Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Christopher Cyrus, b/m, 07/24/1986, 6′ 0″, 150 lbs.
Wanted for attempted aggravated rape and aggravated burglary.
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Please pass this on to your neighbors, especially those who live in close proximity to Comiskey Park. It is important that residents & business owners provide input to the process.

WHAT: Community meeting to discuss upcoming streetscape enhancements.
WHERE: Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St.
WHEN: January 28, 2009 6:30 p.m.
Boundaries:
Baudin Street (S. Clark Street to N. Jefferson Davis Parkway)
D’hemecourt Street (S. Clark Street to N. Jefferson Davis Parkway)
S. Clark Street (Tulane Avenue to Banks Street)

A streetscape is a public improvement project that will enhance the public area and trigger subsequent recovery and investment in surrounding neighborhoods. This development is designed to help create additional and continued private investment in the City’s key recovery areas. Streetscape projects enhance the area surrounding the actual roadway, but do not include roadway repair or reconstruction. Project options include improvements to sidewalks, walkways, bike paths, vehicular and pedestrian signalization and signage, landscaping and public art.

Below is the letter from Mayor Nagin extending an invitation:

Dear Resident,

I am inviting you and your neighbors to participate in the final steps of the streetscape process before construction begins in your neighborhood. Before I go on, I want to thank you for your input and patience in this historic recovery planning process. As you know, since Hurricane Katrina, I committed to the full recovery of our city and with your participation in the many planning meetings; it is because of you that we are making progress everyday. In May of 2008, we received the funding from the State to move forward with construction of neighborhood streetscapes. Therefore, on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at 6:30 PM, at 3700 Canal St., we need you to finish this process so that we can break ground!

At this meeting, we will discuss the Tulane/Jeff Davis Streetscape project Baudin Street from S. Clark Street to N. Jefferson Davis Parkway, D’hemecourt Street from S. Clark Street to N. Jefferson Davis Parkway and S. Clark Street from Tulane Avenue to Banks Street. The project, which has a construction budget of approximately $300,000, is funded by Community Development Block Grants. The current scope of work for the facility is:

· Sidewalk, bikeway, driveway and other pedestrian surface walkway improvements
· Traffic and pedestrian signalization and signage
· Landscaping
· Lighting
· Public Art
· Pocket park improvements
· Minor utility modifications and improvements

For this community meeting, we ask that you come prepared to give your ideas on the design of this project. We are allowing groups with specific plans to give a 10 minute presentation. If your group is interested in presenting, please call Lavon Wright at 504.658.8411 to have your group placed on the agenda. Any group not on the agenda will not be able to give a formal presentation. Please provide copies of all materials to give to the project team. Those community groups and residents that would like to provide input on the project, but do not have specific plans are also welcomed to participate. Each person or group will be given three minutes to voice their opinions following the formal presentations.

A streetscape is a public improvement that will enhance the public area and trigger subsequent recovery and investment in surrounding neighborhoods. This development is designed to help create additional and continued private investment in the City’s key recovery areas. The streetscape is designed to benefit the surrounding neighborhood residents, business owners and visitors by providing amenities that contribute to economic vitality. Streetscape projects enhance the area surrounding the actual roadway, but do not include roadway repair or reconstruction.

Representatives from Buchart Horn, Inc., the design firm hired by the City of New Orleans to work on this project, will be present to note all input on the design of this facility.

Please call Lavon Wright with any questions regarding this meeting. Thank you for your continued commitment to the recovery and rebuilding of New Orleans.

Sincerely,

C. Ray Nagin
Mayor

MCNO recently became aware that there is a Temporary Alcohol Beverage Outlet (ABO) Moratorium and Special Event permit moratorium proposed for the portion of Mid-City bounded by Cleveland Avenue, Bienville Avenue, Saint Patrick Street and City Park Avenue. Apparently, the ordinance was read in at the December 18th council meeting and was planned to go for Final Passage (which includes public discussion) at Thursday’s meeting.

The text of the ordinance in its entirety is below.

Once MCNO became aware of the Ordinance, we requested that Councilmember Midura defer it to the next Council meeting (January 22) and she agreed. The purpose of the deferral is so that the MCNO Board can understand the scope and impact of the proposed ordinance and take a position on the issue. With less than 48 hours notice, it would be impossible for the Board to make an educated decision that includes the input of affected residents, businesses and property owners.

MCNO will host a public meeting for Mid-City residents, business owners and property owners affected by this proposal. The meeting will be Wednesday January 14th at 6:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal Street).

Between now and then, MCNO will try to compile some more information about the current zoning & use of the parcels in question and post it here. We are also working to communicate with Neighborhood organizations in other areas of the city where such moratorium’s are already in place to determine pros & cons from their viewpoint.

The key question that the MCNO board must consider is whether the benefits of the proposed ABO/Special Event permit moratorium outweigh costs/risks, and if justified, what is the appropriate boundaries for such a moratorium.

I regret that we didn’t have this information sooner, as we could have readily discussed it immediately following the main topic at Monday night’s Mid-City meeting, and avoided the time and effort required to set up a special meeting.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Weishaupt
President, MCNO
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