What’s Up Downtown

7 June 2013 Issue
LEGISLATIVE WINS FOR DOWNTOWN

HB630 Headed to Governor!

The DDD is very pleased to announce that the tax credit extension for the rehabilitation of historic commercial structures has passed and is heading to the Governor’s office for his signature. In 2011, Governor Jindal stated his support for the tax credits. In 2005, the DDD formed and led the coalition that created the HTC structure. The tax credits have accounted for hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Downtown. “We would like to thank all our partners in advocating for this legislation, particularly our New Orleans legislative delegation,” said DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle. “This was our number one legislative priority for this session, as it has been a tremendous boon for Downtown New Orleans, helping to attack blight and revive Downtown.” Written by State Representative Walt Leger III, HB630 will extend the credits until 2018.

Also headed to the Governor’s desk is HB549. The bill establishes the MediFund for statewide advancement of biosciences and medical centers of excellence.

NEW ORLEANS WINNING THE BATTLE FOR TECH JOBS – FORBES MAGAZINE

Ranked #3, behind only Tech Heavyweights Silicon Valley and San Francisco

In the Forbes article Cities Winning the Battle for Information Jobs, researcher, Joel Kotkin stated that the New Orleans area was “perhaps the most dramatic player, where information is up 28% since 2009.” He describes the information sector here as “very broad-based, including companies in digital effects, videogames, software development as well as a burgeoning film and television industry.”

Starting in 2007, the DDD has worked with key stakeholders and partners to promote Downtown New Orleans and to attract companies in digital media such as LaunchPad, BarCampNola, Launch Fest as well as companies in other related industries. “New Orleans, particularly Downtown, continues to grow as a hub of innovation and creativity which means jobs for our community and a strong economy,” said DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle. “Digital media jobs have more than tripled in two years. Downtown has added almost 400 digital media jobs per year for the last two years. The untold story, beyond GE and Gameloft, is the dozens of local companies like TurboSquid and Carrollton Technologies as well as the companies of the LaunchPad and Beta shared work spaces. All have had double digit job gains over the last couple of years and have become major forces in Downtown’s economy. We thank them for their investment and we look forward to continuing to work with our Downtown partners and build on these successes.”

TUESDAYS WITH EARL

LEH Launches Literary Lunch Series featuring Louisiana political classics.

This summer the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will host “Tuesdays with Earl,” a lunchtime reading series aimed at professionals in the Central Business District. Participants are invited to bring their lunches for a scholar-led conversation about The Earl of Louisiana, the 1961 book by legendary author A.J. Liebling. The one-hour sessions will take place every Tuesday at noon, from June 18 through July 16 at the Louisiana Humanities Center at 938 Lafayette Street. Enrollment is free but limited to 40 people. To sign up, email boyles@leh.org or for more information click here.

DOWNTOWN PROUD!

Did You Know…

Sanitation and garbage collection is a constant challenge facing bustling Downtown areas around the country, especially those with as many historic districts as Downtown New Orleans. Many historic buildings do not have modern facilities to properly store their solid waste prior to collection but it is incumbent upon property owners and small businesses to adhere to city laws when placing their garbage curbside for collection. Did you know that garbage should only be placed curbside from 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is against the law for roll carts or trash to remain in the public right of way outside of these collection times. Carts are to be stored on the user’s property so as not to interfere with pedestrian traffic – MC 138 -39 to 42.

It is especially important during the summer months for residents and businesses to adhere to the stipulated collection times. Be Downtown Proud and help the DDD maintain it as the cleanest neighborhood in New Orleans!

CITY ISSUES FILM NOTICE

A production company will be filming scenes overnight from Friday, June 7th to Thursday, June 13th and on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th that will involve special effects and sounds, including intermittent simulated gunfire. Filming will take place from 7pm to 6am each night and will be limited to a closed set of Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, within the 100 and 200 blocks of South Rampart Street, the 1000 block of Common Street, and the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue. These blocks are closed to traffic through June 24 as part of a traffic plan that can be found at www.nola.gov/film, the home page for Film New Orleans in the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy.

REMINDER: STREET CLOSURES FOR DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Production will have an estimated $80 million local economic impact

Several blocks in the Central Business District and Lower Garden District are closed for filming of the major motion picture Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The 100 and 200 blocks of South Rampart Street, the 1000 block of Common Street, and the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue are closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The street closures will remain in effect through June 24, 2013 to accommodate filming.

All street closures and detours are marked by signage and uniformed police officers are on duty daily to assist with efficient traffic flow. For more information go to www.nola.gov/film.

Register Surveillance Cameras Through SafeCam8 Program

Downtown businesses and residences with private video surveillance cameras may now register them with the New Orleans Police Department through the Downtown Development District Web site as part of the SafeCams8 project.

The DDD is proud to partner with the French Quarter Management District and NOPD 8th District in the SafeCams8 program, a public safety initiative which allows property owners and businesses to register their privately owned video surveillance cameras directly with NOPD. The goal of SafeCams8 is to develop a comprehensive list of cameras in the 8th District that record activities occurring on the street or sidewalk. The database will allow the 8th District police to expeditiously contact a camera owner or operator when police access to a camera’s footage is needed to solve a crime or facilitate an investigation.

Participation in SafeCams8 is voluntary; there is no obligation to maintain a camera’s video surveillance capability or to provide video footage to the NOPD. All information provided by a camera owner or operator when registering with SafeCams8 is transmitted directly to the 8th District. No other entities have access to the registration information.

CLICK HERE to register privately owned video surveillance cameras via the