June 2013 Progress Report

NOLA East Clean Sweep-a partnership of business, neighborhood, civic and city leadership, announced on May 18, 2012 that an aggressive campaign to eradicate the Top 10 commercial blighted properties along the I-10 corridor.  The organization focuses on small, manageable blocks, with the greatest visibility and opportunity for development.  With over $230 million being invested in an area bounded by Crowder, Bullard, Chef Menteur and I-10, this commercial heart of the city creates the unique opportunity to attract mixed-use communities in the Southeast; one major corridor improvement is the breaking ground for a Wal-Mart.

Successes
NOLA East Clean Sweep is working in Partnership with city officials to bring the top blighted properties into compliance through the city's code enforcement process.  We are pleased to report, through collaborative efforts, that actions have been taken on all properties. 

Staying the Course
While we should be proud of some great accomplishments, we have more work to do and certainly cannot give up now.  For more information, please contact Barbara Johnson at Barbara@fastforwardrestart.org or 504-613-7457.

New Orleans East Blight Metamorphism

Progress Report: May-June 2013 New Orleans East Clean Sweep 

Updated Blighted Property Report

Nakisha Irvin Knott, Hattie Broussard and Barbara Johnson held Strategy Conference Call with Aimee Quirk, Jeff Hebert and Pura Bascos on May 8, 2013 to discuss the status of the Top 10 Blight List 

                                         Source: 2013 www.Flickr.com

1. Four Blight Adjudication Hearings held that resulted in guilty judgment and fines - attended by total of 15 community leaders. Plaza Mall Vacant Land Site- Lake Forest LLC fined; city will schedule hearing for owner of Grand Theatre building , George Solomon(standing room only); 9660 Lake Forest Boulevard, Former East Haven Nursing Home ( 2nd time for  code violations). Former VOA Building, 10101 Lake Forest 10301 I-10 Service Road, former Behr Mas/Palms Apts. 

2.6700 Plaza-Property sold by RTA to New Orleans Lakeshore Land Company (Mitch Crusto).  Reported property owner will use for medical- related warehousing. City will monitor owner’s progress in bringing up to code. 

3.6800 Plaza-Ochsner—Scheduled for Sheriff’s sale 7/5/13.  The city denied Ochsner's request to  waive existing city blight fines and to remove from Sheriff’s sale for a few months to”fix” but not repair violations. 

4. Park Brittany Townhouses, I-10 Service Road, Owner by NORA- Scheduled for Demolition. 

5.23804 Read (5851 Read- Vacant lot next to Waffle House). Property owner is cleaning up site. Property owner requested extension due to weather, DEQ requirements and scale of clean-up. 

6.45608 Bullard, 7.2 Acre Vacant Lot Next to Toys R Us- Owner has indicated that he will clean-up. 

7. 8501 Lake Forest Blvd, National Baptist Convention, Vacant Lot( next to LeJardin Elderly Apts)New Orleans East Clean Sweep requested  at May Blight Stat Meeting that the City permit a concrete recycling company to remove for free  concrete debris  on site for recycling. 

Current Goals of Fast Forward Restart

Increase Business and Community Coalition: focused on the economic revitalization of the East

 

Leverage leadership and assets to build premier community post Katrina

  

Key: Collaboration among business, civic, neighborhood and government leadership

Major Project: New Orleans East Hospital

NOLA East is Rising!

NOLA East is a wonderful place to live and work. With a population of over 64,000 people and a median income of over $46,000.00/year, NOLA East is a growing community with a higher homeownership rate than Baton Rouge - 58% vs. 50.9%! For more reasons why NOLA East is a prime retail investment, check out this one sheet HERE.

We believe that the blight existing in our community is restraining our growth, and by working together and caring about NOLA East, our community can become a shining example of economic growth and development for our region.

If you would like to lend your voice to this conversation and accelerate the growth of our community, let us know! Register HERE and we will keep you informed of upcoming activities, and ways to get involved as we continue to work eradicating blight in NOLA East!