Reviving the Crescent

Le Bon Ton Roule Y’all!
My blog this week is devoted to a cause I am so very passionate about -- the New Orleans Riverfront Development. After Katrina, a group of progressive people decided it was time to move the city forward in a positive motion so that the world could see the city overcome an unimaginable tragedy, revive its neighborhoods destroyed by the storm and give tourists and locals access to the muddy Mississippi and view her awesome beauty and power.

According to the Reinventing the Crescent group website, the vision is clear.

“New Orleans has long been a place with an intangible spirit, drawing in individuals seeking an environment ripe for innovation.
The 20th Century brought on a resource-based economy, where oil, gas, minerals, and tourism drove business, and the Superdome emerged as our architectural icon. As we move into the 21st. Century, New Orleans is reinventing itself as an entrepreneurial and artisan-based economy. Our riverfront property will emerge as a symbol of our reinvention-a beacon for New Orleans’ transformation into America’s boutique city.
Reinventing the Crescent, being spearheaded by the New Orleans Building Corporation, seeks to transform six miles of unused industrial and commercial space along the Mississippi River into a world-renowned example of design excellence, one that will increase tourism, create jobs and revenue for New Orleans, and foster a renewed quality of life among our local communities.”

This group is completely open to public participation. The Reinventing the Crescent website states:

“Public participation is an essential ingredient that enriches the development planning for the New Orleans Riverfront. Throughout the creation of the development plan, the design team engaged the community at several different levels.
The entire public was invited to more than a dozen forums where the design team presented and received comments including one meeting each for the Upriver, Downriver and Offriver neighborhood groups and citizens to present in various public meetings. Following the public presentation of the final draft, the design received a standing ovation. Since this forum, the team has implemented the suggestions of the public.”

So you may be wondering what parts of the New Orleans riverfront are in the plan. On October 28, 2009, the following press release was posted on the reinventingthecrescent.org website:

Department of public works paves the way for riverfront development.

By Abhi Bhansali on October 28 2009 at 6:23 PM

NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 26, 2009 – This week, on October 26th, Robert Mendoza and the Department of Public Works will embark on a 6-week road work project in the French Quarter, Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods, one of many projects in the City’s quest to beautify local neighborhoods and encourage the safe, easy flow of traffic. From street repaving to new and wider sidewalks, the project is also intended to create pathways that reconnect New Orleans to its downriver waterfront.
“The Department of Public Works has been working tirelessly to restore our city’s streets one neighborhood at a time, and is continuing the City’s collaboration with the New Orleans Building Corporation to enhance the redevelopment of the riverfront,” said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. “As a part of this project, residents and visitors will enjoy new sidewalks and smoother streets, and will continue to see more rehabilitation projects as we undertake more than $700 million in repairs throughout the City.”
The road work includes:
• Street Repaving – North Peters Street, from St. Phillip Street to St. Ferdinand Street
• Sidewalk Widening – North Peters Street, from Ursulines Avenue to Esplanade Avenue
• New Sidewalks – North Peters, from Elysian Fields Avenue to St. Ferdinand Avenue, and Chartres Street, from Piety Street to Gallier Street and Alvar Street to Bartholomew Street

The $990,000 project, to be built by Boh Bros. Construction Co., is funded through the Community Development Block Grant program, as prescribed by the New Orleans Citywide Strategic Recovery and Redevelopment Plan. Set for completion in mid-December, this new streetscape will literally pave the way to the Crescent Park, Phase I of the New Orleans Building Corporation’s (NOBC) transformative Reinventing the Crescent project. It is slated to break ground in December as street work concludes.

“We are happy to do our part in supporting this exciting new investment in our community” said Robert Medoza, Director of Public Works. “These projects complement the three entrances to the new Crescent Park. The work on North Peters will enhance improvements made to the French Market and provide a critical tie-in point from the French Quarter and Marigny to this park. The work on Chartres, on the other hand, is designed to promote connectivity between the downriver neighborhoods and the park. By providing more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, we are providing residents and visitors with an easier opportunity to enjoy our locations along the river.”

About The Crescent Park:
Spanning from Elysian Fields Avenue to Mazant Street along the riverfront, Crescent Park is a 1.4 mile long, $30 million public open space designed by an internationally recognized team of architects. It is a game-changing step forward, intended to created permanent economic growth by fundamentally boosting the quality of life in New Orleans. The design, media coverage, digital animation, economic impact, and minutes from all public meetings can be viewed at http://www.reinventingthecrescent.org

I want to close my blog this week with a letter from Sean Cummings, the entrepreneur behind many boutique hotels in the city such as the International House on Camp Street and also a leading force behind the riverfront development. This letter was posted on the reinventingthecrescent.org website following the unanimous vote to move forward with the project.

Power in Numbers/Unanimous Vote
By Abhi Bhansali on Nov 6 2009 at 3:41 PM

New Orleans:

I am 100% convinced that your immense support and letters to the City Council members over the past week proved decisive in causing the City Council to rezone the riverfront for the Crescent Park, the $30 Million first phase of Reinventing the Crescent. It was a unanimous 6-0 vote, and two Council-members showed me folders with a thick stack of your e-mails on one side and 10 naysayers on the other. They were a bit blow away, and I, frankly, am a bit wiped out. But let’s just say, with all good humor, that you properly motivated them!

