This Mid-City property would be exempt from the new regulations because of its contributing status in a National Register District. New Orleans city officials this week tried to smooth an uneven policy that makes it tougher – and sometimes financially impossible – for investors to rebuild certain storm-damaged properties. It’s unclear, though, whether the change […]
Category: Land Use
Posted inEnvironment, Land Use
Methodist deadline extended
The owner of the site of the former Methodist Hospital complex in eastern New Orleans has granted Mayor Mitch Landrieu a two-month extension on a $40 million deal to purchase the property, Methodist Health System Foundation CEO Fred Young Jr., said Monday. “The mayor asked for 60 days so he could look over the deal,” […]
Posted inLand Use
Rosy view of blight meets Central City's bleak reality
Hoffman Triangle Reginika Tasso snorted at news that the number of vacant houses in New Orleans dropped over the past year by nearly 9,000 to a new post-Katrina low of 50,100. “Really…” the Central City-raised Harvey resident intoned. Did they count the house where I used to stay, asked Tasso, giving an incredulous eye to […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Committee advances bill to increase budget oversight of state housing largesse
Tucker A bill to increase legislative oversight of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency cleared a committee this week, coming out stronger than when it went in. House Bill 1414, filed by Speaker Jim Tucker, D-Algiers, intially required that a legislative committee simply review the agency’s annual budget. The bill now requires approval of the Joint […]
Posted inLand Use
City’s share of VA hospital revealed: $107.4 million
To build the new Veterans Affairs hopsital, the city can take take money from a recovery loan program that’s no higher than the value of the old VA hopsital (above) – but that appraisal hasn’t been released publicly. New Orleans will kick in $107.4 million for the construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in […]
Posted inInvestigations, Land Use
City's double standard hangs up dozens of Road Home sales and renovations
By Karen Gadbois – staff writer – State and city redevelopment authorities have suspended a program to sell Road Home properties until New Orleans permit officials resolve a problem that has thwarted would-be renovators by requiring costly home elevations. Dozens of property closings across the city are on hold while the matter is resolved. It’s […]
Posted inLand Use
City Council suprised to learn of revolver money used for proposed medical district
A new financial commitment for the proposed medical district in Mid-City will leave a $25 million hole in a revolving loan fund given to the city from the state to jump start recovery. The appropriation was described by one of Mayor Ray Nagin’s top lieutenants, Chief Technology Officer Harrison Boyd, during a City Council budget […]
Posted inLand Use
City has $9 million more for economic development
After doling out nearly $3 million in loans for an expansion of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club headquarters and an entertainment complex on St. Bernard Avenue, the city of New Orleans has about $9 million left in its Urban Development Action Grant fund for revitalization projects in low-income neighborhoods. “We have $12 million […]
Posted inLand Use
When a greenway becomes a roller coaster
After unexpectedly throwing out a hard-won contract for the development of a grand linear park through the heart of New Orleans, the city has reopened bidding. But this time, the urban planners who won the first contract say the question is not how to win the contract with City Hall, but whether they want to. […]
Posted inLand Use
Troubled complex to be auctioned, a victim of Katrina
The Gordon Plaza Apartments located in the historically troubled Agriculture Street community are scheduled to be auctioned off after the complex’s owner failed to make mortgage payments since Katrina. The now-vacant development was owned by low-income housing nonprofit Desire Community Housing Corporation. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department-subsidized, 128-unit multifamily complex is scheduled to […]