Visi o n i n g Bi o Di stri ct N ew O rl ean s

Week of September 13th, 2010

Success for the BioDistrict is dependent upon success in these four core areas:
Economic Development
Jobs and Training
Community Building
Civic Leadership

What you told us: Did we get it right?

Jobs:
• Prioritize hiring for those living in the BioDistrict
• Use local labor and contractors for rebuilding efforts
• Need jobs in a variety of areas (medical, film, construction, other
community serving industries)
• Need to have training that matches the types of jobs that will be here
• Need high paying jobs in order to meet basic living costs (rent is very
expensive)

Education:
• Rebuild schools closed due to storm
• Create an “education pipeline” – career pathway for children and adults
• Establish after school programs focused on math & science
• Create opportunities for lifelong learning (continuing education
programs)
• Establish summer school programs, internships and other
enrichment programs for children
• Educational Institutions should respond to employer’s needs (i.e.
provide training for available jobs)

Housing & Neighborhoods:

• Housing is too expensive – Affordable housing is needed
• Encourage mixed-use buildings along Tulane Ave & Earhart Blvd. and
neighborhood commercial/small businesses along Canal St.
• Residential areas of Mid-City and Gert Town should not be impacted
without input from residents
• Help protect residents from being priced-out of their neighborhoods
• Blight and drainage are serious issues
• Reuse existing buildings where feasible
• Focus new development in downtown area
• Preserve historic character of the neighborhoods

Community Serving Facilities:

• The following facilities are desired in the BioDistrict:
• Grocery (improved access to healthy foods)
• Library (larger and with better resources than what currently exists)
• Community Center (a safe place for kids to hang out)
• More retail opportunities
• Church to serve the Gert Town area
• Movie theater (there are no movie theaters in New Orleans)
Character & Identity:
• “Nodes” of activity (retail, entertainment, etc) should be located every
6-8 blocks.
• Develop flexible design guidelines that reflect the character of New
Orleans “(We don’t want to be Miami or St. Louis”)
• The BioDistrict should be safe, walkable, bikable with a vibrant
streetscape
• Street and pedestrian lighting needs to be improved
• Find opportunities to reflect the cultural history of the BioDistrict
• Encourage taller buildings in specific areas to encourage more green
space.
• Pursue LEED Neighborhood Development (ND) certification

Parks & Recreation:

• Increase access to parks and open space
• Desired park features:
• Water features
• More playgrounds
• Basketball courts
• Pool to replace closed Gert Town Pool
• Paid staff to oversee recreation areas
• Variety of activities for kids

Traffic, Parking, Walking, Transit:

• Improved bus service is needed especially in the Gert Town area
• Limit the amount of surface parking that is developed in the future
• Encourage development of a streetcar on Tulane Ave
• Streets and sidewalks need to be repaired
• I-10 needs to be redesigned to unite neighborhoods

Community Engagement:
• Ensure an inclusive and transparent planning process with the
community
• Use various techniques to communicate updates and meeting notices
to the community (internet, mail, door hangers, yard signs, etc.)
• Provide different ways for the community to give feedback to BioDistrict
New Orleans
• Encourage participation from small businesses as well as residents
• Encourage the use of Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) to help
ensure that new developments in the BioDistrict “give back” to the
community

For More Information Contact:

Mr. James P. McNamara
President and CEO, BioDistrict New Orleans
p 504.593.6443
134 LaSalle Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
www.biodistrictneworleans.com