Mid-City Neighborhood Organization » Economic Development

BioDistrict Meeting on Wednesday Requires Mid-Citizen Attendance

Bonnie — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:08:34 +0000

Over the past couple of years, through local efforts, the BioDistrict has been largely stymied from going forward with it’s masterplan that includes the historic residential areas of Mid-City and Gert Town – and the industrial side of Zion City.

The BioDistrict was created in the summer of 2005 and is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana. It has the power to tax and expropriate. This should concern all Louisianians as commissioners have bandied about the idea of creating more districts around the city and state.

Lately, the BioDistrict is on life support. Most recently, BioDistrict is recommending a tax on new construction in the BioDistrict boundaries to fund their continued operating budget. MCNO believes that a tax of this nature could disincentivize development of our neighborhood and decrease investment in Mid-City. While we can all agree that economic development in Mid-City is welcome, MCNO has taken a formal position against the efforts of the BioDistrict as long as the residential fabric of the neighborhood is threatened including residential demolition, zoning changes, and levied taxes. If there was ever a good time to force a change of boundaries and ask for no new taxes – now is the time! It’s hard to determine if the BioDistrict will be able to find operational money to go forward with their economic development plans, but if it goes into remission once again, we need to make sure that if it comes back, it comes back with the residential areas of MidCity and Gert Town removed.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Email Commissioner Paul Rainwater (Paul.Rainwater@la.gov) and LED Secretary Stephen Moret (Stephen.Moret@la.gov) and ask that before any operational money is allocated to BioDistrict New Orleans, the boundaries must be changed to exclude our historic homes.

Please attend the May 23rd “special” meeting to show opposition to the BioDistrict going forward in it’s current form.

See the details in the message from Jim McNamara – President of the BioDistrict – below.

At this moment, it appears unlikely we will receive the operational funding from the State of Louisiana, we requested. We believe we have made the case in favor of continuing the mission of the District, which is employing a holistic approach towards the development of biosciences industry as part of the knowledge-based economy in the New Orleans region. Biosciences currently employs 13.5% of the workforce.

I would like to request two actions of group members:

1) Email Commissioner Paul Rainwater (Paul.Rainwater@la.gov) and LED Secretary Stephen Moret (Stephen.Moret@la.gov) Subject Line: Please fund the BioDistrict $1.5 million Operating Request. Make sure you have a signature line with your name and address;

2) Attend the BioDistrict Board Of Commissioners Meeting. On the agenda for consideration is a 1.5% Construction Impact Fee on new commercial construction in the designated commercial area of the district. The fee amounts to $2.70 charge on new construction, which funds will provide for the continued development of this industry. Dr. James Richardson points out this is a progressive and focused means of financing our own development activities.

Please plan to attend the meeting to voice your support.

Where: 1515 Poydras St., Ste 540
Date: Wednesday May 23, 2012
Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30pm

Read MCNO’s formal position and let us know what you think.

Motion: That MCNO will push for the following changes regarding the BioDistrict and will guide the efforts of the BioDistrict Committee:

OPT OUT: Since there is a mechanism to get into the Biodistrict, there should be a way for a neighborhood to get out of the Biodistrict – without restrictions. The board would like the bill amended to include an opt-out provision;
Master Plan: We would like the bill amended to include that all planning and development undertaken by the Biodistrict must adhere and follow the New Orleans Master Plan (Master Plan for the 21^stCentury);
Representation on the Board: Add two members to the Board of Commissioners for BioDistrict New Orleans who live inside the footprint of the BioDistrict as defined in the bill and are appointed by MCNO.

Read about MCNO efforts at the last legislative session.

Street Work in Zone F is Progressing

Bonnie — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:35:13 +0000

What residents thought was just a bit of work to patch some pot holes in Zone F bounded by Canal, Carrollton, Tulane, and Jefferson Davis has turned into a complete street repair. Boh Brothers first posted no parking signs a few weeks ago to repair some of the street including S. Pierce, S. Cortez, S. Scott and S. Telemachus, but recent progress has shown that the City had a bigger plan in mind. Sidewalk corners have been taken out and reframed for what residents expect to be ADA accessible curb cuts. Areas of D’Hemecourt and Baudin between Carrollton and Jefferson Davis Parkway have been marked for new sidewalks where none existed before.

Some residents are annoyed by the no parking status which changes every day and is hard to keep track of, but many are relieved to see the City take some initiative on our neighborhood infrastructure. MCNO made a few calls to the City to get the full scope of the project in our neighborhood, but have not heard back. Oh well, for now we will just count our blessings!

Curb cut construction at the corner of S. Pierce and Baudin

Proposed Sale of Mid-City Fire Station

Bonnie — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:32:27 +0000

The former fire house and former NORD facility at 200 N. Alexander in Mid-City will soon be up for auction. The structure, which was never repaired after it was flooded in 2005 has been a blight on the nearby neighborhood. With the new Winn-Dixie development at Carrollton and Bienville, and growing momentum for the Lafitte Corridor, the sale of this property is coming a good time for investment in Mid-City.

