Downtown Development District : Newsletter

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What's Up Downtown August 22, 2008

		BioInnovation Center Breaks Ground on Canal Street The New Orleans BioInnovation Center, located in the Downtown block of 1400 Canal Street, broke ground on Wednesday, August 20. The hip, open-air celebration featured such guests and speakers as New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, City Council President Jackie Clarkson, and Councilmember Arnie Fielkow. The New Orleans BioInnovation Center is a critical element of the New Orleans Regional Bioscience Initiative and contributors to the DDD's goal of developing biosciences and other industries of the mind in Downtown New Orleans. Project leaders anticipate taking occupancy in December 2009. The BioInnovation Center will serve as a resource meant to assist in the development of a biotechnology industry in New Orleans. The facility will cater to a broad range of companies, from pre-startups and start-ups, to maturing and expanding businesses. The BioInnovation team will strive to grow and retain such companies through innovative programming, world-class facilities and networking opportunities with local, regional and national firms. To learn more about the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and how it is developing partnerships for bioentrepreneurship, visit www.neworleansbio.com.

		DDD and City of New Orleans Sign Code Enforcement CEA The DDD and the City of New Orleans recently signed a cooperative endeavor agreement granting the DDD authority to enforce certain quality of life and building code issues, such as inappropriate signage and façade maintenance on Downtown properties. “The goal of our enforcement efforts is to raise the building maintenance standards throughout the DDD, making Downtown more inviting for workers, residents and visitors--as well as investors," says DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle. Citations will be issued by the DDD’s police detail officers and adjudicated by a special administrative hearing officer which allows for cases to be heard in a civil setting rather than in municipal court. “Our initial focus in on issuing 30-day warnings; the goal is compliance, not citations,” Weigle added.

		DDD Public Safety Rangers Being Patrol in French Quarter/Marigny The DDD is now providing Public Safety Rangers on a contractual basis to the French Quarter / Marigny Triangle (FQM) neighborhood. DDD Rangers will patrol the FQM district three nights a week between now and the end of the year. Initially, Rangers will patrol on Thursday and Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. Rangers assigned to the FQM will wear a button identifying them as on French Quarter Marigny Public Safety Rangers. The Rangers will continue to patrol Downtown six days and evenings per week.

		FHL Presents Study of Charity Hospital The Foundation for Historical Louisiana presented the results of a study to determine the structural integrity and feasibility of restoring the property for use as a modern, world class hospital and teaching facility. The presentation was made on August 20. The study estimates that the 1938 building is capable of being restored and modernized faster and cheaper than it would take to build a new hospital. Previous studies have determined that Charity is not suitable for re-use as a modern hospital and recommended replacing the old Charity with a new facility. "The FHL study should be considered along with the previous studies to arrive at a solution that is best for the entire community. Ultimately, a site should be chosen based on what's best for health care in New Orleans, and what will propel forward the bioscience initiative most effectively," says DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle. For more information on the FHL study, visit www.fhl.org.

		"Harvest the Music" Free Concert Series Coming Downtown This Fall This fall, Lafayette Square will come alive every Thursday for “Harvest the Music,” a weekly concert series benefitting Second Harvesters. Beginning on September 25 and running each Thursday until October 30, the free concert series will feature national and regional artists including Edwin McCain, The Radiators, and Bonerama. In addition to food and drinks from local favorites, artworks and crafts from regional artists and designers will be available for purchase. Lafayette Square is in the heart of Downtown at 600 St. Charles Avenue, across from Gallier Hall. Sponsors include Chevron, the New Orleans Hornets, Winn Dixie, Entercom, the Lafayette Square Conservancy and the Downtown Development District. Proceeds will also benefit the New Orleans’ Kids Partnership. For more information on the fall concert series, visit www.no-hunger.org.

		DDD Teams with Operation Clean Sweep to Remove Large-Scale, High-Profile Graffiti Downtown The Downtown Development District has partnered with the KFK Group and Operation Clean Sweep to remove a large-scale, high-profile graffiti tag on the top floors of 1501 Canal Street. KFK Group is the first property owner to take advantage of the DDD's graffiti removal matching grant program, in which the DDD pays half the cost of graffiti removal from private properties. For more information on the graffiti removal matching grant program, contact DDD Public Space Operations Manager John Roussell at (504) 561-8927.

		Downtown Calendar August 2008 AUG 22-AUG 24: HEAT OF THE BATTLE II at National WWII Museum AUGUST 23: OGDEN MUSEUM FIFTH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY FAIR AUGUST 23: YLC ROLE MODEL AWARDS GALA 6 p.m. at Sheraton Hotel CRESCENT CITY FARMER'S MARKET every Saturday at corner of Girod and Magazine streets. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information on any of the articles featured in What's Up Downtown, or to submit an item for consideration, contact Lauren Hotard at lhotard@neworleansdowntown.com.