Letters From Our Readers

Riverfront Vision

February 22, 2005

Paul Cramer
City Planning Commission
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
By fax to 658-7032

Comments on the Riverfront Vision 2005 Plan

I am writing in regard to the above-named plan as it relates to the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. Overall, the plan allows too much commercial development of too large a scale, and has too little open space, green space, and parks.

The height ‘bonuses’ are especially distressing, with allowances of up to 100 feet. This is inappropriate for our 19th century neighborhoods. Projects will be allowed (without review!) to span a full two-block section of Chartres and/or Decatur streets: this is also way too large.

Even larger development is allowed with a conditional use permit. Since this land will be made available fairly cheaply to developers, I have no doubt that if you zone it this way they will come. It is not fair to change the quality of life Bywater and Marigny residents have enjoyed for many years: relatively peaceful streets with people who know their neighbors.
Of particular concern to me is the open-air amphitheatre project, currently scheduled for the foot of Louisa Street. This development is inappropriate to our area, and it is doubtful that it would be successful, since we already have the Orpheum and the Saenger languishing without audiences.

The plan also encourages building museums and other ‘tourist-focused’ development. These types of projects should be built in the French Quarter, the CBD, and the Warehouse District, which already has 4-5 museums and is trying to rename itself the Museum District. There are still plenty of sites available: if prices are high, that is the result of developers? speculation. It doesn?t justify using this new overlay to open up our residential neighborhood to be pillaged to satisfy their greed.
I believe there is a place for mixed-use development on the riverfront in moderation. But providing open space and parks is much more critical to quality of life. Specifically, enlarge the park planned for Pauline through Piety streets to extend to Clouet or Montegut Street. Add another smaller park between St. Ferdinand and Mandeville streets.

Marigny and Bywater already have a commercial business district: St. Claude Avenue. Incentives should be given for development on this street ? encouraging locally-oriented business such as groceries, specialty shops, salons, service businesses, etc. This will go further towards strengthening our neighborhood than importing tourists, especially those who are here for a day before embarking to a true third-world country!

I live in the Bywater neighborhood and have lived here since the 1980s. I have owned a house here since 1997.

I’ve seen residents forced from the French Quarter the Faubourg Marigny due to the pressures of tourist-related zoning changes. I wonder if the city will be satisfied once all residents move away and we can have an atmosphere more like that of Las Vegas?

This plan was designed and developed by architects, realtors, real estate developers, and urban planners. Public input, which was not solicited until last summer, is invisible in the final plan, which is indistinguishable from the original plan I reviewed at the riverfront charrette. There are so many citizens who don?t even know about these changes ? publicity has been minimal. I urge you to revise the plan to incorporate less intensive development and more open space, and to delay passage of the plan until further public input can be solicited and received.

Sincerely,

—Zé daLuz