans for a downtown location even if VA chooses the Lindy Boggs site.

*National Trust stated the Lindy Boggs site would NOT require the more extensive EIS (environmental impact study) that the RPC site.

*Lindy Boggs site would not require the demolition of a single home because there none in the footprint.

*Aside from the Downtown site and the Lindy Boggs site, there are two other options that VA is considering: Ochsner site in Jefferson Parish and No Action (meaning they would not build a large Medical Center in the area).

Latest articles:
TP: Letter to the editor in today’s paper
TP: Hearing tackles VA med center location
Advocate: N.O. crowd protests VA hospital site
for maps and additional information: www.valsumedcenters.com

Again, thank you for participating in the Federal process of a public hearing on the topic. It aligns with our Mid-City Plan which is why we support it for healthcare and economics.

Virginia Blanque
VP, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

There is a change to tonight’s agenda!

The Veterans Administration has announced its consideration of the Lindy Boggs hospital site as an alternative site for the proposed VA Medical Center. The VA is hosting a public meeting next Monday August 11th at 7pm for this purpose.

MCNO will therefore postpone our main agenda item, Energy Costs, to allow sufficient time to educate our members and neighbors about the VA proposal and how it fits into the Mid-City Plan.

The agenda is now:

Agenda

1. Welcome

2. VA Consideration of Lindy Boggs Hospital as Alternative Site

3. Crime Update

4. Neighborhood Information Sharing

Update from MCNO Board Members on Progress of projects
Announcements of Night Out Against Crime events to be held Tuesday August 5th throughout Mid-City
Guy Fournier - Update on the New Orleans Faith Health Alliance Project
Linda Stone & Raymond Breaux of Global Green - Brief on Green Schools & the Build it Back Green program