Neighbors would like to see local businesses, not chain stores, at the site of the old Home Depot

Carrollton Avenue between Bienville Street and Orleans Avenue has come to be known — not so affectionately — as Little Metairie. The Mid-City Market opened in 2013 with a mix of local shops sharing space with suburban storefronts, a sprawling parking lot and national chains like Panera Bread, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Pizza Hut and Office Depot. Anchoring the development is Winn-Dixie, setting up shop across Carrollton from its grocery store competitor Rouses.

Both developments share space with the burgeoning Lafitte Greenway, an ambitious 2.6-mile "linear" park, pedestrian and bike path and green space that spans from Treme's Louis Armstrong Park to Lakeview. A bike lane runs alongside Rouses and crosses Carrollton to the Mid-City Market.

Source: The Gambit

Full Article: http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/mid-city-metairie-development-on-n-carrollton-avenue/Content?oid=2672529

The Friends of Lafitte Corridor want to jump-start urban farming along the Lafitte Greenway, a $9 million linear park scheduled to open this summer, but it's up to the community to decide how and where to do that.

Those interested in helping formulate a plan are invited to attend meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Friday (May 27 and 29).

The Friends of Lafitte Corridor, a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the new park, won a spot in the White House's Local Foods Local Places program, which aims to improve livability and access to fresh food. Options could include a farmers' market, community gardens and other urban farming programs. The initiative targets the full Lafitte Corridor, so projects could be focused in the park or surrounding neighborhoods, said Sophie Harris, Friends of Lafitte director.

Source: NOLA.com

Full Article: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/lafitte_greenway_urban_farming.html#incart_river

The CVS development slated to replace the former Home Depot site on North Carrollton Avenue will have fewer tenants than originally planned, but more green space and amenities along the Lafitte Greenway, the developers told Mid-City residents Monday evening, while neighbors compiled a list of suggestions about what other businesses should be included and how the project could be improved...

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2015/05/19/mid-city-gets-first-look-at-new-plans-for-cvs-development-at-vacant-home-depot-site/

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The 10th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo presented by Positive Vibrations Foundation takes place this weekend, Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17th, along the beautiful banks of Bayou St. John....

...Floating Root Beer Float and Beer and Wine Gardens: For the first time, the festival is utilizing the bayou through the use of floating docks. Festivalgoers can pull their own boats up to dock at the Beer and Wine Gardens, as well as visit the Abita Root Beer Float for – what else? – A cool and refreshing root beer float. Proceeds from the root beer floats go toward MotherShip Foundation and Friends of Lafitte Corridor.

Source: WGNO

Video & Full Article: http://wgno.com/2015/05/15/boogey-away-this-weekend-at-10th-annual-mid-city-bayou-boogaloo/

Because it seems like most of New Orleans' Mid-City's streets are either under repair or in dire need of repair, it may take drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians a couple of seconds to absorb what's missing on Jefferson Davis Parkway at Bayou St. John.

Here's a hint: piles of broken ties and steel rails beside the southbound lanes May 5 signaled the beginning of the end of decades of teeth-jarring drives, rides and risky walks across long-abandoned railroad tracks. By mid-May, new pavement will be in place in the north- and south-bound lanes.

The improvements are part of the ongoing Lafitte Greenway project, which consists of a 2.6-mile biking and pedestrian path linking City Park to the Treme' neighborhood near Armstrong Park...

Source: NOLA.com

Full Article: http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans/2015/05/railroad_tracks_replacement_un.html

Bayou Wine Garden, an old-world-style wine bar and restaurant, is slated to open adjacent to Bayou Beer Garden in Mid-City by the end of summer, according to owning partner David Demarest...

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2015/05/05/bayou-wine-garden-owners-aim-to-open-by-end-of-summer/

NEW ORLEANS -- The Lafitte Greenway project is nearly complete, but it may not be on schedule.

City officials say the recent severe weather could delay the new bike path from opening on time, especially if we get more rain.

After months of work, The Lafitte Greenway is finally taking shape.

"You can see that much of the trail has been laid, we are thrilled to see trees now in the ground," says Sophie Harris, the Executive Director of Friend of Lafitte Corridor. "It's really starting to look like a green greenway."...

Source: WWLTV.com

Video & Full Article: http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/2015/05/01/recent-rain-stops-work-on-lafitte-greenway-project/26733679/

Councilwoman Susan Guidry and Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell updated Mid-City businesses on multiple projects going in the area at the Greater Mid-City Business Association luncheon held on Tuesday, including an art project in the Lafitte Greenway and a trash abatement program initiated by City Council.

Guidry announced that the city has already begun to add amenities to the Lafitte Greenway, the 2.6-mile bike and pedestrian path and park that extends from the French Quarter to Mid-City.

“We collaborated with the Arts Council and have awarded $25,000 for an art project that will go up at the Jeff Davis neutral ground,” Guidry said, adding that a second art project will be on Broad Street.

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2015/04/24/council-members-susan-guidry-and-latoya-cantrell-give-updates-about-mid-city-projects/

Second Line Brewing is gearing up to begin brewing craft beer this summer in a 12,000 square foot Mid-City warehouse...

...The brewery, located at 433 N. Bernadotte Street, is owned by Logan, his wife and three friends. Logan said he got lucky with the location after researching areas and deciding on Mid-City. “While we were still in Alaska, I answered an advertisement on Craigslist for a warehouse in Mid-City. The location was great, close to the Lafitte Greenway, Delgado, City Park and rest of Mid-City,” he continued.

Source: Canal Street Beat

Full Article: http://canalstreetbeat.com/second-line-brewing-to-open-12000-square-foot-mid-city-brewhouse-this-summer/

The winner of the first local arts-oriented pitch contest was announced this morning at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. New Orleans native and fine arts photographer Michel Varisco was named winner of the Living With Water Civic Arts Design Pitch for her project Turning.

The $25,000 prize was decided by an audience text-in vote at The Chicory, following commentary from a critical feedback panel consisting of Sophie Harris, Executive Director of Friends of Lafitte Corridor; David Waggonner, principal of Waggonner & Ball Architects; Councilmember Susan Guidry; and Bill Gilchrist, Director of Place-Based Planning for the City of New Orleans.

Source: NolaVie

Full Article: http://nolavie.com/variscos-turning-wins-first-living-with-water-arts-pitch-10847/