And so the Work on River District Begins…

 River District is an awesome project that will bring a lot of positivity to the already up-and-coming area. This development will sit along the Mississippi Riverfront and include many features such as a music museum, soccer stadium, and concert venue.

The project has been in the work stages for around two and a half years due to lease negotiations with Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “This whole process has taken a lot longer than anybody thought,” said CEO Chris Maguire of Cypress Equities, which is leading the project with local real estate developer Louis Lauricella. But, he added, “the city of New Orleans hasn’t seen a project like this in decades, and we want to get it right.”

New Orleans has not seen such a big project as this one. There is progress due to the lease agreement with Shell Oil as the anchor tenant for the complex. Top Golf will also be part of the development with construction on this starting soon.

Still, slow going is the Music and Heritage Experience museum which would be housed in a 120,000-square-foot-venue. The backed money was lost for the venture. “If we made a mistake in the last year, I’d say that it was that we didn’t talk to enough people,” he said. “We need to make the case that this is a music museum that will benefit the whole state and will pay for itself over and over.”

The soccer stadium is another stagnant project that has faced many obstacles. The project be built where a parking lot for the convention center now sits. The CEO of the convention center, Michael Sawaya does not like the idea of the soccer stadium. “I’m looking for something a little more exciting,” Sawaya said.

“What we really think makes sense there is entertainment-based retail and experiential concepts that are popping up all over the world,” Maguire said. “It’s concepts like the indoor putting, ax throwing, shuffleboard — all of those type of experiential entertainment.”

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A New Development for New Orleans Six Flags Property

 Ever since the destruction of New Orleans Six Flags during Hurricane Katrina, the amusement park has sat rotting.  The 227-acre property

will be redeveloped by Bayou Phoenix.

Troy Henry the leader of Bayou Phoenix has big plans for the property which includes water parks, youth sporting facilities, two hotels, an 8.5-acre clear lake for swimming, a movie studio, an amphitheater, retail outlets and other amenities.

“Today is just the beginning. There is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done, but we are here for it,” said Jeff Schwartz, economic development director for the City of New Orleans.

The next year the plans will be drafted and the site cleared out.  After the old rides are demolished and junk removed, they can get a better lay of the land.  This means the plans might change during the project. With the help of Henry’s partner, Thomas Tubre, an owner of a local construction company, the project will be a success.

“They do all the technical stuff, all the crazy stuff most people cannot do,” Henry said. “So, once they get in there, we may have to move some of the components around. They’ll be the same components, but maybe not in the same place.”

“We look forward to bringing new commerce to New Orleans East. There’s significant untapped potential for family entertainment and travel sporting events,” said Henry.

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Live Music at the Dew Drop Inn

This fall is going to be great for the fifty-year-old Dew Drop Inn in Central City. For the first time in more than half a century, they will be hosting live music. The Dew Drop Inn is a staple in New Orleans and is said to be “the swankiest spot in the South. It has been New Orleans’ leading Black music venue for three mid-century decades.

The musicians who have played there date from the 1940s to 1970. Deacon John Moore is still on the scene and is helping with the renovation of the historic property. He is excited and hopes that they can book Irma Thomas who actually got her start at the club. The club has opened its doors and had many famous musicians play including Allen Toussaint, Earl King, James Booker, Charles Neville, Earl Palmer, Ray Charles, James Brown and Little Richard.

Curtis Doucette Jr, the lead developer is excited about the renovation. “I have to say, this is the very first time that I’ve fallen in love with a building. Before I fell in with the building itself, I fell in love with the history that was made in this building,” says Doucette.

The famous club started out as a barbershop at 2836 LaSalle St. in the 1930’s. In fact, there were several structures that housed a barbershop, restaurant, bar, hotel and entertainment venue. When it reopens, it will have all of these except the barbershop, explains Gabrielle Begue, a historic tax credit consultant.

So the hodgepodge that Gabrielle described, in various states of collapse, is what we’ve been propping back up and making better than ever. It’s been a real kind of labor of love to breathe new life back into these historic buildings,” describes Kristian Sonnier of Ryan Gootee General Contractors.

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New Orleans New Restaurants This Fall

 New Orleans has many new restaurants on the scene this fall. They are all in different stages and in different areas throughout town.

