Program Summary

NORA and the Orleans Parish School Board have executed a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to codify their partnership for redevelopment of School Board-owned properties no longer suitable for use as schools and to facilitate economic redevelopment of the properties. NORA's responsibility is to develop a Request for Proposals and recommend a development partner for Orleans Parish School Board to select. OPSB will enter into a long-term lease and development agreement with selected developer.

Solicitation - Israel Augustine

On Tuesday, November 18th, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), in coordination with the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB), issued Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified respondentsfor the development and operation of the former Israel Augustine School building located at 425 S. Broad Street. The property borders the Lower Mid-City neighborhood and the Tulane-Gravier neighborhood. The development of this property provides a unique opportunity to add to existing investments in the neighborhood along the Tulane Avenue and Broad Street corridors to create a catalyst for additional investment that builds upon the culture and heritage of the building, the neighborhood, and the city.

Israel Augustine Solicitation

NORA extended the deadline for submissions to Feburary 6, 2026, at 4:00 PM. In addition. NOLA PS hosted a review of the interior of the first floor of the building for interested developers. Photos from the interior of the building can be viewed at this link.

Projected Development Timeline

Israel Augustine

Valena C. Jones

Meetings and Further Info

Valena C. Jones

Complete the Community Survey

Community Meeting Presentation

Community Meeting Recording

Community Meeting 2/24 Flyer

Virtual Community Meeting 3/4 Flyer

Israel Augustine

View presentations and meeting recordings from Israel Augustine meetings below:

Community Meeting Presentation

Community Meeting Recording

RFP Info Session Presentation

RFP Info Session Recording

Interior Photos

View the presentation and the recording from the 10/23 virtual meeting:

FAQs

Israel Augustine: Municipal Address: 425 S. Broad Street​ Frontage: S.Broad Street, Baudin Street, S. White Street, and Banks Street frontage​ Lot Area: 110,532 square feet/2.54 acres​ Building Area: 84,584 square feet​ Current Use: Vacant Two-Story Building, Parking Lot, Greenspace​ Nearby Businesses:​ Beauty Salon/Barber Shop, Vehicle Rental, Courthouse, Daycare, Office, Nail Salon, Restaurants, Shopping Center, Convenience Store/Gas Station​ Valena C. Jones: Municipal Address: 1901 N. Galvez Street​ Frontage: N. Galvez Street, Annette Street, N. Miro Street, and St. Anthony Street frontage​ Lot Area: 92,752 square feet/2.13 acres Building Area: 54,414 square feet​ Current Use: Vacant Three-Story Building, Concrete, Greenspace​ Nearby Businesses & Services:​ Churches, Fire Department, Restaurants, Library, Retail Strip Mall, Truck Stop, Hardware Store  

Israel Augustine: Legal services hub offering comprehensive services through the legal process as well as re-entry service such as mental health services, workforce development, job placement​ Multi-family housing, affordable housing, workforce housing, senior housing​ Community healthcare facility​ Social services center​ Education support and services​ Non-profit office space​ Childcare center​ Community work space​ Community recreation and fitness center Valena C. Jones: Affordable housing, workforce housing, senior housing​ Workforce development​ Community healthcare facility​ Social services center​ Education support and services​ Non-profit office space​ Early childhood education/child care facility​ Community work space​ Community recreation, fitness, and greenspace ​ Solar development​ Urban farming/agriculture​

NORA, with input from NOLA Public Schools, will issue a Request for Qualifications in the Fall of 2025 for Augustine and early Spring 2026 for Jones requesting proposals from eligible developers and will score the developers based on the strength of their proposals. The strongest applicant will be selected. The developer must demonstrate a project that is financially feasible long-term, meets community needs and wants, and encourages economic development.

Israel Augustine: MU-1 Medium Intensity Mixed-Use District​ This zoning type is intended to encourage walkable neighborhood centers and corridors, with a mix of residential and commercial uses. Buildings may contain vertical mixed-use as well as single purpose uses designed to provide transitions to adjacent lower density residential areas. Valena C. Jones: HU-RD2 Historic Urban Two-Family Residential District​ This zoning type is intended to provide for two-family development on smaller lots in older, densely populated urban sections of the City mixed with detached single-family dwellings. Allows higher residential densities when a project provides significant public benefits such as long-term affordable housing. Limited non-residential uses such as places of worship, historic neighborhood commercial establishments, and recreational facilities that are compatible with surrounding residential neighborhoods may be allowed.​​

NORA will not have design plans until a developer is selected.  Additional community meetings will be held for the developers to present design plans and gain community input, as well as after a developer is selected.

