New Orleans Neighborhoods Partnership Network

Neighborhoods Served:
• Central City / Magnolia

Planning District:
2

Ward:
3

Zip Codes:
70113

Boundaries:
Oretha Castle Haley Blvd from I-10 to Philip Street; north to S. Saratoga St. and south to Carondolet St.

Council Representative:
Stacy Head

State Representative:
Neil Abramson

Police Precinct:
6

President / Director:
Lynnette Colin

Mission:

We are a non-profit agency seeking to revitalize the main street through Central City, at one point the thriving Dryades street, now the Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. Until the early 70’s, the area served as one of the premier areas of African American commerce in the Jim Crow South. Over 200 businesses provided discrimination-free service to a multiracial community of mainly black and Jewish Americans. The tolerance and affluence created an environment uniquely conducive for the flourishing of African, African American, and Caribbean culture. But the 70’s brought a white movement en masse to the suburbs as well as the integration and opening up of other shopping to African Americans, and as a result, demand fell. Merchants moved off the Boulevard, and the area fell victim to neglect, building condemnation, and crime rate increase. Yet even in this present state of blight, the area has maintained the vibrant and distinctive culture. Our organization hopes to utilize this preserved energy as the focal point and catalyst in the commercial redevelopment, creating a unique cultural district.

Therefore our overarching service is recruiting new merchants to the Boulevard and establishing sustainable commerce that reflects these unique traditions and culture. To attract such vendors, we are addressing the various infrastructure deficiencies. The current needed renovations deter possible renters, as the neighborhood does not appear as an attractive location for business ventures. The buildings in their present condition also recquire too much capital and investment for individual tenets to undertake completely on own. We are therefore planning to initiate the development ourselves, on both properties we currently own as well as on new properties we hope to acquire.

A successful establishment of the economic vitality of Central City serves the residents of the neighborhood itself, as well as the entire City of New Orleans. New economic lifeblood clearly brings services, employment, and housing development to inhabitants of the area. Revitalization of the region also serves as part of the city’s post-storm rebuilding efforts, and for that reason it has included revitalization of the area within its UNOP central plan of recovery. Finally, a revived Central City will create a unique district all New Orleans area residents will seek for its cultural celebration.

Current Priorities:

• Blight and Code Enforcement
• Cultural and Community Facilities
• Economic Development

Partners:

Central City Renaissance Alliance; Central City Partnership;Collaborative for Enterprise Development; The Renaissance Project; Ashe Cultural Arts Center; ECD/HOPE Community Credit Union; ASI Federal Credit Union; Jewish Funds for Justice/Isiah Funds Loan Fund; Goodwork Network; Newcorps Inc.;Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation; The City of New Orleans Economic Development; Neighborhood Partnership Network (NPN)