This is substandard development and New Orleans goes for it everytime.

I do think retail in this section would do well, if traffic were kept flowing. But the types of shops I’ve read being offered won’t. We need a French Market west type of establishment: a green grocer, a bakery, small artisan shops. But I’m told many small shops are more difficult to manage, which is a crock. Any local management firm or firm with a local entrance can rightly manage before coffee a one or two block stimulus area, which will draw further interest from investors.

- the developer asking for public Bond money is the same developer that purchased the property in the 80s.

- anyone who has been around since the 80s knows that the downfall of this shopping mall accelerated in the 80s.

- Going h’mmm????? yet?

- Take a look at the plans on the post immediately before this one and notice that what is being proposed is essentially what was there PreK. Most of the buildings are in the exact same position they were PreK. This folks is a cheap out, less work is neccessary to connect to utilities.

- Oh sure the plans show some nice landscaping down the center of the parking lot. But folks it is still the same thing we had before the storm and that was working so well - not.

- Anyone remember all the planning we were asked to sit thru? Here is what the UNOP plan captured from all the things we said about this location:
“The Carrollton Avenue Shopping Center should be redeveloped into a mixed-use lifestyle shopping center, serving through-traffic to residential neighborhoods, but more importantly the University community, with dining, entertainment, and retail opportunities. With these existing gateway functions and academic adjacencies, a housing component could be included at the rear of the site.”

- Do you think the developer even knows what was in the plans? Do you think the developer cares?

- Here’s what we should know about New Orleans and shopping. New Orleans isn’t like other cities (surprise!). What mall anywhere in this city has EVER been successful longer term? Not the Plaza, not UpTown Square, not even the New Orleans Center (which I used!), not the Carrollton Shopping Center? Canal Place & the Riverwalk are supported by tourists more than locals. New Orleanians support LOCAL businesses. Look at Magazine, look at Oak, look at Maple. New Orleans is so far behind on this particular issue we are ahead-again. Do we really want big box stores? Can the New Orleans population really support more big boxes? Do you really think there is a chance in hell that people from Jefferson Parish or the Northshore or tourists are going to come to the Carrollton Shopping Center to shop? No folks it will be New Orleanians if it is any one and this is why the developer should CARE what we think and why our City Council representatives and Dr. Blakley’s folks should listen to us as well. This place ain’t like other places in the nation. And if you read or listen to the news Retail is tanking EVERYWHERE.

- We want something developed here that can stand the test of time….. Not “Cranes in the sky tomorrow, cookie-cutter malls next week, urban decay next year”

- Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to the owners of the Carrollton Shopping Center. I’m sure they had insurance. Now it is time for them to dig into the public coffers and pull out the money to try and start again. What specifically are the developers risking? Do you think the GOZONE money is going to sit and wait? No the developer needs to grab it now. You know who wins: the architect, the builders, the developer and anyone who gets paid to build this monstrosity. These folks have nothing to loose.

- The city doesn’t really care about what we think… the only thing the city is seeing is the promise of sales tax revenue. And it is highly possible that the proposed sales tax is smoke and mirrors.

And I haven’t even started on the proposed traffic flow changes……