What's Up Downtown

January 30, 2009

Downtown Residents to See Decrease in
Garbage Collection Services

Some residents may need to hire a private contractor for garbage collection starting as early as Monday, but DDD sidewalk cleaning services provided by cleaning contractor Block-by-Block will continue uninterrupted.

SDT Waste and Debris Services announced on Thursday that it will collect from only 2,911 residences and small businesses Downtown and in the French Quarter as a result of changes to its contract with the City of New Orleans.  All other residents and business owners in those neighborhoods will have to make other arrangements for trash pickup.

To find out if your residence or business will be affected by the change in services and to see a list of collection service companies, visit the DDD's website by clicking here.  

To view the City's Sanitation Code Ordinance, click here.  

CVS Canal Street Opens Doors, Welcomes Customers

800 Canal Street has a new look and a new tenant.  CVS drugstore officially opened its doors to Canal Street customers this week and will be celebrating its grand opening Saturday, January 31 through Saturday, February 7 with special savings. 

"CVS is a great match for Downtown, and is an example of the quality merchants we are beginning to see make commitments to Canal Street," says Ryan Bordenave, DDD Retail Attraction Specialist.  "At least eight new businesses will have opened up on Canal Street in the 12-month period ending March 12.  These stores have replaced a t-shirt shop, a dollar store, and a tattoo parlor, among others.  The net improvement to Canal Street is really noticeable"

For more information on retail development Downtown, contact Ryan Bordenave at (504) 561-8927 or by email at rbordenave[at]neworleansdowntown.com.   

DDD Welcomes International Downtown Association

The International Downtown Association Institute for professional development will be in New Orleans this weekend.  Participants from cities across the country and the world will share knowledge and techniques in their ongoing effort to help create healthy and dynamic centers of urban life in downtowns. 

Special panel discussions and tours are scheduled throughout the weekend as an opportunity for DDD staff to share personal stories of crisis management and recovery with IDA members. 

For more information on the International Downtown Association, visit www.ida-downtown.org.  

Photo by Chris Granger, Times Picayune photographer

Plaza Tower Remediation Clears the Way for Redevelopment

Environmental cleanup has begun at Plaza Tower, one of the city’s two oldest high-rise office building at 1001 Howard Avenue. When the remediation is complete later this year, the 44-story building will have been stripped of all interior walls and ceilings and free of asbestos, leaving behind a steel and concrete shell, ready for redevelopment

“We are excited about the opportunity to renovate Plaza Tower in order to once again become one of the crown jewels in the city’s skyline,” says Tom Walper, partner at Plainfield Asset Management, LLC, which owns the building.  “We are committed to New Orleans and to putting this building back into commerce at its best and highest use."

Plainfield has also engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to provide an Advisory Services panel to recommend uses for the structure. The panel, which began meeting earlier this week and includes real estate professionals from Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, Marina Del Ray, California, and other cities, is focusing on strategies for redevelopment of the tower.  ULI gave a preliminary recommendation on the building’s use today.

“Plaza Tower is a significant Downtown landmark.  The DDD is pleased that Plainfield has undertaken this important step in bringing the Plaza Tower back into commerce,” says DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle.

Plainfield Asset Management is working with New Jersey-based contractor WCD Group to handle project management and DEMCO Demolition of New York, an environmental management company, to manage the on-site cleanup. 

For more information on Downtown developments in progress, visit www.neworleansdowntown.com

Changes in Food and Beverage Services at Windsor Court
Designed to Excite Your Senses

Hector Rubio has been named Director of Food and Beverage at the Windsor Court Hotel.  His responsibilities will include overseeing the financial, operational and overall performance of The Grill Room, Polo Club Lounge, suite service, Le Salon, banquets and catering, in addition to working with the hotel's culinary team on menu engineering. 

There is a "new chef, new tunes, and a new attitude" at the The Grill Room. Chef Drew Dzejak has revamped the menu featuring a unique dining concept of four culinary categories sure to tease the palate and stir the senses – Unadulterated, Steakhouse, Indulge and Southern.  For more information, visit www.windsorcourthotel.com.

Downtown Calendar

HORNETS VS. GOLDEN STATE
Where: The New Orleans Arena
When: Friday, Jan. 30, 8:30 p.m.

MARDI GRAS MARATHON
Where: Poydras and Canal Street map
When: Sunday, February 1, 7:00 a.m.

JOHNNY WINTER LIVE
Where: Harrah's Theater
When: Saturday, January 31,  8:00 p.m.
What: Grammy nominated musician sings the blues

DAVENPORT LOUNGE GRAND OPENING
Where: Ritz Carlton Hotel
When: Thursday, February 5, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
What: Revel in Jeremy Davenport's jazz, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktail specials. Complimentary valet parking. 

D.I.Y. COSTUME SEMINAR
Where: Louisiana Children's Museum
When: Saturday, January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
What: Drop the kids off with a bag lunch and let them create their own fun costumes!

For more information on any of the articles featured in What's Up Downtown, or to submit an item for consideration,
contact Lauren Hotard at lhotard@neworleansdowntown.com.