French Market Corp. seeks ideas for Elysian Fields parking | Business News

The French Market Company is seeking to flip two floor parking heaps at Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Road right into a mixed-use, multi-level improvement that would home a parking storage with ground-floor retail tenants, a music venue, inexpensive housing models and group sources.

The general public company will solicit proposals in early 2023 from builders involved in partnering on the mission. All concepts are welcome, French Market Corp. Government Director Leslie Thorn Alley stated.

“We’re open to ideas,” stated Alley at a public assembly final week on the George and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Heart. “Can we afford to construct a storage? Can we do a storage together with one thing else? What does the neighborhood want? These are the questions we’re hoping to reply with the proposals that are available in.”

The properties sit simply outdoors of the French Quarter and fewer than a block from the golf equipment and crowds that collect nightly on Frenchmen Road, making them a probably helpful asset for the company that contributes to metropolis coffers annually.

On the Dec. 7 assembly, officers with the French Market Corp. offered preliminary ideas to about two dozen neighborhood residents and different attendees. Although supportive of the thought usually, a number of of these in attendance stated no matter is finished on the heaps must put locals — particularly artists and musicians — first.

“We wish to make a particular plea that this improvement actually makes artists, musicians and tradition bearers a excessive precedence,” stated Alice Blackwell, proprietor of the Hello-Ho Lounge on St. Claude Avenue. “Arts and tradition and tourism in New Orleans are symbiotic however that relationship has been imbalanced in recent times, particularly on this space. Please take into consideration how this improvement may actually profit those that reside right here.”

A chance

The plan to pursue redeveloping the 2 heaps, which, collectively, present about 250 parking areas for the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny, got here out of a strategic planning course of that was accomplished earlier this 12 months. The plan regarded broadly at how the French Market Corp. can proceed to be self- sustaining whereas additionally maximizing its belongings.

The company is a metropolis company that truly makes cash. In 2019, it generated about $7.5 million in income from the historic properties it manages, together with the Higher Pontalba Flats, the retail stalls within the French Market, the retailers on the colonnade, and Crescent Park.

A further $2.5 million in income got here from the Elysian Fields parking heaps and one other lot it controls farther upriver.

Of the $10 million in complete income, about $1 million was revenue that went again into the town’s basic working fund.

“Individuals actually see the French Market Company as a chance,” Alley stated. “That’s why we launched into a strategic plan. It’s essential our methods are aligned with our mission.”

Within the strategic plan, consultants decided the Elysian Fields parking heaps could possibly be redeveloped in a means that might allow them to proceed producing at the least as a lot cash as they do now whereas additionally offering a higher profit to the group.  

Among the many ideas envisioned within the plan is a multistory, mixed-use constructing on the bigger of the 2 heaps — the one farther from the Mississippi River — that would come with ground-floor retail or eating places, parking, residential models and rooftop inexperienced house.

One thought envisions setting apart a sure variety of models for inexpensive housing or for a number of the metropolis’s unhoused inhabitants. An EMS station or public security hub is one other risk.

On the smaller lot, nearer to the river, parking could possibly be mixed with a small performing arts stage, public artwork set up, central sq. with fountain, benches and greenery.

Musicians’ request

No matter what the eventual idea plan seems like, musicians who reside and work within the space are pushing for facilities like a protected loading zone or designated parking areas for musicians and artists.

“Musicians and repair employees get the low finish of the stick,” stated guitarist Duane Bartels, whose eponymous band performs the golf equipment on Frenchmen Road. “I get that vacationers are essential however with out native musicians and artists, vacationers wouldn’t be drawn to the realm. We’re already underpaid. We’d like extra lodging.”

Bartels stated the issue is especially acute at night time, when musicians are weak and have giant devices and tools in tow.

“There’s nowhere to park on Frenchmen Road and it’s actually chaotic making an attempt to unload,” he stated. “Most of our gigs are at night time. We simply want someplace the place we are able to safely load and unload our tools.”

Alley stated the French Market Corp. gained’t be capable to assure parking for any specific group however there are potentialities for a loading zone or a shuttle drop off.

“That’s why we’re doing this planning course of,” she stated. “So we are able to discover numerous potentialities.”

This isn’t the primary time the French Market Corp. has checked out redeveloping the heaps. It’s been mentioned periodically over time, most recently in 2015, when the company issued a request for proposals. However just one proposal was submitted, stated Alley, who was not with the company on the time and could not say why the company did not pursue it. 

There’s no price range for the potential mission and no timeline, although the company want to have a plan in place by the tip of subsequent 12 months.