A deal for the city’s last frontier
18th October 2021 · 0 Comments
For whatever reason, before Katrina and a few years after, developers and investors seemed to overlook New Orleans’ last frontier – New Orleans East – as a viable canvas for building a booming business sector supported by the area’s 90,000 residents.
Eastern New Orleans always seemed to be an area that only Black people treasured. New Orleans’ senior citizens often reminisce about going on the long bus ride to the East for fun at Lincoln Beach, the only amusement park available to Blacks during segregation.
If we’re honest, for decades, Blacks were probably the only people to view eastern New Orleans as the land of golden opportunities for economic equity and advancement. Liberty Bank, the city’s first Black-owned bank, has been there for decades and Black professionals continue to open businesses in New Orleans East.
New Orleans East can be a city in its own right, an idea some residents support, and a booming metropolis of industry and commerce.
Residents had wanted to see the area redeveloped before Hurricane Katrina and definitely after the devastation Katrina and an unexpected tornado caused.
Some incremental development has taken place, Walmart, Home Depot, Optimus Gaming Center call New Orleans East home. Progress has been slow, but a significant development’s recent announcement promises to bring tremendous business opportunities and jobs to the neglected area.
Last week, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell chose Bayou Phoenix, a group led by New Orleanian Troy Henry, a business consultant, and New Orleans East resident, to redevelop Jazzland, the 227-acre Six Flags’ Louisiana-themed amusement park.
Bayou Phoenix’s plan includes a Logistics Center, Waterpark, Hotel, Amusement Park, Sports Complex, Esports Arena, Travel Center, Golf Course Redevelopment, a STEM NOLA District., Golf Course Redevelopment and Light Rail.
The STEM NOLA District is among the most exciting parts of the project. Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder/C.E.O. of STEM NOLA, has created a futuristic and entertaining education experience for visitors.
The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics District offers virtual reality experiences for all, advanced technology access for developers to create sustainable standing robotics, geocaches for adults and children, a type of STEM treasure hunt activity with rewards and prizes, a STEM NOLA Innovation Center, and an IMAX and Planetarium experience.
Henry’s group won the bid over a plan submitted by former Saints Quarterback Drew Brees and Saints Linebacker Demario Davis.
Brees’ project, a partnership between Kiernan West LLC from Colorado and SHIELD, a non-profit with Brees, Davis, and Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman, would have transformed the old site into learning centers, including farms that help kids learn about urban agriculture.
Brees’ plan scored the highest points from the selection committee empaneled by city leaders. However, New Orleans East residents held forums and voted on the two projects. Two hundred twenty-seven attendees chose Bayou Phoenix, and three voted for Brees’ project.
Residents preferred family-oriented attractions. We agree. There are some attractions for young kids in the city but teens? Not so much. Also, that Orleans Parish is the largest city in the state without an actual amusement park is negligible on the part of the city.
And we wonder why teens and young adults perpetrate so much crime? The factors are a lack of well-paying jobs, too little education and preparation for STEM industries, and few entertainment venues.
Bayou Phoenix checks all of those boxes, and the city and state will thrive as a result. Projections are that the project will generate at least $24 million in direct and indirect tax revenues.
There may be more developments in the making. Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen last year toured Lincoln Beach, and an advisory committee is considering redeveloping the site.
The Louisiana Weekly lauds Bayou Phoenix commitment of 40 percent DBE participation in the project. Thus far, 10 DBEs are involved in the project.
Bayou Phoenix certainly deserves praise for bringing such a strong commitment to diversity to its development project. After all, New Orleans’ population is 59.5 percent African American. It’s terrific that Black-owned and women-owned businesses are at the table.
But we have one question for Bayou Phoenix. Are there any Black woman-owned businesses where the woman is the C.E.O. or president? Inquiring minds want to know.
Nonetheless, we congratulate Bayou Phoenix for having Henry Consulting as a prime contractor on the project. That is historic and rare in this predominately Black deep south city.
This article originally published in the October 18, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