The first up that has opened its doors is Mister OSO which opened September 26th. This new project was created by the founders of Billy Blatty (Barcadia) and Denver (The Culinary Creative Group). It is housed in what used to be an arcade tavern. They serve smoked meat tacos, ceviches and Latin American. This will not be the first of Mister Oso, as there is already a very successful one in Denver.

Las Cruces Tex-Mex just opened its doors in Metairie. The founders of Central City BBQ are the team that is opening this new place. It will be a friendly family outdoor space that serves tacos and margaritas.

Gaia is a new-age steakhouse that is something different to the market. The food will be cooked on a charcoal grill and they will also serve seafood and charcuterie and raw shellfish. They will even serve a high-end steak coated in gold. It will be housed in the former Melting Pot.

Ba Chi Kitchen & Bar

This is a restaurant that is coming back to a new location in Fat City where Korea House used to be. The original was closed in July so many residents are familiar with the cuisine and they will also have a lounge and a bar.

Felipe’s Taqueria in Jefferson Parish serves tacos, burritos, nachos and plates over the counter. They also have a full bar with tons of cocktails to choose from. There is indoor and outdoor seating along with a greenspace patio.

There are plenty more that will open their doors in late winter or early new year. There are a ton of new dining places popping up all around New Orleans, some existing changing up and some new to the Big Easy.

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A New Emeril Lagasse Restaurant Coming to New Orleans

 Harrah’s New Orleans casino is now Caesars and will be adding a new restaurant. Emeril Lagasse will open his new casino restaurant at the casino on Canal Street in late 2023. The French-inspired restaurant will be named Brasserie and will be the first restaurant where all ages are welcome. Another first will be the outdoor dining area and a patio out front. The main entrance to Brasserie will face Canal Street and have a separate entrance from the casino.

“As my first French-influenced concept, I had so much fun creating this menu and going back to my roots to pay homage to some of my own mentors,” Lagasse said.

Before coming to New Orleans Chef Emeril was trained under chefs in Parish, France. His training from his early days will be seen through the food served at Brasserie. Dishes will include steak au poivre, onion soup, Alsatian tarte flambee, and cafe au lait creme brulee. He describes it as “a modern take on the merger of classical French influence with the flavors and spirit of New Orleans.”

The restaurant will seat over 200 which will include 29 seats at the bar area. There will be a  mix of high and low seating and classic brasserie banquettes throughout. There will be two private dining rooms and one of the private dining rooms will have a view into the kitchen.a

“We’re creating an entirely new experience at Caesars New Orleans, elevating our offerings with exciting dining, gaming and entertainment options, and Emeril will help add that little bit of local spice that we need to our premier destination,” said Samir Mowad, general manager of Harrah’s New Orleans, in a statement.

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Landmark Society's Preservation Awards

The Louisiana Landmark Society will present preservation awards for fifteen projects that were completed in 2022 in New Orleans. The ceremony will take place May 24th at the Marigny Opera House that will be receiving its own award. The awards are from projects that are located all around Orleans Parish in Uptown, the Central Business District, Algiers and New Orleans East.

“The award-winning projects have never been more diverse, representing the very best in historic preservation. Our city’s unique architectural landscape is a valuable, economic asset. These projects invest in our city making it richer in so many ways,” says Rene Fransen, president of the Louisiana Landmark Society.

Among the projects there will be a special award given to the historic masonry restorations done by Theodore Pierre and his students. They restored the tombs at Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery on Washington Ave. Students were able to use their skills of masonry, plastering, stone cutting and ironwork.

Other projects that will be awarded include:

Maison du KREWE at 619 Royal Street will be given an award. The home was built in 1795 for Zachary Taylor. The building is special because it is one of the most famous Creole buildings in the French Quarter. The project consisted of renovations that used both historical details and modern updates.

A Greek Revival townhouse at 937 Dumaine Street that was built in 1837. The project consisted of renovation of the stairs and balconies, doors and decorative hardware and installing pavers in the courtyard.

A 1910 Edwardian-style building at 2340 Dauphine Street. This building was originally the R.V. DeGruy Pharmacy and was found deteriorated before it was revitalized. The project was funded by federal and state tax incentive programs.

Martin Behrman Elementary, now known as Rose Mary Loving School, is located at 715 Opelousas Avenue and was built in 1937. The team restored the bell tower, terra cotta halls and the auditorium.

