What's Up Downtown October 9, 2009
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| | Wisznia Architecture+Development Announces Maritime Redevelopment;
City's Oldest Skyscraper to Become Luxury Residences Redevelopment of the Maritime Building at 800 Common Street has officially begun, according to Wisznia Architecture+Development, the local firm responsible for bringing New Orleans' oldest skyscraper back into commerce. Built in 1893, the building was home to Latter & Blum for many years. Once renovations are complete, the Maritime will boast 105 luxury apartment units, with 88 one-bedrooms and 17 two-bedrooms. Each unit will feature bamboo floors, travertine marble bathrooms, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. Amenities will also include a part-time doorman, outdoor pool, fitness center, and a locker room with a steam shower and sauna. Wisznia's offices will occupy 4,500 of the 11,800 square feet of commercial space on the building's second floor, leaving 7,300 square feet of prime office space available for lease. Hancock Bank, currently located on the ground floor of the Maritime building, will remain open during construction. Construction is expected to take 12 months, with a grand-opening celebration scheduled for September 2010. Wisznia will begin preleasing units four to six months in advance of completion.
"The return of the Maritime will be yet another source of pride for Downtown New Orleans," says Kurt Weigle, DDD President & CEO. "The addition of major residential properties like the Maritime - even during this time of national economic distress - shows what an excellent investment environment Downtown has become." A Wisznia SmartCar promoting Downtown living is parked in front of the entrance to Hancock Bank on Carondelet Street. For more information on the Maritime, visit www.themaritimeneworleans.com or www.wisznia.com.
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| Tulane University Good Manufacturing Practices Laboratory
Enters Into Agreement to Produce Adult Stem Cells
Tulane University's Good Manufacturing Practices Laboratory is partnering with Repair Technologies, Inc. to develop and manufacture adult stem cells from bone marrow. The work will be done at the Canal Street laboratory located in the Tidewater Building at 1440 Canal Street. The facility, developed in partnership with the Louisiana Gene Therapy Research Consortium (LGTRC), was designed to meet the requirements for manufacturing cell therapeutics used in humans. It was built and has been operated with funds primarily provided by the State of Louisiana through the Louisiana Board of Regents. "This agreement demonstrates the industry's confidence in the LGTRC/Tulane facility and validates the State's continued support for academic research that leads to commercial opportunities," said Steve Moye, President and CEO of LGTRC. Click here to learn more about adult stem cell research.
For more information on Downtown's bioscience industry, click here.
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| | Environmental Assessment Finds "No Significant Impact" on Site of
Proposed Veterans Affairs Medical Center The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the preparation and availability of a report titled "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI) for the proposed construction activities associated with the VA Medical Center Building #2. The FONSI was prepared as a result of an Environmental Assessment accomplished in accordance with the regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more information, including a link to view the report, visit http://valsumedcenters.com.
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| | Houston-Based Accounting Firm MFR to Open Office in CBD
The largest Hispanic-owned accounting firm in the country, MFR, has announced plans to open a permanent office at 1010 Common in Downtown New Orleans. New Orleans will be MFR's fourth permanent office in the United States and the firm's second largest. MFR currently works with the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "Downtown's quality office space, clustered business support services, diversity and amenities continue to make it an attractive place for large companies like MFR to do business," says DDD President & CEO Kurt Weigle.
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|  | | Solomon Design Associates Opens Downtown Office
Solomon Design Associates, a technology design and consulting firm, has opened an office in Downtown's Warehouse District. Company officials said SDA is the first of its kind in New Orleans and is supported in part by Louisiana's tax credits for live performances.
"We felt that Louisiana's entertainment industry was lacking a firm that could combine both the technology and the production sides of the equation," says Gary Solomon, Jr., President of Solomon Design Associates and Solomon Group. "The birth of this partnership is exactly what the state program was designed for--to develop a native entertainment industry with full capabilities here in the state." For more information on Solomon Design Associates, click here. For more information on Louisiana's tax incentives, click here.
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| | First Tuesdays Interfaith Lecture Series
"Spirituality in the City" Returns to CBD "First Tuesdays," the annual interfaith series promoting dialogue and understanding on topics of spirituality, continues Tuesday, October 13 at the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, located at 130 Baronne Street. The series will run through May 2010. Representatives from New Orleans' Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities will lead conversations about their spiritual traditions, addressing this year's theme, "Spirituality in the City." The next presentation will feature Reverend Susan Gaumer of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, whose topic will be on Barbara Brown Taylor's book, "The Luminous Web: Essays on Science and Religion." A small lunch will be provided. All are welcome and admission is free. For more information, visit www.lim.loyno.edu/downtown.
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| | Harvest the Music Fall Concert Series Continues This Week in Lafayette Square
Now in its second year, the popular Harvest the Music Fall concert series will feature Rebirth Brass Band in concert on Thursday, October 15 at 5:00 p.m. in Lafayette Square Park. The concert series, sponsored by the DDD, benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. This year's lineup also includes performances by Kermit Ruffins and Blues Traveler. For more information, visit www.harvestthemusic.org.
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| | Here's a Little Bit More of What's Up Downtown This Week...
Take 20 with the New Orleans Film Festival 20th Anniversary
For twenty years, the New Orleans Film Society has been providing local, regional, national, and international films to the New Orleans community. Screenings and special events are planned throughout the weekend.
From Tracks to Paths: Alternative Transportation & Community Development
On Tuesday, October 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Preservation Resource Center at 923 Tchoupitoulas, James Amdal, Director of the Merritt C. Becker Maritime and Intermodal Transportation Center at UNO will discuss the history and future of streetcars in New Orleans. Bart Everson, President of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, will share his experience of initiating Lafitte Corridor's greenway project and creating a bike path from the Lakefront to Downtown. The event is free and open to the public. National Chocolate Covered Insect Day is October 14!
Buzz on down to the Audubon Insectarium at 423 Canal Street on October 14, 17, and 18 to get a tasty treat: chocolate covered insects! The Executive Bug Chefs at the Insectarium's "Tiny Termite Cafe" will be cooking up sugary treats for guests to sample. Tastings are included in regular Insectarium admission. Line the Levees on October 13 for a Special Send-Off Celebration
On October 13, the USS New York - LPD 21, constructed locally and named in honor of the victims of 9/11, will set sail from Avondale and head towards New York City for a commissioning ceremony scheduled for November 7. The ship incorporates in its construction nearly 8 tons of steel salvaged from the fallen World Trade Center towers. Citizens are encouraged to line the East and West banks of the Mississippi River and salute the USS New York - LPD 21 as it sets sail. It is expected to pass Downtown New Orleans between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Roosevelt Hotel Celebrating Historic Grand Opening October 23-25
The Roosevelt New Orleans will celebrate its Grand Opening Weekend Extravaganza October 23 through 25 with special performances by the Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, and Tim Laughlin. Festive meals have also been planned for throughout the weekend. The events coincide with the official grand opening of Domenica, a John Besh restaurant, and the 12,500-square-foot Guerlain Spa. Reservations can be made by clicking the link above.
Enjoy!
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| 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[at]neworleansdowntown.com.
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