For more information, read the TIMES PICAYUNE ARTICLE.

Let us know what you would like to see come of the old fire house.

Healthcare Assessment Survey

Bonnie — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:23:30 +0000

The NOAIDS Taskforce made a presentation at the April Neighborhood Association Meeting announcing that they are looking into expanding their health services in Mid-City. Currently, the NOAIDS Taskforce has been successful in providing HIV/AIDS testing and treatment to residents of New Orleans but they have identified a need for better access to healthcare in the New Orleans community especially neighborhoods outside of the Uptown area where health services are in great number.

The NOAIDS Taskforce is conducting a needs assessment for residents of the French Quarter, Treme/7th Ward, Marigny, Bywater and Midcity neighborhoods in New Orleans. The purpose of this project is to find out about the health and wellness concerns of the people living in these neighborhoods. Our goal is to create a community health center that is a safe and healthy medical home for you and your neighbors. Your participation will help determine how best to expand health care services to the community and to become the neighborhoods’ provider of choice. In appreciation for your participation they will be raffling off two iPad 2’s. If you would like to participate in the survey then click on the link below. This survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

NOAIDS Taskforce Community Health Center Survey

Title Clearing Collaborative Project

Bonnie — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:13:45 +0000

Volunteers from Louisiana Appleseed and attorneys from Southeast La. Legal Services and The Pro Bono Project are available to to you under their Title Clearing Collaborative Project. The Title Clearing Collaborative, has been working hard for almost one year to help 400 homeowners in Orleans Parish clear title to their property free of charge, enabling residents to rebuild, make productive use of their land, eradicate blight, and build wealth and assets.

Contact the Louisiana Appleseed Project today:

Jessie Haynes

Jessie Schott Haynes, Esq.

Program Director

Louisiana Appleseed

909 Poydras Street, Suite 1550

New Orleans, Louisiana 70112

504-561-7304 (o)

504-566-1926 (f)

jhaynes@appleseednetwork.org

http://louisiana.appleseednetwork.org

Louisiana Appleseed recruits professionals to donate pro bono time to solve problems at their root cause. Their goal is to advance social justice by effecting change at the policy, or systemic, level. Louisiana Appleseed’s projects seek to increase access to opportunity, education and justice.

Life Skills Training for 18-21 year olds

Bonnie — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:05:10 +0000

Louisiana Green Corps is offering a 6-week program which includes life skills training, NCCER training, math tutoring, and assistance with job placement for 18-‐21 YEAR OLD YOUTH

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

18-‐21 years old
Resident of Orleans, Jefferson or any surrounding parish
Birth certificate, SS Card, PhotoID, Recent Utility Bill, Proof of Income
Ability to commute to New Orleans M-‐F 8:30-‐3:30 fortraining

TRAINING OFFERED:

Math Skills Training
NCCER Construction Training
Life Skills and Resume Building
Job Placement Assistance

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS: March 30, 2012

Please call (504)613-‐4661 for more info and to set up an interview!

Please visit www.lagreencorps.org for more information.

Parking Issues in Mid-City

Bonnie — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:37:36 +0000

MCNO has been contacted recently by residents interested in exploring new parking strategies in Mid-City. As our neighborhood becomes more densely populated, businesses grow in popularity, and schools have more kids who drive cars parking on our urban streets is starting to become scarce in some areas. MCNO is putting together a committee to explore these issues and to recommend solutions and strategies for parking in Mid-City. Let us know what you think by completing the survey below or commenting below this article.

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BioDistrict Bill in the News

Bonnie — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:24:49 +0000

State Rep. Neil Abramson is introducing a bill that expands tax rebates for professionals who will work in the planned BioDistrict and purchase a blighted or abandoned property anywhere in the city.

Mid-City residents don’t see benefit from incentive to fight blight

POSTED: 05:05 PM Tuesday, March 6, 2012
BY: Ben Myers, Staff Writer

State Rep. Neil Abramson is attempting once again to merge blight reduction with bioscience-related economic development, but his proposal leaves some Mid-City residents wondering what’s in it for them.

House Bill 382 would provide sales-and-use tax rebates to “any legitimate employee of a hospital, medical or bioscience facility” who buys a blighted or abandoned property and works within a planned bioscience economic development district encompassing parts of downtown and Mid-City. Eligible purchases must occur within three years of an employee’s start date.

State Rep. Neil Abramson is introducing a bill that expands tax rebates for professionals who will work in the planned BioDistrict and purchase a blighted or abandoned property anywhere in the city. (photo by Frank Aymami)

Abramson filed a similar bill in 2010, but it died in committee.

A key difference in the latest incarnation is the expansion of eligible purchases throughout the city, as opposed to confining it to properties within the district.