An Art-Deco-inspired auditorium located at 3820 St. Claude Avenue known as Frederick J Douglass School Auditorium. This building was closed down after Katrina and is now back to life with its original features shining. These include the ceiling, balcony and stage which is now accessible and air conditioned.

The HighRise NOLA Apartments at 632 Chef Menteur Highway which was originally a hotel. The apartment complex is eight stories and is known for its graffiti art. The apartments now serve as affordable housing and middle class housing.

The Ironworks located at 315 Girod Street is now a warehouse that was built as a storehouse in 1850. It is an example of Greek Revival style that was also a factory in the early 1900’s. The building has been renovated into a fifteen unit apartment building that also holds a hotel license and has a coffee house on the ground floor.

Formerly Lafayette School which is now Leah L. Chase School is located at 2727 Carrollton Avenue. The project included 33 classrooms, activity rooms, library, kitchen and cafeteria which was modernized. The project also included masonry repair and weatherproofing.

Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans which was also known as the Priestly School is located at 1601 Leonidas Street. The old school building and gymnasium was renovated and an additional 8,700 square feet was added.

As mentioned earlier, Marigny Opera House located at 725 St. Ferdinand Street was formerly Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The building was built in 1853 and renovations included repairs to the stucco masonry shell, installation of a standing seam metal roof, installation of photovoltaic array, restoration of the bell tower and cupola roof and restoration of the stained glass windows.

There are several others including the Eleanor McMain Secondary School Auditorium located at 5712 Claiborne Avenue, Bivian Lee Jr. Center at Son of a Saint located at 2803 St. Phillip Street,Thirty60 Lots at 3060 Dauphine Street, The Old School Apartments at 2515 Robertson Street and Orleans Parish School Facilities Master Plan. Tickets to the event can be purchased online at louisianalandmarks.org for $75.

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A Historical Restoration for Sale in New Orleans

 The historic Pythian Building located in New Orleans will be up for sale soon. Dr. Erik George, who bought out his partners, has given notice to tenants that they will shift to month-to-month renewals during the sale of the building. The building, located at the intersection of Loyola Avenue and Gravier Street is 115 years old. The building underwent extensive renovations costing around $46 million in 2018.

The future of the building will be in limbo until it is sold to the new owners. The McEnery Company who is listing the building says that the listing describes the property as a  “zoning-advantaged property is uniquely well positioned for a variety of repositioning scenarios, including hotel/STR.” Current residents in the building are surprised at the potential sale of the building.

“I am shocked. Nobody told us about it. But if it happens it happens, I just have to hope for the best,” said Dorotha Smith-Simmons who is a residential tenant.

Dr. George did explain, “As we work with a real estate broker to chart a path forward for the building, we continue to engage with the City and stakeholders to find a way to honor the affordable housing vision for the property.”

In 2018 when the building was renovated, it was a catalyst to building historic buildings in the area back to life. The building is in the perfect location, close to City Hall and on the edge of the Central Business District. The renovation made the building into a modern day retail, food-service, office and apartment units.

The affordable housing was set aside for twenty of the residential units which were one, two, and three bedroom units. The extensive renovations cost a lot of money and the developers, two separate developers, sued each other. Then the pandemic caused the food hall and event space to become a financial burden. The food hall tenant was evicted due to failure to pay over $2.5 million in back rent.

The 125,000 square foot structure is a perfect historical piece of New Orleans and will probably sell pretty quickly. In fact, there are several potential buyers that show interest already.

“It’s plug and play. All it really needs is a new management and rebranding and I think all that can be taken care of in pretty short order,” McEnery explains.

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Developer Has the Go Ahead To Begin New Project on New Orleans Six Flags Property

 New Orleans Six Flags closed in 2005 after being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has sat vacant since then. Deals have tried to be reached between developers and New Orleans East in the past but have not gone through. It is finally approved for a private consortium to redevelop the property into a new project that will be put to public use.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration announced Tuesday that Bayou Phoenix, the development group led by Troy Henry, has agreed to partnership terms with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, which oversees the 227-acre site. Bayou Phoenix was chosen in October 2021 for the project. Cantrell said her administration would “not waver in our commitment to a development project that is transparent, accountable and in the best interest and of the utmost benefit of our community.”