As we look immediately ahead, I see the end from the beginning and it is as stunning as it is good. A lifetime opportunity. You have made possible perhaps the most transformative, most beneficial project in this city in decade. It will elevate the quality of life here in a major way. Locals will be reminded whey we choose to live here. Millions of tourist will enjoy a new, discreet reason to visit our city or stay one extra day. Tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs and artisans will be drawn to our new narrative. Ours is a joyful place. A creative culture of invention. With world class excellence, and the power of great design to uplift the human spirit.

Please continue to help us. I and our design team, though the best in the world will need help in the 60 days to come. You can follow the project at this new site, scope it out on Twitter and friend us on Facebook. We think you’ll agree that the site is almost as uncommonly beautiful and well architected, thanks to Trumpet and Bond PR, as the renderings of the riverfront themselves.

I promise you that we will deliver not only one of the most beautiful 1.5 miles of riverfront in the world within roughly 18 months but the resulting jobs, income, wealth and quality of life infrastructure that this city needs to flourish in a new time. It began today.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sean Cummings

I invite everyone to join the cause and support this amazing project. The tide is changing in New Orleans and the future is so bright, I gotta wear shades.

Peace.

Great news tonight

So y'all I just received this update on the riverfront development:

RT @neworiverfront: Due 2 overwhelming public support, City Council voted 6-0 2 rezone the riverfront 4 Crescent Park!

Make sure you check out http://www.neworiverfront.com follow what is going on to move New Orleans forward, what an amazing time in the city I love!

life is good!

What's happening this weekend in New Orleans

As I sit in the cold Midwest, my mind wanders back once again to the city I love -- New Orleans. It is a city that is vibrant, always has something going on and, most importantly, is a city that takes care of each other in times of need. One of my good friends in New Orleans, Mike Gowland. a city firefighter, lost his son-in-law recently after a battle with cancer. This Sunday, their friends are having a fundraiser to help the family.

I urge everyone in the city to go to support the cause and have some fun at the same time. Here are the details from the organizers:

Sunday, November 8, 2009
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Old Fireman’s Hall – 307 4th. Street Westwego, LA 70094

Benefit for Live Oak Manor Volunteer Fire Department Captain Matthew Cervini's Family.

Captain Matthew Cervini, Sr., lost his two-year battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on September 25, 2009 at the young age of 34.
He has left behind a Wonderful & Loving Wife and Three Beautiful Children. Matthew has not only lost his battle with cancer, but in the process he's lost his small business (Rescue Signs), his home in Waggaman, and sadly, he has left his family in debt.

We are asking everyone to please join us for this benefit.
Come on out and have a Great Time!
Sunday November 8th from 12pm-6pm at the Old Fireman's Hall in Westwego, LA.
There will be a $20.00 cover at the door that includes delicious food donated by various local restaurants and live music by:
The Foret Tradition
Lindsay Mendez and The Back Seat Drivers
The Brandon Foret Band

There will also be various raffle and door prizes.
A Cash Bar will be provided by The Old Fireman's Hall.

Not just a great cause, but Fun for all!

Also this weekend, the Mirliton Festival happens in the ByWater community on Saturday November 7th in Markey Park.
Gates open at 11:00 am and live music will continue until 7:00 pm. Admission is $5, but is free for kids under 5 years of age.

This annual festival started in 1989 and was organized by the neighborhood association. This is a community that is revitalizing after Katrina. Homes are being restored and many have historic designation. Galleries, restaurants and coffee houses have invested in this community.

The musical lineup includes the Panorama Jazz Band, The Valparaiso Men’s Chorus featuring Alex McMurray, Happy Talk Band, Hurray For The Riff Raff, DJ Jubilee, Ratty Scurvics, King Louie One Man Band, Guitar Lightning Lee and R. Scully Rough 7.

Food vendors include Sally’s Country Gourmet Foods, The Country Club, Popsicles by Meltdown, Café Roux, Karma Kitchen,
Wine by Bacchanal, Fraday’s, Gelato by Sucre, Jack Dempsey’s.

And let us not forget the Saint’s Game on Sunday against the Carolina panthers. Kick off is 4:15 ET, 3:15 CT. Let’s all rally behind our boys for another victory. GEAUX SAINTS!!


Until next week, keep supporting the city of New Orleans. Check out the great website: http://www.savenolanow.com where you can purchase great clothing, household items, and so much more. 100% of the net profits to go organizations dedicated to building, re-building or “greening” homes in New Orleans. Habitat for Humanity is one organization benefitting from this organization. They have great items….think Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, my friends.

Y’all have a safe, fun weekend…turn on some Neville Brothers, Tom Hook, Johnny Vidacovich, Neslort, Mac Rebennack and some Tim Laughlin and bring New Orleans into your home!

Peace…