city government

Open house about biking safety brings cyclists’ and drivers’ concern

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On Monday, cyclists, advocacy groups and city government officials gathered at Booker T. Washington in Central City to discuss issues around cycling in New Orleans. The meetings are part of an effort by New Orleans officials to make the city more bike-friendly and a safer place for cyclists. Bike safety has come more into the spotlight since Frank Fisher, a 34-year-old oil-services worker and lifelong New Orleanian, was killed in February after being struck by a garbage truck while riding on Carrollton Avenue. No citations were written or arrests made in that case. Then, on March 2, the deaths of Sharree Walls, 27, and David Hynes, 31, and the injuries of other cyclists on Esplanade Avenue galvanized the cycling community.

city government

Independent study supports redistribution of citywide parks and recreation taxes

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An independent New Orleans research group is backing the proposal to replace three existing property taxes into one millage for citywide parks and recreation. But there’s a caveat: If passed, the city is urged to monitor the park agencies’ spending plans and performance outlined in a cooperative endeavor agreement. The Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit public-policy research organization, released this morning their study on the City-Wide Parks and Recreation Proposal. The proposal allows the city to reallocate taxpayer revenue for park spaces, while tacking on inter-agency cooperation among the city’s four park powers: City Park, the Audubon Commission, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, and Parks and Parkways. This ordinance does not include tax increases for residents; it just redistributes current revenue to help improve citywide infrastructure while assisting the lesser-funded agencies.

business

After clearing hurdles, Rouses on Freret Street expected to open in spring 2020

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Freret area residents can expect to shop at a neighborhood Rouses Market in the spring of 2020, according to estimates from a Rouses spokeswoman. After easily clearing its major hurdles with the city, the Thibodaux-based supermarket chain is at least 10 weeks out from applying for a building permit, Marcy Nathan of Rouses Markets said. This timetable is in line with the company’s original estimates of an August 2019 start date for construction and a June 2020 opening. Rouses will convert the former Bloomin’ Deals Thrift Shop into a 10,000-square-foot supermarket. Although small for a supermarket — the Rouses on Tchoupitoulas Street is about 70,000 square feet — the company has promised to provide full amenities, such as fresh seafood and prepared foods, at the store.

city government

City hosting bike network planning workshops this week

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The city of New Orleans will present a series of “open house” neighborhood workshops to engage residents in each district about the upcoming plan to expand and improve the City’s bike network. Meetings for Districts A & B take place this week. The City is working in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, the City Planning Commission, and community partners on this project, known as Moving New Orleans Bikes. The plan will help expand the City’s current Bike Network Map with the community’s assistance. Here are the meetings for the Uptown area, both from 6 to 7:30 p.m.:

Monday, April 8
District B
KIPP-Booker T. Washington
2514 Third St.

city government

City suspends parking restrictions, barricades streets as severe weather moves through area

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Heavy rain and storms, some which may be severe, are forecast to continue to move through the New Orleans area today. The cty of New Orleans urges residents to stay weather-aware during storms.

The National Weather Service issued an Areal Flood Advisory on Thursday in effect until 7 p.m., including parts of Orleans Parish. An Areal Flood Watch is also in effect for the entire parish until midnight tonight. That means heavy rain from storms could cause street flooding. The line of storms could also bring severe threats including high winds, hail, and possible tornadoes.

city government

Cherokee Street drainage project ‘substantially complete,’ city announces

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The city’s Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, announced it has substantially completed the infrastructure improvement project on Cherokee Street between Benjamin and Pearl streets. The work began in June 2018. The work in the Black Pearl neighborhood included replacing existing water lines and installing new sub-drainage lines, repairing damaged sewer lines, repaving portions of the roadway in asphalt, installing rain gardens and a pervious parking lane to reduce subsidence and detain storm water, replacing damaged sidewalks and driveway aprons, and installing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps at intersections. Crews will be on site for a few more weeks cleaning all existing catch basins, adjusting water meters and performing general cleanup duties, city officials stated. The project was designed by Professional Engineering Consultants Corp.

city government

NOPD Uptown-based Second District receives new commander

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Commander Doug Eckert was named the new leader of the NOPD Second District on Friday, returning for his second stint in the Uptown-based district after several years leading investigations for the entire city. Eckert’s transfer was one in a long chain of transfers and promotions announced by NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson and Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Friday. The Eighth District also received a new commander, as did several of the department’s internal divisions, and Ferguson reshuffled his command staff following the departure of two high-ranking officers to Baltimore with former Chief Michael Harrison. Eckert had previously spent about six months in the Second District as the supervisor of investigations, second in command to the district’s commander at the time, Paul Noel. Eckert departed to lead the city’s crime lab and then its central Criminal Investigations Division, and Noel was later named a Deputy Superintendent to Harrison.

city government

Advocate: Trade in the works for McDonogh 7 building on Milan

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The Housing Authority of New Orleans is making a bid for the McDonogh 7 building on Milan Street, expected to be vacated by the Audubon Charter School  in 2021, in exchange for the much sought-after land for a sports field next to the new Booker T. Washington High School on Earhart Boulevard, Della Hasselle reports in the New Orleans Advocate. The Orleans Parish School Board agreed Thursday to enter into talks with HANO, which wants the 120-year-old McDonogh 7 building for a mixed-use, mixed-income complex. A mention of the Touro Bouligny Neighborhood Association was removed from this aggregation. The TBNA President Rella Zapletal, clarified the association’s position: “The TBNA is not against mixed-use or mixed-income development on the McDonogh No. 7 property, as long as the density is appropriate for the neighborhood.

business

Carrollton Courthouse redevelopment plans face additional scrutiny

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The City Council rejected an appeal Thursday from a neighborhood group wanting to send the Carrollton Courthouse renovation plans back to the Historic District Landmarks Commission, but it could put the design for an assisted living facility in the historic building back on the drawing board anyway. The Maple Area Residents Inc., or MARI, objected to the commission’s “conceptual approval” of the developer’s plans, citing concerns with the additions to the original building. Saying he’s “been advised that we can’t just send it back to HDLC,” District A Councilman Joe Giarrusso moved to deny the appeal. But he added two conditions that could lead to revisions to the plans for a building that is considered the district’s most historically and architecturally significant. The other council members agreed.

city government

Lab tests for driver in Esplanade Avenue crash that killed cyclists still pending, police say

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The testing to determine whether the driver was intoxicated in the March 2 crash that killed two bicyclists on Esplanade Avenue is still being conducted at the state crime lab, New Orleans police said late this week. Tashonty Toney, 32, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury, reckless operation of a vehicle and hit-and-run driving after the crash, which killed Sharree Walls, 27, and David Hynes, 31, and injured seven other people on Esplanade Avenue near Ponce de Leon Street near the Endymion route. Police said Toney was believed to be “impaired” at the time of the crash but have yet to release any information about his blood-alcohol levels. NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets said Thursday that those tests are still underway at the Louisiana State Police laboratory in Baton Rouge. No details about the tests — including how long they are expected to take — will be released until they are complete and returned to the NOPD, said Sgt.