House Bill 892, authored by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, is a joint effort between Orleans and Jefferson Parishes that creates the West End Economic Development District.
It advanced through the House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee and now heads to the House floor.
The West End Economic Development District reimagines the plot of land between West End Park and Lake Pontchartrain.
A chain link fence surrounds the parking lot, which is empty with the exception of a few old boats and litter. The plot was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina more than twenty years ago.
“For the people in the neighborhood and the people really in the city it’ll be back to a time where there used to be restaurants in the neighborhood, you could go out and have lunch and enjoy the park afterwards and so it’s been a long time since Katrina and this is finally going to happen for the neighborhood,” said New Orleans City Councilmember Amy McCarron.
McCarron spent Thursday morning advocating for the bill at the statehouse before making her way back to New Orleans, where the city council unanimously passed a motion supporting the bill.
READ MORE:Project reimaging West End lakefront is one step closer to reality
