Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Mid City Housing Fair – May 18 noon-5pm
Map of stops available at the three major tour stops and HERE

This Sunday, Mid City will open its houses and its hearts to welcome New Orleans residents and visitors who wish to see the progress in Mid City and learn about its attractive housing and renovation opportunities. At all three major stops, visitors can obtain a copy of the map, as well as information about the benefits of renovating an historic home and flyers listing housing and renovation-related vendors and homes for sale in Mid City (not offering Open Houses).

Doggy Dog World Dog Daycare will give half-off daycare that day to anyone presenting a copy of the map. Ruby Slipper and Bayou Coffeehouse (both listed on the map) are offering food and drink specials.

Major tour stops are:

636 S. Alexander Street
326 N. Jeff Davis Pkwy (Bayou Coffeehouse)
3438 Cleveland Street

Press release follows.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo schedule has been announced.

Remember, the Boogaloo is on the Jefferson Davis Parkway neutral ground where Orleans Avenue meets Moss, on May 23rd (5-9 pm) and May 24th (10am-9pm).

The Boogaloo features live local and nationally renown bands with an eclectic mix of music and fun. The Boogaloo will feature an art market, children’s entertainers and activities, community info along with consumer resource booths, and canoe races. Plenty of food, drinks, and wonderful merchandise will be available for sale. Find out more at http://thebayouboogaloo.com

Free admission!

More info: 504-488-3865

News Release
Mid City Neighborhood Organization
P.O. Box 791023
New Orleans, LA 70170

www.mcno.org

Contact:
Jennifer Weishaupt, 504-729-0888

MID-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR LOCAL GREENWAYS ACHIEVEMENT

[New Orleans, LA ( May 7, 2008)]—The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) has received a national honor accompanied by a grant from the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program. The $1000 grant will help in the implementation of the Carrollton Avenue to Jefferson Davis Parkway portion of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway. In addition to receiving the grant award, MCNO will be showcased as a national model for its innovative efforts to develop a greenway in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Read the rest of this entry »

Every Thursday at the American Can Company [map] from 3-7 PM.

www.midcitygreenmarket.org

If you have a home related business, here is an opportunity to promote it to the community and potential customers. Also if you have a restaurant or beverage outlet, you too can participate. See details below. Deadline to participate is near. Lynn McLean–Member MCNO Economic Development Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Monday, April 28, 2008
Contact housing@mcno.org

Mid-City Neighborhood to Hold
Housing and Renovation Fair and Tour

May 18, 11-4pm

New Orleans, Louisiana – On Sunday, May 18, from 11-4pm, a Spring Housing and Renovation Fair and Tour will take place in the Mid City Neighborhood. The tour, designed to promote the Mid City Neighborhood as an attractive place to become a homeowner, will have numerous stops hosting special events, informational activities, and instructional demonstrations. Visitors will be able to pick up maps of all tour locations at participating destinations.

The Mid City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO), which is helping to coordinate the event, is currently seeking companies and individuals to participate. The only requirements for application are that participants must either live or have a business in Mid-City and the activity or information offered must be home-related. Restaurants or beverage outlets that wish to offer a related special that day can also receive mention on the map.

Companies outside Mid-City that do a substantial portion of their work in the area will be considered as well. However, participation is limited and all applicants may not be accepted.

If participants have a location where they can hold some sort of event, they will be included on the map. If they wish to provide information only, they can bring a table and set up at one the stops on the tour or optionally, have their name and address listed in a vendor directory.

Types of events/participants sought include:

• Open houses of ready-to-sell properties;
• Individuals or companies who are engaged in renovations of historic homes and would let visitors see what a “renovation in progress” looks like;
• Craftsmen and other construction professionals who talk about or demonstrate their trades. Craftsmen with knowledge of the historic building trades are especially welcome;
• Companies that sell building materials or build/manufacture homes with an historic flavor.

Participants are not required to serve refreshments or give away prizes, but these types of value-added activities will increase visitorship.

The Preservation Resource Center, MCNO, Domain Companies, and numerous housing-related professionals have already committed to participate. If you are interested in participating, please email housing@mcno.org as soon as possible, as the remaining available tour stops should fill this week.

About The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO)

MCNO is dedicated to making its neighborhood a rewarding place to live, work and raise a family. For more information about MCNO, including additional community-oriented events and membership information, please visit www.mcno.org.

There’s still time if you or your company would like to help out with the Bayou Boogaloo. Jazz Fest is this weekend and next. Then the Bayou Boogaloo will be held on May 23rd and May 24th. Check out the great businesses helping the Bayou Boogaloo…

Join them and make the Bayou Boogaloo an even bigger success this year. Profits from the Bayou Boogaloo will restore the playgrounds on Jefferson Davis Parkway in Mid City.

EDEN FEST: A Celebration of the Earth in the Arts, takes place this Saturday, April 19th, 12 - 5 p.m., @ 3401 Canal, at corner of Canal and Jeff. Davis Parkway, on the Canal streetcar line.

