working paper iii

Working Paper 3

GNOBEDDAugust 2010

Table of Contents

Section:

01 02 03 04Task 3 Overview

09Task 3 Overview

Biosciences District Overview

12Physical Context

12Natural Environment

17Built Environment

21Pedestrian and Vehicular Circulation

30Utility Overview

32Regulatory Context

Community and Social Context

40A Strategy for Meaningful Community Involvement

40Institutional / Governance

43Commercial / Economic Development

45Health Sciences /Healthcare

46Neighborhood / Community

49Stakeholder Matrix

69Section Summary

Urban Design

72Task Process

72Baseline: Sub-Districts within the Biosciences District Boundaries

74Baseline: Existing Land Use

76Maps and Matrix Summary

77Analysis

88Section Summary

2 August 2010Working Paper 3 Table of Contents

305 06 07 08Traf c Analysis

92Traf c Impact Analysis Review

93Other Proposals and Projects

97Long-Term Demand and Biosciences District Plan

98Section Summary

Utilities

102Existing Utility Information

104Future Utility Loads

106Utility Costs and Concerns

107Sustainability

108Section Summary

Sustainability

112Sustainability Constraints and Opportunities

113Sustainability Existing Conditions Matrix

114Section Summary

Biosciences District SWOT Analysis

118Threats

119Weaknesses

119Strengths

121Opportunities

122Section Summary

Acknowledgement

The AECOM Team would like to acknowledge the GNOBEDD Board and staff for their input and engagement during this task. This report has also been developed in coordination with the entire AECOM Team. The team includes: EDAW I AECOM, AECOM Economics, AECOM Transportation, Bright Moments, Cannon Design, CBRE, Chester Engineers, and The Ehrhardt Group.


List of Tables and MapsSection 1: Task 3 OverviewNo tables or maps

Section 2: Biosciences District OverviewTables

Table 1.........................................................................Park and Recreation Resources in the Biosciences DistrictTable 2.........................................................................VMT Count at Key Intersections in the Biosciences DistrictTable 3.........................................................................ADT Count at Key Intersections in the Biosciences District

MapsMap 1.........................................................................Regional ContextMap 2.........................................................................NeighbohoodsMap 3.........................................................................ElevationMap 4.........................................................................SoilsMap 5.........................................................................FEMA Floodplain 1999Map 6.........................................................................Advisory Base Flood ElevationMap 7..........................................................................Aerial 12/2009Map 8.........................................................................Figure GroundMap 9.........................................................................Key Developments: Existing & In-ProgressMap 10.......................................................................Key Developments: ProposedMap 11........................................................................Historic Districts & LandmarksMap 12.......................................................................Blighted and Roadhome PropertiesMap 13.......................................................................EPA Reporting FacilitiesMap 14.......................................................................Existing Conditions BaseMap 15.......................................................................Walking DistancesMap 16.......................................................................Street NetworkMap 17........................................................................TransitMap 18.......................................................................BikewaysMap 19.......................................................................Planning DistrictsMap 20.......................................................................Existing ZoningMap 21.......................................................................Existing Land UseMap 22.......................................................................City and State Land OwnershipMap 23.......................................................................Overlay DistrictsMap 24.......................................................................Opportunities and Constraints Analysis

Section 3: Community and Social Context

TablesTable 4.........................................................................Signi cant Stakeholders in the Biosciences District

5Section 4: Urban DesignTables

Table 5........................................................................Matrix: Key Developments in and around the Biosciences District

MapsMap 25.......................................................................LSU & UMC AerialMap 26.......................................................................Tulane University Downtown Campus AerialMap 27.......................................................................Proposed VA Site AerialMap 28........................................................................Xavier University AerialMap 29.......................................................................Building InventoryMap 30.......................................................................Building InventoryMap 31.......................................................................Building InventoryMap 32.......................................................................Building InventoryMap 33.......................................................................Building InventoryMap 34.......................................................................Mid-CityMap 35.......................................................................Gert TownMap 36.......................................................................Xavier University & Hwy Interchange Key Devleopments: ProposedMap 37.......................................................................LSU & UMC Key Developments: ProposedMap 38........................................................................Tulane University Key Developments: ProposedMap 39.......................................................................Bio-Tech District Zoning AnlaysisMap 40.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 41.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 42.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 43.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 44.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 45.......................................................................Bio-Tech District PrototypesMap 46.......................................................................Bio-Tech District Prototypes

Section 5: Traffic AnalysisNo tables or maps


List of Tables, Figures & