New Orleans council approves $5M to clear Six Flags site for development

Read full article at nola.com

New Orleans City Council members have agreed to spend $5 million on infrastructure work on the former Six Flags site in New Orleans East, as the Bayou Phoenix redevelopment team works to bring the site back into commerce.

Bayou Phoenix has already started demolition on the amusement rides and buildings at the former theme park site, abandoned since Hurricane Katrina. The site has faced many obstacles to redevelopment over the past two decades.

The deal, approved by the council in a unanimous vote on Thursday, is between the city and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, which owns the land. The city will issue $1 million to NORA this year and the remaining $4 million in 2026.

The money will be used to clear 20 years' worth of overgrown trees, weeds and grass on the site. NORA will reactivate storm water drainage, restore pumps, clear and restore catch basins and intake pump lines. It will also install solar lighting, repair and replace perimeter fencing and install subsurface drainage, District E Councilmember Oliver Thomas said at the meeting.

Thomas, who is running for mayor, said the approval marked progress in the city's long-overdue effort to mitigate blight on publicly owned land. The city’s efforts will make the site more desirable to investors, he said, as Bayou Phoenix aims to bring its vision of film studios, a youth athletic complex, two hotels and a water park to fruition.

"When you talk about the Six Flags site — a site that we control — even if you didn't have a developer, the city owns that property," Thomas said. "Why wasn't the city mitigating the blight there? Why weren't we investing in making sure the utilities were back intact, that you were clearing the site? ... The city needed to be more responsible about how it maintained property that it wanted developed."

The Bayou Phoenix team's plan for the 225-acre site could cost more than $500 million, and is still years away from completion.

"The role of this public-private partnership is for the city to assist with the stabilization of the property," said Troy Henry, the project's developer. "We're not asking them to be investors necessarily in a hotel or something like that, but assisting with the infrastructure necessary to get the site into a developable condition is really the primary role we envision for the city and NORA."

Henry said negotiations are underway with a possible partner to operate the site's youth athletic complex. He said he hopes to be able to announce the new partnership by the end of the year.

Brenda Breaux, executive director of NORA, said work still needs to be done at the site, but progress, which can be seen from Interstate 10 near the area, has been made in demolition.

"I know many of you all have driven the I-10 going east and you would see that some of the big pieces of equipment that were nuisances... are down," she said. "We just took a tour of the site... and the site has been clear, with the exception of a few buildings that will be retained on site."

The remaining buildings were saved at the request of composer Elvin Ross, the first tenant to sign a formal lease to build a film studio on the site, Breaux said. Ross' team plans to use the buildings as part of their plan to build out a studio, parking lot and event space, she added.

Jeff Schwartz, director of economic development for the city, said the approval will help bring about long-awaited development at the New Orleans East site.

"This lays the groundwork, hopefully, for the Bayou Phoenix team to continue to advance, but this is a worthy public investment in a publicly owned site," he said.

 
 
 
NORA Extends Small Business Marketing Assistance Deadline

Read the full article at Biz New Orleans

August 14, 2025   |By 
 

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority has extended to Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. the deadline for its Small Business Marketing Assistance Program, which opened July 14, 2025. The program offers eligible businesses tailored marketing support through grants and professional consulting.

The program provides grants of up to $30,000 to pair 20 or more eligible small businesses with professional marketing firms for a three- to six-month period. Participants will work with NORA-contracted marketing consultants to create a comprehensive campaign or strengthen existing outreach, with NORA paying the consultants directly for the work performed.

Designed to build on ongoing revitalization efforts along commercial corridors, the initiative targets designated Low and Moderate Income (LMI) areas and complements other NORA programs, including the Commercial Corridor Gap Financing, Façade RENEW, and Small Business Microlending Programs. Organizers say the program serves as both a financial and technical resource for business enterprises in these corridors.

Eligible corridors include stretches of major neighborhood thoroughfares such as South Broad Street from Washington Avenue to Canal Street, Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard from Jackson Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Canal Street from Norman C. Francis Parkway to Claiborne Avenue, and St. Claude Avenue from Elysian Fields to Poland Avenue.

Other eligible areas include Bayou Road between North Broad and Esplanade Avenue, North Claiborne Avenue from Canal Street to St. Bernard Avenue, South Carrollton Avenue from Earhart Boulevard to Canal Street, and General De Gaulle Drive between Shirley and Kabel drives. Many of these corridors have seen targeted public and private investment in recent years, and the marketing assistance program is intended to help small businesses build on that momentum.

The initiative is open to existing for-profit retail businesses operating in the eligible corridors. Applicants must have an active occupational license, be open to the public, have no outstanding debts to the City of New Orleans, and be in good standing with the State of Louisiana. Businesses that have participated in NORA’s Façade Renew and Small Business Grant Programs are encouraged to apply.

Eligible expenses include website development, social media strategy and implementation, search engine optimization, digital and traditional advertising, email marketing, broadcast marketing, and graphic design. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis during the initial application period. After that, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis every 60 days until funding is exhausted.