Co-organized by First Grace United Methodist Church and The Neighborhood Gallery. There will be an art gallery showing by Neighborhood Gallery artists, info. tables from Ecological Organizations, Musical, Dance and Poetry performances, including music by Fredy Omar con su banda, Crafts-people, Good Food and MUCH Family Fun (including a space walk and activities for children!).

Come on out to EDEN FEST this Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Earth in the Arts!

Contact people: Anne Daniell 504-872-9970, Jennie Hammatt-Milchenko 504-919-6706, Sandra Berry, Director, The Neighborhood Gallery 504-861-7792

The Spring 2008 edition of the Heart of the City Newsletter is now in print. Pick it up at your favorite Mid-City venues, or download it now [PDF, 3.8MB]. Major props to Natalie LaFont for making it happen.

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is pleased to report that we’ve won a Neighborhood Phoenix award from Neighborhoods Partnership Network.

MID-CITY LIBRARY FEST!!!
Sat., April 5, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
At our branch library (330 N. Carrollton, at Conti St.)

EVENTS: Crawfish boil & BBQ, Musical groups, Storyteller, Hornets bookmobile giving away kids’ books, Trivia games for all ages, Activities for kids, Booksale, Raffle items … (more details later)

Attendance at the Fest is free, with tickets sold for food, drink, and some of the activities.

This event is to raise funds for our Mid-City branch library (part of the New Orleans Public Library system)

ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR NOW — COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN ON APRIL 5th!!

OK, now that you’ve got the event on your calendar, please think about volunteering! We need help in all areas: serving food & drinks, help with kids’ activities, ticket sales, used booksale & raffles… Two-hour shifts are available (11-1, 1-3, 3-5) as well as help with setup and cleanup. Free food & drink will be provided for each shift worked. To sign up to volunteer, please contact: Stephanie Martin redstick49 [at] cox [dot] net.

Carnival’s over, but you can read about Endymion’s return to Mid-City via the following links:

• Parade Returns, and New Orleans’s Heart Rejoices
• As Endymion returns to Mid-City in a colorful sign of recovery, it will pass through a kaleidoscope of once-familiar neighborhoods that are very much a work in progress
• Endymion’s return to its traditional Mid-City route shows that, sometimes, you CAN go home again.
• Largest Mardi Gras since Katrina reflects how area has rebounded
• Mid-City Celebrates

The MCNO Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2008 last night. We welcomed 11 returning board members, and 6 new board members. Our first order of business was to elect Officers, the results are as follows:

President - Jennifer Weishaupt
Chair - To Be Determined
Vice President - Virginia Blanque
Treasurer - Becker Rutledge
Secretary - Angela Brenneke
Membership Coordinator - Lauri Hengl

Congratulations to the new Officers, and thanks to each of you for accepting this challenge!

In addition, we worked to assign board members to Committee & Liaison Roles. Many of our new board members are still determining where their skills and interests are best suited, so more updates to come. The full list of assignments can be viewed here.

In order for MCNO to continue its success in rebuilding the Mid-City neighborhood, I ask you to do two things:

1. Become a member of MCNO (or plan to renew your current membership) by clicking this link.

Our successes in City Hall, in receiving grants, and in partnering with other organizations relies on the strength of our membership. In addition, the funds from membership are needed to accomplish our mission. Your board members are VOLUNTEERS, but implementing our rebuilding plan has COSTS.

2. Pick an area that interests you, contact that board member and VOLUNTEER. Be specific - there are many ways to help THAT DON’T INVOLVE GOING TO MEETINGS!

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to a successful year.

Karen Ocker has also designed a 1′ x 8′ outdoor banner version of the Welcome Home Endymion sign. These are available from MCNO for $75, and will be printed by local Mid-City business Stronghold Studios. (Download a preview.)

All orders must be placed by 4pm TODAY, and banners will be ready by Friday morning or sooner. To order, send an email to vp@mcno.org with:

1. Your name/business name
2. # of banners desired

Further instructions will follow on where/when to pickup your banners on Friday, or we will arrange delivery.

Don’t miss this chance to get a fabulous Endymion banner that can be used year after year!

Payments must be made in cash or by check to MCNO. There may be a paypal option available. If you place an order I’ll send you the info.

Thanks to Mid-City graphic designer Karen Ocker for creating a poster. Please download the file, print several color copies and have them in hand when Endymion passes on Feb 2nd.

If you can print some extras for your neighbors and friends who aren’t on our group, that would be great too!

–welcome home endymion.pdf–

Please note that due to Mardi Gras, the February meeting will be on the 11th (the second Monday). Mark this on your calendar.

Mark your calendar, this event is scheduled for January 12:

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority is facing political and procedural challenges. There are many organizations working to address these challenges. The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority Unconference will create an environment where these organizations can collaborate. They can share their experiences with and concerns about the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and its mission.

Details at Think NOLA.

On Friday Dec 28th, three representatives of MCNO were joined by the President of Faubourg St John Neighborhood Ass’n and a representative of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, in a meeting with Richard Cortizas and Bill Hines - lawyers with Jones Walker representing Victory.

At that time we were informed that Victory has no redevelopment plans for Lindy Boggs site for the near future (2-3 years). This was attributed to the downturn in the housing, retail and credit markets over the past year. Development sooner than that time would only happen if there are changes in the economy.

