Phase II of the Canal Street project has begun, according to the Downtown Development District.
Construction has begun on the next phase of infrastructure enhancements along Canal Street.
According to the DDD, Phase II will focus on critical repairs and upgrades that improve safety, accessibility, and the overall pedestrian experience.
Project improvements include:
- Reconstruction of the Molly Marine Plaza sidewalk.
- Improvements to more than 1,700 square feet of brick and flagstone sidewalks.
- Cleanout of more than 850 linear feet of sidewalk drains.
- Installation of 30 new steel drain covers.
- ADA curb landing upgrades.
- Replacement of 40 granite sidewalk tiles.
- Replacement of 12 granite curb sections.
- Replacement of 67 termite bait station covers.
The DDD says the Molly Marine Plaza improvements will also prepare the site for a new public lighting installation scheduled for later this year, adding another enhancement to Canal Street’s public spaces.
Phase I:
New Orleans city leaders began the first phase of a long-anticipated effort to revitalize Canal Street in July.
The new initiative, called the Canal Street Renaissance, will focus on public safety, code enforcement, infrastructure, and quality-of-life improvements.
Mayor Helena Moreno said reviving the corridor is long overdue and emphasized that the first phase is already underway. Future phases are expected to address pedestrian safety, expand arts and entertainment offerings, recruit new retailers, and fill vacant storefronts.
One obstacle to this goal is underdeveloped buildings. Council President JP Morrell said that many buildings on Canal have a ground level storefront and are otherwise vacant, which leads to lower property taxes. Leaders plan to push these property owners to utilize those empty spaces.
“It is unconscionable that while your neighbors are doing the right thing, and building up their block and paying more property taxes, you’re being rewarded for depressing the valuation of your building by underdeveloping it and paying less property taxes. We’re going to work with the assessor and his authority as assessor to really look at hard how we reassess these properties,” Morrell said.
Rubensteins, a men’s clothing store that has been a staple on Canal for years, developed empty space in their building into a successful hotel.
“We’ve had empty space; we used to occupy most of the building in retail, storage, things like that, but as business goes, we condense; it’s more important to do more business out of less space,” Kenny Rubenstein said.
Sadye Finkel will serve as the Canal Street renaissance coordinator, working with the Downtown Development District and French Quarter Management District. Finkel previously served as Moreno’s chief of staff when Moreno was an at-large City Council member.
Finkel said the initiative will include a review of legislative and zoning barriers, an analysis of economic development incentives and grant programs, and heightened code enforcement.
Public Works Director Steve Nelson said the city completed an assessment of streetlights along Canal Street and identified 20 outages. Six lights have already been repaired, and crews are working on the remaining lights.
Officials are also evaluating traffic-signal timing and equipment age, repairing pedestrian crossing signals, and paving portions of Canal Street.
A curb analysis will examine whether loading zones are properly placed and whether pedestrian connections are as safe as possible.
“The work is intended to reduce crashes and traffic deaths,” Nelson said.
The New Orleans Police Department has also renewed its focus on Canal Street safety during the past six weeks.
Police say they have made 23 narcotics arrests, increased parking and traffic enforcement, and conducted quality-of-life sweeps along the corridor.
Daniel Shanks said the French Quarter and Downtown Development Task Force is working to keep the area clean and safe. The effort includes a new partnership between the French Quarter Management District and the city’s Office of Homeless Services.
The mayor said the city is also coordinating with Louisiana State Police and Troop NOLA as part of the public-safety effort.
READ MORE:Downtown Development District begins Phase II of Canal Street enhancements