About he New Orleans Early Childhood Education Facilities Fund Grant Program (ECE Program) was created through a partnership between the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and Agenda for Children as direct result of a new property tax millage approved by New Orleans voters in 2022, that leverages state matching funding for the provision of child and family support services, coaching and professional development for teachers, and expansion of the supply of available seats in quality early learning centers. In support of these efforts, Agenda for Children selected the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to administer a program to repair and expand existing facilities as well as catalyze the development of new facilities in order to expand the number of seats available for children of Low to Moderate Income households. Pre-applications will be closed for new applications until further notice.

Select Your Application Type:

I am a current Facility Improvement Project applicant

I am a current Expansion Project applicant

Grant Types

The following grant types are available: FACILITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS – Grants up to $100,000 are available for construction activities related to an existing facility. EXPANSION GRANTS - Grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 are available for major construction activities related to expansion of an existing facility or new planned facility.

Program Goals Increase the overall capacity of early childhood education facilities and the availability of subsidized seats through the construction of new Type III Early Learning Centers in Orleans Parish. Expand or preserve the capacity of early childhood education facilities by renovating existing Type III Early Learning Centers in Orleans Parish. Enhance the quality of early childhood education by establishing, maintaining, and improving Family Child Care provider sites in Orleans Parish.

Contact

For questions regarding the program process please contact Claire Thomas, NORA Project Manager, Early Childhood Education Facilities Fund at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Program Summary

In March of 2023, HRI Communities, LLC ("HRIC") and New Orleans Restoration Properties, LLC ("NORP") were selected by NORA to co-develop the previously vacant and underutilized parcel at 1141 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans, LA into a new construction, mixed-income, mixeduse community. The property is uniquely located on a historical and culturally significant block surrounded by the Tremé, Marigny, French Quarter and Esplanade Ridge communities with immediate access to retail, healthcare, schools and public transportation. Esplanade Delille Apartments  includes 50 high-quality 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and two ground floor retail bays totaling 2,650 SF fronting Esplanade Avenue. The retail spaces are intended for community-minded, small, local businesses that will be openly marketed with community input and provide a preference for MBE/WBE-owned, local businesses. Following financial closing in December 2025, construction has begun on site and is anticipated to reach completion in Spring of 2027.

Design Renderings

Vibration Data

Meetings and Further Info

Register for our monthly virtual Esplanade Delille community engagement meetings below:

Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6:00 PM

Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 6:00 PM

View presentations and meeting recordings from previous Esplanade Delille meetings below:

Fact Sheet

1/21 Community Meeting Presentation

1/21 Community Meeting Recording

2/26 Community Meeting Recording

FAQs

Construction has begun following December 2025 financial closing, and will conclude by Spring of 2027. Please click on the construction timeline above for more detailed information.

The apartments will include: 50 high-quality, one and two-bedroom apartments ​ 37 long-term affordable apartments with rents at or below 60% AMI Please consult the table above for more detailed information.

Two, ground floor retail bays totaling approx. 2,700 SF and accessed from the Esplanade Avenue landscaped courtyard entry​ Intended for community-minded, small, local businesses; Will be openly marketed with community input and provide a preference for MBE/WBE-owned, local businesses

Secure, off-street parking with entry/exit to Kerlerec Street ​ Bicycle parking​ Fitness center​ An approximately 900 SF community room​ Landscaped pocket park that will be open to the community

The contractor plans start pile driving the week of 2/2/2026 and plans to pre-drill piles down to a depth of 35 feet.

See the link below for a report on vibration monitoring data from 1/6/26 to 2/16/26: VIBRATION MONITORING REPORT

Please be advised that Applicant Eligibility requirements have been updated and clarified as of September 2025.

Overview

General Grant Instructions Submit Part A Application Complete Readiness Assessment Receive determination for “Pre-Approval” for Facility Improvement Project Once applicant receives “Pre-Approval”, pair with an Architecture & Engineering TA provider to work on a Construction Plan Create and submit Construction Plan to NORA for approval Execute Grant Agreement Secure any necessary permits Proceed to construction

Grant Tiers: SEED: Grants up to $50,000 are available for minor construction activities related to an existing facility SUPPORT: Grants up to $100,000 are available for minor or major construction activities related to an existing facility

Grant Amounts: Total grant funds awarded for construction will follow the general guidelines below for per-seat investments. NORA staff will recommend grant award amounts to individual applicants based on the per-seat investment guidelines and the content of the applicant’s application. NORA reserves the right to recommend or award grant amounts that vary from the per-seat investment guidelines based on funding availability, applicant need, community impact, or other factors:  Type III Child Care Centers Approximately $2,000 max grant award per existing seat (based upon existing licensed capacity) Approximately $5,000 max grant award per new seat created (based on net increase in licensed capacity) Family Child Care Providers  $50,000 total max grant award (approximately $8,500 max grant award per existing seat)

Grantees are expected to invest or attract additional capital as leverage for any grant-funded construction project. Grantees may provide their own equity or debt provided by a lender as a match. Landlords may also provide investment match on behalf of a lessee. The required match level is: 5% of construction costs for Seed Grants (up to $2,500 on a maximum grant of $50,000) 10% of construction costs for Support Grants (up to $10,000 on a maximum grant of $100,000) Grant match is not required for design or business technical assistance provided through the grant program.