They are hopeful that demolition of the roller coaster will begin as soon as 2023. Residents are elated by the news, but Bayou Phoenix will still hold a public forum. At the forum they will present the master plan to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. Once it has been approved by the authority’s board, Bayou Phoenix will sign a lease allowing them onto the site. Once the lease is signed, the 42-month redevelopment period begins. There will be benchmarks throughout the 42-month process.

“Probably the first thing is to drain the place, just to get the pump working there so you can drain the water that’s been on there for years. Probably chase a few alligators away,” said Troy Henry of Bayou Phoenix.

Once it is cleared of water, the engineers and architects can actually go onsite to see how they will clear the remaining structures. Bayou Phoenix is still in the process of securing agreements with operators and financiers.

“We don’t have commitment letters at this point in time, but we’ve got an overwhelming amount of financial interest. Nobody is going to just do this off the top of their heads, says Henry.

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$4 Million Per Year Will Be Dedicated To Teacher Recruitment

 New Orleans (NOLA) Public School board approved for approximately $4 million a year to go to teacher retention and training. This funding is part of the “System Wide Needs Program” and was formed by the state Legislature in 2019. The approved spending plan will go from July 2023 to June 2026.

Hopefully this plan will help with NOLA public schools’ problem with declines in enrollment and teachers. The first part of the funding that is being released will help boost teacher growth. The $7 million released over three years will go to recruiting, training and placing teachers. This will hopefully help the system to reach their goal of 750 hires over the next three years. Without this funding there would be a lot of teacher programs that would go away.

The next part of the funding that will be released will be dedicated to specialized programs for students. Around $10 million over the next three years will go to partnerships that will provide an alternative school for middle school students – currently The Bridge run by Educators for Quality Alternatives – and programs targeting specific student populations. It will also include mental health and attendance support services for students with autism and career and technical training students.

They are also looking into using some of the funding to train a handful of teachers in the areas of English learner instruction, social-work services, crisis supports and trauma-informed practices. This process is already taking shape, as New School for New Orleans reported that 430 new teachers were hired in the system due to the current funding.

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A New Development on St. Charles Avenue

 The former Rite Aid on St. Charles Avenue will become a new live, work and play development.

The Besthoff family has owned the property ever since the original K & B drugstore was there over sixty years ago. The family is excited to get construction going on the project.

The plans call for redeveloping close to the entire city block of St. Charles and Louisiana Avenues, and Carondelet and Delachaise Streets. The new 200,000 square feet development will have two apartment buildings, and 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The development is one of the many new projects that are along St. Charles Avenue.

So far, 3401 St. Charles, LLC, the name of the Besthoff’s company, has approval from the Historic Districts Landmarks Commission and the city Board of Zoning Adjustments. They have also settled a lawsuit with the Garden District Association over the height of one of the apartment buildings. The next step will be to obtain permits from the city and finalize financing for the more than $55 million project. The company hopes to break ground later this year.

“We are lining everything up and are optimistic we will be ready once we get our permits, which we know will take some time,” the statement said.

They have purchased the land that was once Ochsner Health Center and will demolish the center along with the drugstore to make way for the two apartment buildings. One of the buildings will be U-shaped in design and house one, two and three bedroom units. The complex will have a swimming pool, dog park and enclosed parking garage that will all be for residents only. Retail space will fill the ground-floor area that will hopefully house retail, a local restaurant and a local coffee shop.

The other apartment complex will have 20 units on three stories and will be permanent housing with no short term rentals. Along with the buildings and amenities they will add new street lights, landscaping, outdoor seating and protected bike lanes.

“Everyone wanted something on that corner, other than a vacant old Rite Aide. So, we are hopeful they will do a quality development that will benefit not only them but the neighborhood,” comments Garden District Association President Allain Hardin.

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New Orleans Is Home to the Oldest Family Run Restaurant in the Country

 Antoine’s Restaurant opened its doors in New Orleans in 1840. Today, the restaurant is still run by the same family. Antoine Alciatore and his wife Julie Alciatore founded the restaurant and it is one of the first places to serve French-Creole cuisine.

The 183-year-old restaurant is now in its fifth generation of the same family which makes it the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States. Antoine’s is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans and is world-famous due to its exceptional service and very unique atmosphere.

There are several dining rooms within the restaurant that each have their own story to tell. The walls of the space have photos hung of famous diners such as George Patton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Pope John Paul II, and Bill Clinton.