That’s repugnant to Mid-City Neighborhood Association Board Chairman Miles Trapolin, whose organization is already frustrated with residential demolitions taking place to make way for the 1,500-acre district.

BioDistrict New Orleans CEO James McNamara said demolitions have occurred only in connection with development of the new LSU and VA hospitals, and no additional demolition is planned. McNamara said he does not know how many acres have been demolished.

The bill offers the neighborhood nothing in return for roughly 70 acres of homes that have already been razed, Trapolin said.

“Our beef is they seem to be leveraging the BioDistrict for other areas. If you are an employee of a bio district and you are along Tulane Avenue, you can buy a house anywhere you want. I just don’t understand it. What are you doing for us?” Trapolin said. “If you are building Uptown or in the Garden District, that does not focus the economic benefits that are supposedly being used in that 1,500 acres for the 1,500 acres.”

Abramson was somewhat vague when asked the purpose of expanding eligibility, saying it is to “broaden opportunities.” He said he doesn’t necessarily expect the bill to pass, adding that the intent is “to continue discussion.”

“My real motivation this time is to push the topic. I think it’s a great idea. I realize it’s not going to happen overnight,” he said.

Abramson said he hasn’t held substantive discussions on the concept with Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration, though he acknowledged that the mayor’s support is necessary because of potential impacts on city revenue.

The bill does not appear to be high on the administration’s priority list.

Landrieu spokesman Ryan Berni did not offer a position, noting only that the bill was not filed on behalf of the administration.

If passed, the new law would also provide rebates on materials and services purchased in Jefferson Parish for use on homes in New Orleans. Rebates on derelict homes in Jefferson Parish would be available if parish government establishes “subdistricts” ofBioDistrict New Orleans, the state-created entity that is coordinating development.

“That’s what you see happening in other cities like Boston and San Diego, wherever these clusters occur,” McNamara said. “They all can’t just fit right next to the universities. Inner-city price of land is just too expensive.”

Parking Symposium in New Orleans

Bonnie — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:31:41 +0000

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012 6:00 PM–8:00 PM

A symposium on the true costs of parking and new strategies for making parking work, featuring parking expert and innovator Donald Shoup, PhD.

Accommodating the automobile requires a lot of parking. Providing all this parking has had a profound effect on our communities, literally reshaping them. Through parking requirements we have come to expect free or cheap parking at every destination. However, parking is not free or cheap for any of us. The cost of providing this “free” parking is hidden in the costs of virtually every other good and service we buy – from a cup of coffee to rent. We also experience costs in time spent ‘hunting’ for a space, traffic-filled neighborhoods, less walking,and a severe loss of tree canopy and green space. Join ULI Louisiana as we learn about the effects of our current approach to parking and alternatives to managing parking that can help make our city a better place to live.

Kurt Weigle – Executive Director, Downtown Dev. District

Marcel Wisznia – Principal, Wisznia Associates HRI Properties

New Orleans City Planning Commission

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Donald Shoup – Professor of Urban Planning, UCLA

For more information or to Register online, please visit the Urban Land Institute.

MCNO Formal Position: Support the Mid-City Market

Bonnie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:28:06 +0000

The MCNO Board voted this month to support a one-way traffic crossing at St. Louis Street just above S. Carrollton Ave. This site is currently under design, but in order to sign Winn-Dixie as an anchor, the developers needed a concession from the Neighborhood and the City to create the traffic crossing of the Lafitte Greenway. While MCNO has been a significant advocate of the Greenway and the rights of pedestrians and cyclists, the potential of losing the long awaited redevelopment of this parcel in Mid-City would have been a greater detriment to the neighborhood. MCNO continues to work with the developer, Stirling Properties, to ensure the crossing of the Greenway is safe.

For more information please read the MCNO Letter of Support Mid-City Market and Greenway Crossing which was sent last week to City Council and the Mayor’s Office.

According to Stirling, all financing is in place for the redevelopment of this area. Stirling is exploring every opportunity to minimize the impact of cars crossing the Greenway, including:

Flashing lights
Signage stating that pedestrians have the right of way
A large gateway arch like that used at the pedestrian entrance to signal cars are leaving the project
A dip in the road as they leave, so when they go onto the greenway it becomes like a large speed bump
Patterned concrete that will create the effect of a rumble strip on either side of the greenway so cars are jogged a bit as they enter and leave the greenway crossing. (Think: Magazine through-street over the Audubon Park running trail.)

The project will generate 300-340 new jobs and bring the city millions of dollars in tax revenue each year. It is the largest multi-tenant retail project in New Orleans since Katrina, and it is in Mid-City. This unequivocally pronounces that “Mid-City has arrived.” This project has been so well-received that Panera Bread is making this its commissary store for the other Paneras in the metro area. So, they will be filling the air with the aroma of fresh baked bread and Mid-Citizens will get the freshest soups and sandwiches possible. Ruby Slipper is likely coming in, as well.

Please bring your comments and concerns to the next MCNO Neighborhood Meeting or leave them below.