Grantees shall agree to operate, or continue to operate, an Early Childhood Education facility meeting program terms outlined in the grant agreement for a minimum of 2 years for Seed Grants and 5 years for Support Grants, from the completion of fund disbursement. Grant funds will be forgivable, and subject to recapture, on a prorated basis: Seed Grants at 50% per year for two years Support Grants at 20% per year for five years

Complete the Readiness Assessment

Eligibility Applications must reflect certain qualifications in terms of the applicant, project site, and grant expenses.

Eligible applicants must be one of the following: Current Type III Child Care Centers licensed by the Louisiana Department of Education to operate in Orleans Parish or those with the intent to apply for a license to operate a Type III commercial early childhood education facility located in Orleans Parish with demonstrated experience in early childhood education;  -OR-  Current Family Child Care Centers with academic approval in Orleans Parish (grantees must opt in to academic approval for the duration of the grant compliance and recapture period)  -OR-  Developers or property owners with an existing or planned Type III Child Care Center may apply if they identify an eligible co-applicant, who is a current or new Type III child care provider  In addition, eligible applicants must adhere to all of following requirements:  Applicants must serve children from six weeks through age 3; Applicants must apply for subsidized seats administered by Agenda for Children or other authorized agencies; Applicants must be in good standing with the State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, and all other applicable entities to ensure the business is in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and operations; Applicants must be free of any pending Louisiana Department of Education investigations or legal actions that call into question the applicant’s capacity to care for children in a manner that ensures their safety, including, but not limited to documented repetitive and/or serious violations; Applicants that are currently licensed through the Louisiana Department of Education must resolve outstanding violations prior to execution of the grant agreement;

Eligible project sites must adhere to the following: Located within Orleans Parish Appropriately zoned for the type of center operated or proposed, or legally non-conforming as determined by the City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits; Type III Early Learning Centers that are, or will be, owned or leased by the eligible applicant/organization at the time of application; If the site is leased, the lease must be recorded with the Land Records Division of the Office of the Clerk of Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans and have a term that matches or exceeds the grant monitoring period, which shall not be less than 2 years regardless of grant scale. Leased sites will require proof of the owner’s approval of work being performed. Family Child Care providers with academic approval that are owned, occupied, and operated by the applicant/provider.

Eligible Grant Expenses include: Playgrounds, shade structures or permanently installed outdoor play equipment Fencing Interior improvements, such as painting, wall demo or installation Façade or entrance renovation Bathroom or kitchen remodel Window, flooring, doors Fortified roofs, storm water management improvements Ramps or other ADA improvements Ineligible Grant Expenses include:  Property acquisition Extraordinary costs required for retrofitting (e.g., underpinning and excavation) Vehicle or transportation expenses Business or working capital Indirect or administrative costs Professional development Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, rent and food purchases Non-permanent supplies (e.g., art materials) and other consumable materials such as paint, cleaning supplies, paper, etc. Repayment of loans or reimbursement of any otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to the execution of the Grant Agreement Any expense that does not support increasing quality or quantity of infant and toddler seats Technology Movable items such as furniture or appliances Any expenses deemed ineligible by NORA Staff

Required Application Documents In addition to completion of the application form, each application includes required supporting documentation that must be included with the submitted application. All applications shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions and deadlines listed in the application packet. Complete applications will include all items on the application checklist, expected to include the following required documents:

Application Form Site Control Act of Cash Sale or other proof of ownership Copy of executed lease, deed of trust, or other applicable documents showing site control For leased properties, written approval from property owner for renovation or construction work to be done Last two(2) years of Tax Returns (2023 and 2024) Project Sources and Uses of Funds A project budget including all sources and uses of funding allocated to renovation or development of the site, including proposed grant funding Proof of Matching Funds/Applicant Contribution Bank statement, line of credit, or other documentation confirming applicant access to matching funds 2 bids for construction cost – all bids must be signed and include the contact information (name, address, and phone number) ad license of professional certification number (contractors must be licensed in the State of Louisiana and if they have employees, must carry Workers Compensation) Construction timeline Plan for continuous childcare operations during construction (if applicable)

Contact

For questions regarding the program process please contact Claire Thomas, NORA Project Manager, Early Childhood Education Facilities Fund at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..