Applications must be submitted online via Jotform; emailed or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted. Applicants can access the application form, an informational webinar presentation, and a read-only preview of the application through NORA’s website. Required documents include a 2025 City of New Orleans occupational license, business owner resume, proof of location in an eligible corridor, proof of no outstanding City tax balance, and recent financial statements.

A full list of eligible corridors and application materials is available on NORA’s website.

 

NORA Director of Real Estate Development & Strategy Named

Read the article at Biz New Orleans here.

Read more about Adrienne here.

August 11, 2025 | By 

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) is proud to announce the appointment of Adrienne Celestine as its new Director of Real Estate Development & Strategy. A native and lifelong resident of New Orleans, Celestine brings more than 15 years of experience in disaster recovery, economic development, public policy and strategic real estate development to this leadership role.

In her new position, Celestine will oversee NORA’s efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and transform underutilized land into thriving community assets. She will lead the agency’s real estate initiatives, drive investment strategies and support the planning and implementation of development projects that align with NORA’s mission to build resilient and equitable communities across New Orleans.

“Adrienne’s deep understanding of recovery, housing, and economic development —paired with her passion for serving New Orleans—makes her a tremendous asset to NORA and the people of this city,” said Brenda M. Breaux, Executive Director of NORA”

Celestine most recently served as a director in HORNE’s government services group, where she worked closely with state and local governments on the design and implementation of Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) programs. Her expertise in navigating complex federal regulations helped accelerate assistance to communities impacted by disasters while ensuring strict compliance.

Prior to HORNE, Celestine spent 12 years serving the State of Louisiana, where she held the role of Director of Disaster Recovery Programs. In that role, she oversaw billions of dollars in recovery investments, including economic development, infrastructure, planning, and multifamily housing initiatives across the Gulf Coast.

A graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a degree in Accounting, Celestine also holds a Master of Business Administration from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. 

New Orleans Redevelopment Authority offers $30K marketing grants to small businesses

Read the full article at New Orleans CityBusiness

Lance Traweek, Editor // August 13, 2025 // 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  •  launches marketing grant program worth up to $30K
  • At least 20 small businesses to receive services
  • Applications due August 15 with rolling deadlines afterward
  • Eligible businesses must be located on qualifying commercial corridors

The  has opened applications for a new Small Business  Program, offering up to $30,000 in professional  to eligible businesses. 

The initiative, announced August 12, will pair at least 20 small businesses along designated low- and moderate-income commercial corridors with experienced marketing consultants for engagements lasting three to six months. The program is designed to help participating companies boost visibility, attract customers and strengthen their competitive position.

Eligible services include website design, social media strategy, search engine optimization, digital and traditional advertising, email marketing and graphic design. NORA Executive Director Brenda Breaux said the goal is to give small businesses “the resources and professional expertise they need to expand their reach and compete more effectively.”

Applications are due by 4 p.m. August 15. Businesses must be existing for-profit retail storefronts located on an eligible corridor, hold a current city occupational license, operate with no outstanding debts to the city, and be in good standing with the state.

Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications accepted every 60 days after the initial deadline until all funds are allocated. Details on eligibility, application forms and corridor locations are available at noraworks.org.

NORA, a public agency focused on community redevelopment, works with public and private partners to stimulate investment, support  and promote an equitable future for New Orleans.

Read the full article at New Orleans Magazine here

Visit the Katrina 20 page here

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) announced the launch of 20at20, a new social media video campaign marking 20 years since Hurricane Katrina and celebrating two decades of recovery, resilience and renewal across the city.

Beginning Aug. 4 through Aug. 29, NORA will release one short-form video each weekday on its social media platforms. These 20 stories – featuring local residents, community partners, and NORA staff – highlight the agency’s enduring impact on neighborhoods across New Orleans and its evolving mission to build stronger, more equitable communities for the future.

“We created 20at20 to honor the people behind the progress,” said Brenda Breaux, executive director of NORA. “These aren’t stories about statistics or programs—they’re about everyday New Orleanians whose lives were changed through opportunity, reinvestment and a shared commitment to rebuilding better. This campaign helps us close one chapter in our history while turning the page to what comes next.”

The video series will showcase a wide range of NORA-led efforts over the past two decades, including:

  • The transformation of thousands of vacant lots into homes and community assets
  • Affordable housing initiatives and sustainable development partnerships
  • Investments in stormwater management and green infrastructure
  • Revitalization of commercial corridors and support for small businesses
  • Multi-use developments that bring life and opportunity back to underserved areas

Each video is grounded in a narrative arc that reflects NORA’s core belief: that everyday people drive progress and that NORA’s work has always been—and will continue to be—for the people who live, work and dream in New Orleans.

All videos will be archived on a dedicated 20at20 campaign page at www.noraworks.org, with links to active NORA programs that serve residents today.

“This isn’t a retrospective—it’s a rallying call,” said Breaux. “It’s about showing our neighbors that NORA is still here, still committed, and still working every day to strengthen the fabric of this city.”

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