Louisiana Avenue Historic Firehouse Groundbreaking
NEW ORLEANS–People’s Housing+, Alembic Community Development and an extensive coalition of partners and funders celebrated the start of construction on the historic firehouse property.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 19 at 1pm
WHERE: Louisiana Avenue Firehouse, 2312 Louisiana Avenue
WHO:
People's Housing +,
Alembic Community Development,
Inquisitive Thinkers Learning Center,
City of New Orleans,
New Orleans Redevelopment Authority,
Enterprise Community Partners,
Finance New Orleans,
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality,
U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance,
Enhanced Capital,
Housing Authority of New Orleans,
CDW Services
Kiro Studio
and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
A variety of federal, state and local elected officials, and funders attended and spoke at the groundbreaking including State Senator Royce Duplessis, New Orleans City Councilwoman Lesli Harris, NORA Executive Director Brenda Breaux, and Tyra Brown Johnson, City of New Orleans’ Director of Housing Policy & Community Development.
The project represents a cooperative effort among the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), People's Housing+ and Alembic Community Development, and will address two of the city’s most urgent issues: affordable housing and early childhood education.
“Moving into the construction phase is a significant milestone in this process and it comes at a time when our residents really need this,” says People’s Housing+ CEO Oji Alexander. “The ground floor early childhood education center will add up to 60 new seats for early learners, and the second floor will offer seven rental apartments with long-lasting affordability, designed to meet the diverse needs of residents and bring stability to families and individuals at various income levels. We are very proud to announce that Aireca Anderson,a Central City native and owner/director of Inquisitive Thinkers Learning Academy, has agreed to operate the early childhood education center.”
PH+ CEO Oji Alexander
A portion of the renovation’s funding comes from tax credits, including the state’s Louisiana Historic Tax Credit. As Alembic’s New Orleans Director Jonathan Leit points out, using the state tax credit program to restore the blighted property represents a strong investment in returning historic buildings into commerce.
“We’re very grateful to all of the project’s funders and partners for their support,” Leit says. “The firehouse redevelopment is a prime example of the critical role that Louisiana Historic Tax Credits (LA HTC) play in restoring long-blighted properties throughout the state. “The LA HTC is expected to generate $1.35 million of the $8 million total budget needed to rehabilitate the property: the importance of the credit is evident in this groundbreaking, as is the additional investment and job creation it brings to our communities.”
Alembic’s New Orleans Director Jonathan Leit
Through a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners, the federal New Markets Tax Credit has also played a major role in financing the firehouse restoration.
“We are honored to partner with People’s Housing+ and Alembic Community Development on the revitalization of the Louisiana Avenue Firehouse and making this property once again an important focal point in Central City,” said Michelle Whetten, VP and Gulf Coast Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “The firehouse renovation is a testament to the power of the New Markets Tax Credit program, and the $6.5 million invested will transform a long-time vacant, blighted space into a vibrant community asset."
Michelle Whetten, VP and Gulf Coast Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners
The cooperative endeavor agreement represents the first project under the new Redevelopment Framework between the City of New Orleans and NORA. The framework allows for the leveraging of underutilized City-owned properties to create affordable housing opportunities and drive economic growth in neighborhoods like Central City.
"The repurposing of this historic firehouse not only adds value to the community but also preserves its rich heritage,” says Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “The revitalization of this underutilized space will turn the property into a valuable asset for housing our neighbors and providing early childcare for New Orleans youth, which is a testament to the City's goal to continue meeting people where they are. I am grateful to everyone involved in making this project a reality and I look forward to seeing the positive impact on the community."
NORA Executive Director Brenda Breaux adds that Redevelopment Framework can be an economic catalyst for neighborhoods like Central City.
NORA Executive Director Brenda Breaux
“We are thrilled to break ground on the Louisiana Avenue Firehouse project, a transformative development that reflects our commitment to creating affordable, sustainable housing and expanding early childhood education access in New Orleans,” says NORA Executive Director Brenda Breaux. “This project showcases the incredible impact that thoughtful redevelopment of city-owned properties can have when backed by the new Redevelopment Framework. With the passing of the Housing Trust Fund, we have an unprecedented opportunity to preserve and create housing opportunities and bring even more projects like this to life—projects that can empower our residents, support economic growth, and strengthen our neighborhoods. NORA will continue its efforts to leverage partnerships and resources in creating a more inclusive and resilient city.”
