An influx of residential and creative commercial space is transforming Downtown New Orleans. According to a technical assistance panel by the Urban Land Institute Louisiana, the trends represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve open space.
Katherine Sayre reports on an Urban Land Institute Louisiana technical assistance panel for the Downtown Development District in New Orleans. Among the panel's recommendations: "The Downtown Development District should consider taking control of parks and pedestrian areas within its territory by contracting with the city and explore dog parks, playgrounds, plazas and other open urban spaces for future development…"
"Among other suggestions, the panel recommended dog parks or skate parks under elevated freeways, small pockets of green space known as 'parklets,' courtyards, extended sidewalks and pedestrian friendly plazas, such as rejuvenating the Lafayette Street mall or the underused Duncan Plaza."
Sayre also mentions a number of other funding, policy, and zoning tools recommended by the panel to help improve the public realm in Downtown New Orleans.
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