City announces first 17 target recovery zones

Dr. Edward Blakely, Executive Director of Recovery Management for the City of New Orleans, today announced the first 17 targeted recovery zones that will spur redevelopment and accelerate our recovery. The zones will be built around public assets in key business corridors in an effort to generate further private investment from developers.

"These recovery zones represent a critical component of our rebuilding, "said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. "We will continue to leverage our limited resources to accelerate our recovery. Our citizens will benefit from the higher quality of life that will result."

Target areas are consistent with the development approaches citizens suggested in earlier redevelopment plans, such as the Unified New Orleans Plan, the Lambert Plan and the Bring New Orleans Back Commission plan. The city will provide loans and other incentives to developers interested in investing in key locations within the zones. The zones are generally high visibility sites, with sufficient land and other assets. They also have a high potential to attract investors and possess adequate resources to catalyze development such as schools and libraries.

"The development zones will spur activity from investors," said Blakely. "When one area starts to do well, investors will want to invest nearby. This will allow the city to redevelop wisely and will help residents make smart choices about where to rebuild.

The zones take three formats:

Rebuild areas have experienced severe destruction of physical structures and social networks. These areas will require major rebuilding, or significant public and private investment in order to recover.

Redevelop areas are places where some recovery components and resources are already present. They have a high potential for attracting investment and acting as a catalyst for further redevelopment and recovery of the affected community.

Renew areas include specific projects that require relatively modest public intervention in order to supplement work already underway by the private and nonprofit sector.

Each development zone is approximately one-half mile in diameter, although the area can vary slightly. The first zones are:

Rebuild

1. New Orleans East Plaza
2. Lower Ninth Ward

Redevelop

1. Carrollton Avenue at Interstate 10
2. Harrison Avenue (Canal Boulevard to City Park)
3. Gentilly Boulevard at Elysian Fields
4. St. Bernard/ AP Touro at North Claiborne Avenue
5. Broad Street at Lafitte Greenway/Treme
6. South Claiborne Avenue at Toledano

Renew

1. Canal Street (Downtown)
2. Broadmoor (R. Keller Center and Library)
3. Tulane Avenue at Jeff Davis (Comiskey Park)
4. O.C. Halley Corridor
5. Bayou Road/Broad Street Cultural Corridor (Market Building)
6. St. Roch Street (Market and neutral ground)
7. Freret Street (Farmers Market)
8. R.E. Lee at Paris Avenue (Lake Terrace Center improvements)
9. Alcee Fortier Street (Street Beautification)

In addition to the recovery areas, the City plans to invest in projects throughout New Orleans. These include park improvements, street and traffic signals and other programs designed to spur investment and enhance the quality of life.


Areas Will Attract Investment, Residents to Key Resources
COMMENTS (7)Post a comment
Posted by Raleigh on 03/29/07 at 12:01PM

I think that Algiers should be included in this renewal of New Orleans. We did not get water, but we did receive New Orleans criminals on our side of the Mississippi River. The last two killings were conducted by an East Bank resident. What about helping our Parks, Bretchel Park, Fox Playground, lack of equipment,etc.. What about Touro Shakespeake Home? This home was operational prior to Katrina. Algiers is a part of New Orleans. Mr. Blake should ride his bike down our streets and see the destructions made by the East Bank residents. We were New Orleans best kept secret, now we the residents are living in a nightmare. We should be included not excluded -WE ARE NEW ORLEANIANS ALSO.

Posted by louis32 on 03/29/07 at 1:03PM

Let the complaining begin. Not all areas can be fixed at one time. None on this list is my neighborhood. But, I'm thrilled to see progress. People quit complaining about everything and let the process work.

Posted by MariaB on 03/29/07 at 1:44PM

This plan is not good since it ignores the criticality of economics and economic basics which are critical for the progress of New Orleans and south La. The list is like saying they are placing the majority of their funds to develop the poorest areas of south louisiana in the country before assuring the major engines in the cuty that drives them is built. The correct economic model is to assure rebuild in the areas where the greatest revenues for the city were created and present prior to Katrina which then produces self generating revenues for the city tothen fund the other poorer areas. But since the economic model is not politically correct in the minds of the current leadership they are blinded by politics instead of paying focused attention to true economic engines and drivers for the city to take care of its self. Instead the current city leadership is playing the traditional attitude of waiting for the big federal gov't to do their work for them and take care of them. Isn't that game reminiscent of times in our history that we so often hear the same leadership use as a weapon today for playing the race card or the politically correct card? Shame on them for not thinking like a business and economic growth driver leader and for pandering to the lowest political denominator of cards. Without the tax paying base of support there are no revenue generators to help the poorer areas. This is a basic 101 economic model and for politically expedient reasons is being ignored.

Posted by macstchick on 03/30/07 at 9:49PM

Raleigh, you say WE ARE NEW ORLEANIANS ALSO but yet you're still trying to divide sides. Algiers is indeed a part of New Orleans even though it is across the water. If Algiers is a part of New Orleans, then those are "your" criminals too.

Posted by MrNola1414 on 04/02/07 at 8:32AM

I trust Mr. Blakely more than anyone else around here. He's a man with experience and without the local corrupt connections. At first I was worried the plan was going to try to rebuild all of New Orleans at once. Whether you like it or not, rebuilding all of the city right now is not practical. We don't have the people or the economy to justify such an expansive rebuilding effort. Once I realized that Mr. Blakely's plan focuses on areas of critical mass ½ mile areas where people can expand from, I think I like it. Its equitable because it allows every area of the city that flooded to have an oasis of progress to build upon. Its smart because it will focus resources in the areas of the city that are planned to yield the greatest impact for the dollars spent. I wish we had more money and were able to build mass transit and bike paths... But, we can't have everything. People need to do their own part to rebuild and do so smartly.