Friends of Lafitte Corridor is pleased to announce the election of our new Board Chair, Jeffrey Thomas. Jeffrey was elected to the chairmanship at the February 23, 2015 board meeting.

Jeffrey has served on FOLC’s Board since January 2013 and is an active member of FOLC’s Planning & Design and Executive committees. He has served as the Interim Vice-Chair since November, 2014.

Jeffrey is principal of Thomas Strategies, LLC a strategic planning firm that facilitates public-private financing, policy, and partnership solutions to spur resilient community and economic development.

Every year, Line 58, a local branding and web design firm gives away a year's supply of branding, strategy, and design to one lucky nonprofit in the New Orleans region. FOLC is grateful to have been selected as the 2015 recipient. Thank you Line58!

Spurring Development

As the Lafitte Greenway nears completion, it is spurring investment in the surrounding neighborhoods. Here are a sampling of development projects underway or proposed for the Lafitte Corridor.

Broad Street Movie Theatre to Open this Summer

Get ready movie lovers. A new four-screen movie theatre is opening in the Lafitte Corridor this summer. In January, City Council unanimously approved plans for a movie theater at 636 N Broad one short block from the Lafitte Greenway. This 12,400 square foot, 90-year old building was formerly a charitable bingo hall, a plumbing supply store, and an auto shop. The movie theatre will focus on art house and local films.

The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works issued the following status update on February 4, 2015.

Placement of the asphalt portion of the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path is 75% complete in Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5.  The Department of Public Works construction contractor, Durr Heavy Construction, has completed installing most of the trail lighting fixtures in Areas 2, 3, and 4, and continues installation of trail lighting in Area 5. Lighting wiring will be installed toward the end of the project construction, when the project is ready for public use.

The below announcement was issued by the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works.

The Department of Public Works’ construction contractor, Hard Rock Construction, will begin improving portions of the Jefferson Davis Parkway Bicycle and Pedestrian Path between Gravier St. and Orleans Ave. on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW ORLEANS, LA, January 27, 2015— Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) today announced the election of six new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members include: Amy Allen, Clarence Becknell, Judith Dangerfield, John Hopper, Eric Van Hoven, and Jared Zeller.

"We are delighted to welcome this extraordinary group of individuals to the Friends of Lafitte Corridor's board of directors," said Annalisa Kelly, Interim Chair. "Their wide array of expertise and talent further strengthens FOLC as we retool the organization to serve as the community's partner in the long-term maintenance, programming, and use of the Lafitte Greenway."

Construction Update from City of New Orleans Department of Public Works, January 8, 2015

Placement of the asphalt portion of the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path is 75% complete in Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5.  The Department of Public Works construction contractor, Durr Heavy Construction, has completed installing most of the trail lighting fixtures in Areas 2, 3, and 4, and continues installation of trail lighting in Area 5. Lighting wiring will be installed toward the end of the project construction, when the project is ready for public use.

Craig Guillot of NOLA Aerials captured extraordinary aerial low-altitude images of Lafitte Greenway on October 20, 2014. Construction of the Greenway is over 50% complete in these images, shot from two locations--North Prier and Jefferson Davis Parkway.

Friends of Lafitte Corridor is proud to announce that we have been selected by the White House and six federal agencies to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing technical support to 26 communities nationwide to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans. A team of agricultural, transportation, environmental, public health and regional economic experts will work directly with Friends of Lafitte Corridor and a team of community partners to bring together growers, stakeholders, Lafitte Corridor neighbors and City leaders to develop a plan for community gardens and a farmers market on the Lafitte Greenway.