Some cities work for many years to do what New Orleans has done since 2012.

Almost without the rest of the country noticing, the Big Easy has rapidly become one of the nation's leading cities for bike transportation. About one in 30 local residents now gets to work by bike, double the rate from 2007 and sixth highest rate among large U.S. cities, right between Seattle and Oakland.

The city's new goal is to double its biking rate again over the next three years — in the central neighborhoods where 10 percent or more of residents already bike to work.

Source: peopleforbikes

Full Article: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/the-countrys-newest-biking-boomtown-new-orleans-looks-to-the-next-level

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Lafitte Greenway carved out a path for New Orleans cyclists and pedestrians through an industrial landscape, winding past warehouses tagged with street art, storage for old stoplights, and vacant lots stretching from downtown to City Park.

But that urban landscape is evolving this year with real estate investors pushing a wave of new development connected to the greenway - including proposals for a patio bar, hundreds of apartments, at least one coffee shop and co-working office space, all with direct access to the path and the possibility of making the 14-month-old park a busier public space.

“The greenway presents a really unique opportunity,” said Mike Sherman, a land use attorney who represents several property owners in the area. “The greenway is only in its infancy. The grand plans in the master plan aren’t yet realized but because it has the basic element of connectivity between neighborhoods, it does present an amenity for both retailers and residents that’s captured the attention of developers.”

Source: The Washington Times

Full Article: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/12/lafitte-greenway-spurring-new-developments-in-2017/?

The trash magnate turned real estate-buying Batman (and maybe would-be mayor) Sidney Torres IV is gearing up for another project along the Lafitte Greenway. The venture capitalist recently submitted a proposal to the City Planning Commission for a bar, according to the Mid-City Messenger.

Located at 501 N. Genois St., the plan calls for a 2,500-square-foot indoor bar with a 900-square-foot mezzanine, and more the 5,000-square feet of outdoor covered and open air seating overlooking the recreational pathway. The bar would also offer off-street parking, bicycle parking, and bike air pump.

Source: Eater New Orleans

Full Article: http://nola.eater.com/2017/2/6/14524418/patio-bar-lafitte-greenway-sidney-torres

Friends of Lafitte Greenway’s Board of Directors elected four new faces for the new year and recognized three outgoing members, bringing the total number of board members to 20.

The organization held their annual membership meeting Monday night to elect new board members, review 2016 accomplishments and establish goals for the new year. Jeffrey Thomas, board chair, recognized three outgoing board members – Amy Boyle Collins, Laila Fox and Emily Valentino – before voting in new ones.

“We’re always looking for skill set and expertise to bring to the team who can help up, who can professionalize us,” Thomas said. “We’ve been blessed with a great board every year.”

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2017/02/03/four-new-faces-join-friends-of-lafitte-greenways-board-of-directors/

Friends of Lafitte Greenway has an abundance of goals for 2017, and most revolve around improving the safety of the greenspace and growing community programs.

The organization held their annual membership meeting Monday night to elect new board members, review 2016 accomplishments and establish goals for the new year. Sophie Harris, executive director, touched on every program and project headed by Friends of Lafitte Greenway and explained how the group plans to expand those programs.

The three biggest goals for 2017, Harris said, revolve around safety and community. Many board members brought up the safety – or lack thereof – of the North Lopez Street bridge, which has been boarded for several years but remains a popular shortcut. Harris said Friends has been working with the city to rebuild the bridge and open more connections across the canal.

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2017/01/31/friends-of-lafitte-greenway-aiming-to-expand-community-programs-safety/

Bike along the Lafitte Greenway these days, and you'll see evidence of big changes ahead. Demolition is underway to make room for a 382-unit apartment building on the greenway, the biggest of several projects in the works this year.

Nearly 750 people used the Lafitte Greenway every day in 2016, the first full year the 2.6-mile trail was open to cyclists, joggers and walkers, according to a University of New Orleans Transportation Institute study.

Many of the historic neighborhoods lining the greenway have seen a surge in home prices, renovations, new retail and restaurants. Real estate investments are now flowing alongside the greenway stretching from the Treme to City Park.

Source: NOLA.com

Full Article: 

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2017/01/lafitte_greenway_facebook_live.html

Construction workers broke ground on the new FitLot project that will be built on the Lafitte Greenway.

According to its official website, FitLot is a nonprofit organization that help communities build outdoor fitness parks, making cost-free exercising obtainable in communities across the city.

The organization provides fitness tools that use bodyweight resistance, much like the Healthbeats fitness center in City Park.

Source: Curbed New Orleans 

Full Article: http://nola.curbed.com/2017/1/17/14303892/fitlot-lafittegreenway-nola-construction

Dozens of community members turned out over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend to finish a community-based art project on the Lafitte Greenway.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway hosted two volunteer sessions over the weekend to varnish the new murals on the Lemann Pool located at 536 N. Prieur. Volunteers put about four coats of varnish over the student-led murals, which surround the pool in bright colors and designs.

Keith Duncan, lead artist, said the community’s interest in his creation “is a good feeling.” The murals are the product of a 6-week dialogue and youth engagement effort spearheaded by the Young Artists Movement (YAM), Welcome Table New Orleans Mid-City Circle and Prospect New Orleans. Last year, residents met several times to discuss racial reconciliation and that dialogue resulted in a five-wall youth-designed mural by Duncan.

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2017/01/16/volunteers-varnish-new-lemann-pool-murals-over-mlk-weekend/

Friends of Lafitte Greenway, in partnership with Young Artists Movement (YAM), Welcome Table New Orleans Mid-City Circle, and Prospect New Orleans, will host two volunteer projects for MLK Weekend.

Volunteers will paint the top coat of varnish on new murals and pick up litter on the Lafitte Greenway on Saturday, January 14 and Monday, January 16.

Volunteers will meet at 536 N. Prieur Street from 9 to 11 a.m. both days. The events will proceed in the event of light rain, but be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2017/01/13/friends-of-lafitte-greenway-to-host-two-mlk-weekend-volunteer-projects/

The Friends of Lafitte Greenway have a brand new office that opens onto the greenspace, and the nonprofit invites the community to celebrate the new digs.

The group is having a “New Year, New Office” party next week to commemorate the opening of their 2200 Lafitte Avenue office. The group was working out of the Propeller Incubator on Washington Avenue, which offers for-rent space for co-working businesses and organizations, for two years.

Sophie Harris, Friends of the Lafitte Greenway director, said the new office signifies years of hard work, community input and growth.

“It’s really us growing up,” Harris said. “This space allows us to invite people in for meetings and workshops, and bring people out onto the Greenway.”

Source: Mid-City Messenger

Full Article: http://midcitymessenger.com/2017/01/10/friends-of-the-lafitte-greenway-to-break-in-new-office-with-party/