At the last neighborhood meeting Mr. William Wright, a local developer shared the plans of a new development in Mid-City. The development will be located in the area behind Rouses all the way to the Bayou. This development will be integrated with the Lafitte Greenway and is being billed as a recreation and entertainment district. A note and description from the developer is below.
Presented is the proposed development along Conti St. from N. Scott St. to N. Jeff Davis Avenue in the property now owned by Norfork Southern Railroad we are calling Bayou Ridge. The proposed development is intended to conform to the current city Master Plan post Katrina.
Bayou Ridge will consist of all small shops, galleries, restaurants, jazz clubs, and various small venues. As an anchor, at the bayou end of the Ridge will be a club called Mid City Beach Bar and Grill, Volley Ball and Boat House. This establishment will not only be a volley ball venue with approximately 20 courts, but also, have a center court with bleachers and TV ready as we hope to get involved with ESPN’s Beach Volley Ball program. The Beach will have a grill for great bar food and a small music room for local jazz groups.
We also intend to involve the public and kayak enthusiasts to bring fun to the Jeff Davis end of the bayou with kayak races and out of water storage at the boathouse. Goodie filled picnic baskets will be rented for picnicking along the bayou. Other events may include a bike race i.e. (Tour-De-Mid-City) and Wednesday evening kayak nights all to be supervised by a licensed life guard.
Moving back from Mid City beach we come to the first building of the development. There is a small warehouse we intend to sound proof and offer for rental to the movie industry, production facilities, and bands.
Heading back towards Carrollton Avenue we next come to the largest of the lot. We intend to replace the façade with a large boardwalk to run the length of the building approximately 20 ft. wide in front of all the shops located in this phase of the development with tables, umbrellas, and chairs for the public to enjoy.
Next we come to the vacant lot behind Rouses. This we intend to develop as retail, housing, and additional parking.
All along we intend to do our best as good neighbors and green developers to develop this site to blend with and improve the neighborhood. All parking and neighborhood concerns will be addressed.
We hope by involving ourselves in this development we can not only better Mid City but bring jobs to the neighborhood, taxes to the city, and improve property values to the surrounding neighborhood. We see it as bringing the Warehouse District, Frenchmen St, and the Lakefront to Mid City to create a central business district along with the Mid City Market, Rouses, Home Depot, the Carrollton restaurants and all of the other wonderful businesses in the area.
Tell us what you think! Send an email to president@mcno.org or comment below.