land use & development

Hollygrove tract is set to be redeveloped into affordable housing

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When Paul Irons and his sister Marseah were growing up, they regularly passed the corner of Monroe Street and Earhart Boulevard a block and a half from their Hollygrove home. “I remember when it was a Church’s Chicken. I remember when it was not a Church’s Chicken,” said Irons, noting that four generations of his family have called Hollygrove home. “And I remember seeing it vacant for a long period of time.”
At last week’s City Council meeting, Irons and Marseah Delatte, managing partners with New Orleans Restoration Properties, saw the council members give unanimous approval to their plan to develop the now-blighted square block — including the cement slab where the Church’s used to be — into affordable housing. The Grove Place complex promises 43 affordable housing units in an area with convenient access to multiple job centers.

city government

City planners approve affordable housing development for Hollygrove

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An affordable housing development planned for Hollygrove has won the unanimous approval of the City Planning Commission. Called Grove Place, the development would take up an entire square, about 1.8 acres, bounded by Earhart Boulevard and Monroe, Leonidas and Colapissa streets. Eleven existing doubles and triplexes, now vacant, will be renovated. The developers, New Orleans Restoration Properties, are also planning to construct a three-story 20-unit apartment building at Earhart and Monroe, on a site that once held a Church’s Chicken. That section of the property has commercial zoning, requiring a use exception from the city for the multi-family residential building.

land use & development

Microbrewery and restaurant planned for former Hollygrove Market site

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A restaurant and brewery complex is in the works for the area behind the Carrollton Avenue post office that was once home to the Hollygrove Market. On what is now an empty lot with some abandoned industrial buildings, developers are planning the Catalyst Microbrewery and Restaurant. The redeveloped site at 8301 Olive St. will include two buildings, one for the brewery and another for the restaurant, with off-street parking, outdoor seating and an urban garden. The urban garden is apropos for the site’s history.

colleges

Xavier students showcase work in timely exhibit at Ogden Museum of Southern Art

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For the seventh year, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art has partnered with the New Orleans Chapter of The Links, a women’s volunteer service organization, to present a showcase featuring art from students at a historically Black college or university. This year, 12 students from Xavier University have work featured in the exhibit: Kennedi Andrus, Allana Barefield, KaLya Ellis, Barriane Franks, Lauren Gray, Ashley A. Miller, Reid Hobson-Powell, La’Shance Perry, Michael Riley, Makeda Wells, Bryce Williams and Maliya Vaughan. For many students, it’s the first time their work is featured in a gallery. La’Shance Perry, a senior at Xavier from Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in mass communications and minoring in art, said the experience has made her feel validated as an artist, something that she has struggled with lately. “I guess I’ll say I can be self-conscious about my work, which is why I haven’t shared a lot,” she said.

flood protection and drainage

Major roadwork project begins in Hollygrove and Leonidas

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A $15.1 million roadwork project is scheduled to begin today (Monday, April 6) in Hollygrove and Lenonidas, the Mayor’s Office announced. It’s part of a massive capital improvement program for the roads and drainage systems that the city is under a deadline to complete. The $2.2 billion citywide infrastructure program, with more than 200 individual projects, is financed through FEMA, Housing and Urban Development, the Sewerage & Water Board and city bonds. The federal funding has a time limit, city officials say. The infrastructure program is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

crime

Fanny pack snatched from 73-year-old on Hollygrove street

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A 73-year-old man was robbed in Hollygrove on Sunday, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The victim was in the 8700 block of Apricot Street on May 5 at about 1 p.m. when he was pushed to the ground by a man who grabbed his fanny pack. The victim was able to recover his property, but the assailant was not identified or located. Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Second District station at 504-658-6020 to speak to a detective, or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

crime

Four people sought in shoplifting incident at Earhart Boulevard store

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The New Orleans Police Department is searching for four suspects, shown above, wanted for shoplifting in the Second District. The incident occurred on March 2 around 4 p.m. in the 8300 block of Earhart Boulevard. Four people entered the store together and browsed items before making a small purchase. As the group was leaving, one of them reached into a display stand and removed numerous items and left the store without paying. When confronted by a store employee, the foursome entered a silver or light-tan 2012 Nissan Rouge bearing Louisiana license plate VTE583 and to South Carrollton Avenue.

crime

Three arrested after drugs, guns found near Dunbar Elementary

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New Orleans police officers have arrested three suspects in Hollygrove for alleged involvement in drug and gun violations. On Jan. 23, with the assistance of NOPD’s Special Operations Division, Second District Task Force Officers executed a search warrant in the 3300 block of Cherry Street, near the Paul L. Dunbar Elementary School. The search yielded the arrest of Dontas Robinson, 21, Earic McDougle, 21, and Koiy Evans, 20. During the search, officers located and confiscated Ecstasy pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and three loaded handguns.

crime

Man, 27, gunned down on porch of Hollygrove home

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A 27-year-old man was shot to death Saturday night on the porch of a home in the Dixon area of Hollygrove, police said. The shooting was reported around 9 p.m. in the 8900 block of Marks Street, and the man was found dead with several gunshot wounds on the porch of a home there, according to a NOPD news release. Homicide Detective Wayne DeLarge is leading the investigation. Anyone with information about the case should call CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

events

Health fair and senior fest in Hollygrove on Saturday

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Free barbecue, family games, a scavenger hunt and a raffle will all be part of a free Health Fair and Senior Fest on Saturday afternoon at Conrad Park in Hollygrove. For more information, see the news release below:

The Healthy Neighborhoods New Orleans (HNNO) project, a partnership between the Louisiana Public Health Institute, Neighborhoods Partnership Network, Carrollton-Hollygrove CDC, Hollygrove Seniors and Trinity Christian Community, will be hosting a community Health Fair and Senior Fest on Saturday, September 29th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Conrad Park (3400 Hamilton st.). The purpose of the Health Fair is to increase awareness of the Healthy Neighborhoods New Orleans project, to provide area residents with information and resources to achieve good health and quality of life, and to celebrate the ongoing revitalization of Conrad Park. The Senior Fest will encourage older adults and senior citizens to access free health screenings and resources to maintain their physical, mental and social health. Residents of all ages are welcome to take-part in this event with raffle prizes, family-friendly activities, music, and free food.