West End lakefront redevelopment advances with legislation – fox8live.com

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Legislation to create the West End Economic Development District advanced, moving a lakefront redevelopment project decades in the making closer to reality.
Aged pilings and rusted metal remnants sit over Lake Pontchartrain’s West End. The site was damaged by Hurricanes Georges and Katrina.
“One of my first dates was at Maggie and Smitty’s on the lake with my wife right now,” said Hans Liljeberg, a Jefferson Parish Council member.
“I remember going out there as a kid and enjoying the restaurants and the park,” said Aimee McCarron, a New Orleans City Council member.
After decades of attempting to come to an agreement, Liljeberg and McCarron said the parishes and the state want to reinvigorate the site. One-third of the land is in Jefferson Parish; the rest is in Orleans Parish.
“What it is right now is a shame. I mean you have the lake right there and it’s one of the most incredible views,” Liljeberg said.
The parishes said legislation proposed by state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty encourages growth and creates more tourism opportunities. If approved, a board of five people from Orleans and Jefferson parishes would work to encourage development of the public lakefront properties.
“We’re looking to bring back restaurants to this area through an RFP process which is actually a joint process through Jefferson Parish and Orleans because this property sits right at the divide. We’re also working with the Office of State Land because it is state water bottoms,” Hilferty said.
Liljeberg said if the legislation is approved, it is unlikely anything will be built on the water because of a nearby pump station.
“It would be cost prohibitive. So that option is out the question,” he said.
If the bill becomes law, it would also authorize the new district to levy a sales tax, which would be subject to voter approval.
“That money for infrastructure, that money for sanitation, for police would stay right here in this area to make sure that it thrives,” said Joe Giarrusso, chief administrative officer for the city of New Orleans.
Julia Witt, who runs along the lakefront, said the site has potential.
“If there was somewhere I could grab coffee after or spend some more time around here, I would totally do it,” Witt said.
No companies have committed to the site. The bill now advances to the House floor.
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