The following details of the demolition plans were presented:

• Demolition would begin in approximately 2 months and would last about 5 months.
• Method of demolition is by heavy equipment.
• Demolition would take place Monday - Friday from about 7am - 5pm
• They are willing to agree to truck routes
• They have been working with the Louisiana Dept of Environmental Quality to address concerns about any materials in the building that might pose a threat to human health and/or the environment.

Following the meeting, the MCNO, FSJNA and FOLC representatives discussed options. At that time we agreed that continuing to take an adversarial position was not beneficial. This is mainly due to the fact that the HCDRC was very likely (>95%) to approve the demolition regardless of the position we took.

In an act of good faith on the part of our groups, we instead took a neutral position at today’s HCDRC hearing. The statement I made included the following:

• We are disappointed in the outcome of Friday’s meeting, but appreciative that they met with us.
• As an act of good faith on the part of the neighbors, who wish to engage in a constructive dialogue working with Victory for the future development, we were not taking a position of opposition.
• I then outlined the demolition details as shown above.
• I additionally asked that they either grass seed or sod the entire area, so that it will be more visually appealing until it is redeveloped.
• We reiterated that MCNO plans to move forward with an Interim Zoning District for Mid-City (to implement the zoning which is called for in the Mid-City Plans) and that IZD would change the zoning before the time that Victory is ready to redevelop.
• On behalf of MCNO & FOLC, we requested that Victory coordinate development of the Bohn Ford site in accordance with the Master Plan of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway.
• On behalf of MCNO & FOLC, we requested that Victory arrange along with their tenants to meet with us to coordinate implementation of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway in those areas (Bohn, Rouse’s/Home Depot)

The items outlined above are being worked into a Letter of Committment which will be signed by Victory and MCNO. It should be in place in the next 2 weeks.

I am personally disappointed in the outcome, but honestly believe that this was the best strategic position to take. Thank you to the neighbors who took the time to attend today’s HCDRC Hearing (it was a LONG one).

I will plan to discuss this in more detail at the January 7th meeting (6:30pm, Grace Episcopal Church, yes, we know it is the BCS game, so will keep it brief).

The demolition request for Lindy Boggs hospital is on the Dec 31st agenda for the Housing Conservation District Review Committee. If you are able to attend the Dec 31 meeting, your presence would be appreciated. The hearing is at 10am. It is usually held in City Hall Room 7E07.

It has now been 8 days since the last HCDRC hearing on this matter, and 22 days since the original HCDRC hearing on this matter, and we have heard NOTHING from Victory.

I will keep everyone posted if we hear something, but for the time being please mark your calendar and show your support for Mid-City.

Thanks to Dr. Giovani H. Graziosi and students at UNO, we now have site plans for locating six neighborhood signs throughout Mid-City.

You can download these maps here as a 5.7 MB PDF.

Your comments are welcome.

The Communications Committee will meet tonight for the final time under my tenure as Communications Director for Mid-City Neighborhood Organization. That’s tonight (Monday Dec. 17) 6:30 PM at Bayou Coffeehouse. Our main agenda item will be to discuss this document. Please join us.

Neighbors,

Following the e-mail I posted here on Dec 11, to Victory & City Council, the truthfulness of my statement with regard to what happened in the HCDRC hearing was questioned.

The integrity of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, and my personal integrity, as we move through the rebuilding process is of the upmost importance. Therefore, we have posted a video to YouTube showing the entire 6 minutes and 57 seconds of the portion of the HCDRC hearing Monday, which pertained to Victory. This video is also being sent to the Victory reps, City Council members, and Dr. Blakely, so they can see for themselves what took place.

Some key points (the audio is a bit rough due to the number of people in the room )

• 00:10 Johnny Odum, acting HCDRC chair, re-states Mr. Cortizas request so the audience can hear, “The applicant is requesting a 2-week deferral of this matter so he can work with Mr. Blakely to determine a development plan for the site.”
• 00:25 - 01:25 Veda Eubanks (in peach shirt), Mid-City resident, requests that during the time of meeting with Dr. Blakely, that residents also be included in these discussions.
• 01:28 Stephanie Bruno, HCDRC member, poses question to Mr. Cortizas regarding HCDRC’s deferral of 11/26 being specifically for the purpose of meeting with the neighborhood. She asks whether he was contacted and pushes him to answer a yes/no question about whether he responded to our requests.
• 02:00 Mr. Cortizas responds to Ms. Bruno.
• 02:27 Ms. Bruno - “and was it returned… did you return their message? That’s all I’m trying to find out”
• 02:32 Mr. Cortizas. “No”
• Some more exchange between Bruno/Cortizas where she asks that in the next two weeks he include the neighborhood in his meeting.
• 03:05 Jennifer Weishaupt, VP of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, makes statement on behalf of the organization, requesting the committee to vote to deny the permit, so the applicant can go through the appeal process to City Council.
• 06:00 Committee Member makes a motion to defer. Vote is taken. Deferral is approved 4-2.

I hope you can take 7 minutes to view the video and see for yourself what took place.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Weishaupt