Developers say it'll benefit community

Sunday, October 15, 2006

By Brian Friedman

At a recent meeting of the Algiers Riverview Association, neighborhood residents voiced their continued concerns regarding Blaine Kern's proposed commercial/residential venture along the banks of the Mississippi River , chief among them the potential increase in traffic and crowding of neighborhood schools.

"Look how tight (the traffic) is right now just for a meeting," said Alex Selico, a neighborhood business owner, after the Oct. 5 meeting at Mount Pilgrim Fourth Baptist Church .

Association President Beryl Ragas said, "If we're going to have all these individuals in the community, we're definitely going to need more room in neighborhood schools."

Despite the dissenting voices, however, a spokesman for the developers said that the most important thing is that the lines of communication between the developers and residents remain open. The group planning the project is composed of Kern; J.S. Karlton Co., a Connecticut firm that is part-owner of the Place St. Charles office building in the Central Business District; and ISG LLC, a Florida-based condominium developer.

"We want to be a good neighbor," spokesman Mark Romig said. "The developers went into it knowing that they would and should first have this community dialogue and try to meet with the community as many times as possible and to hear their terms and try to meet as many of those as possible, and at the end of the day, we believe the project will add great value to the community."

The development sits on a section of Kern's riverfront property between Brooklyn Avenue and the Mississippi River , from Eliza to Socrates streets, except for one block owned by the Sewerage and Water Board. It could eventually include up to 1,500 apartments, a hotel and a new home for Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World tourist attraction.

Any plans beyond the two apartment buildings to sit on the two blocks closest to Eliza Street remain only conceptual, however.

"While we do see a traffic increase, we also think it could be managed with what we will do to upgrade the infrastructure," Romig said.

A traffic study commissioned by the City Planning Commission is under way, he said, and the developers already have agreed to upgrade Brooklyn Street to take into account the added traffic.

He also said that parking will be included in the development, so there won't be a heavy addition of cars parked on the street.

"And because of the development's location," Romig said, "we believe we'll have a number of residents who will take advantage of the ferry if they're working across the river."

The potential for school crowding, however, is a trickier issue, one that is not under the purview of the developers.

"We would hope that the educational footprint of the city grows as the population grows," said Romig, placing the responsibility of providing adequate educational facilities on the city and state.

In addition, "school construction is not something the developers have any expertise in," Romig said, "and we would hope that someone who does have that kind of expertise steps up for that."

Romig also noted that despite the grumblings of some residents, "we've met many who are on board."

Leaders of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, the Algiers Point Association and the Old Algiers Civic Association have endorsed the project, as has former City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson.

Romig said that much more information and discussion of the project can be expected at the New Orleans City Council meeting Thursday.