The dining rooms are all decorated with a different theme. For example, the 1840 room was designed with a wealthy 19th-century home in mind. Most of the rooms are named after Mardi Gras krewes that visit the restaurant on a regular basis.

In 1840 Antoine’s restaurant began as a small eatery and has since grown into a world-famous dining establishment. Today it is a well-known staple in the French Quarter for both locals and visitors alike.

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Audubon Will Combine the Insectarium and the Aquarium on Canal Street

 The Audubon Aquarium is currently closed for at least six months but the good news is that it is getting a facelift along with Woldenberg Park. The $41 million renovation will be a great perk once it is finished. The Audubon project will link the insectarium and the aquarium on Canal Street.

The Aquarium has been renovated before, but this is the biggest renovation since 1990. The new attraction called the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium links the aquarium to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. The Entergy Giant Screen Theater will be removed and replaced with the insectarium exhibits. The plan is to have the new renovation opened by summer 2023.

The renovation will add over 17,000 feet of exhibit space. The new entrance and lobby will be an enclosed 60-foot tall glass lobby. The glass pyramid will shoot out from the building facing the Mississippi River.

The Insectarium space will have a special event space on the first floor and the second floor will include the insectarium galleries and butterfly pavilion. The new butterfly exhibit will have lower ceilings so visitors can get a better look at the butterflies.

The aquarium will get upgrades including the Mississippi River Gallery, the Amazon Rainforest Gallery and the Top of the Gulf Experience. Woldenberg Park will also get $7 million in upgrades on the entrances, landscaping and electrical system.

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Celebration in the Oaks, A City Park Tradition

The pandemic put a damper on almost all of the events that were traditions around the country. This year, Celebration in the Oaks will return to City Park in New Orleans. The 2.25-mile driving tour has over a million lights along with a walking tour, amusement rides and the Botanical Garden.

The tour began this Thanksgiving and will run through New Year’s Day this year nightly from 6pm to 10pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5pm to 11pm every Friday and Saturday. This is New Orleans City Park’s largest annual fundraiser. The proceeds help with the park’s maintenance, care and beautification year round.

Celebration in the Oaks brings in over 135,000 visitors from all over the world. The park’s annual holiday event began in the late 1980’s. The park is over 170 years old and is managed by the City Park Conservancy. The park also includes the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and trees over 800 years old.

There are a limited number of tickets sold per day so hurry to purchase your tickets and choose your time slot. Cars and SUVS begin at $25, walking tours begin at $25 and Limousines and vans start at $150. Bike tours begin at $5 and will only be held on November 29th, December 6th and December 13th.

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What Will Become of Emril Laggasse’s French Quarter Restaurant NOLA?

NOLA, has been a French Quarter staple for close to 30 years but has been closed since March of 2020 due to the pandemic.  It has left many wondering if the restaurant will reopen?  The question has been answered as a different local restaurant company has leased the building that NOLA is located in at 534 St. Louis Street. 

NOLA will be turned into Boulevard American Bistro by Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts.  The group owns over 20 different restaurants and bars around the New Orleans area.  The Boulevard brand which currently has locations in Metairie, Elmwood and Covington, will now have a fourth location in the French Quarter.

The new restaurant is slated to open its doors by January 2023.  The restaurant will serve cuisine between high-end Creole and casual Creole which is a perfect fit for the French Quarter.  "We want to bring something fresh to the French Quarter, something needed in the selection of restaurants here.  It's going to be an All-American, polished casual restaurant," says Marv Ammari CEO.

The new restaurant will still have the same structure to it, with just renovations to the decor and furnishings. The wood-burning oven, open kitchen and elevator will still be there.  The bar will be larger in the new restaurant like the bar in the Boulevard American Bistro in Covington.  In fact, the company started up with bars and then went into the local restaurant business.  Their restaurants include Broussards, Cafe Maspero and the Bombay Club which are all located in the French Quarter and Tommy's and Ernst Cafe in the Warehouse District.

"At the end of the day, we owe it to New Orleans, and we need to be part of building the city," Ammari says.
Boulevard first opened in 2015 after the group took over the Houston's in Metairie.  All the locations share the same American temporary flare with dishes including prime rib, seared tuna salads, crab cakes, cedar plank salmon and barbecue ribs. The new restaurant will have a slightly different take with more steaks and a bigger wine list.

"We're working with a menu we know and execute very well. It's a matter of getting the right team together, Ammari commented.

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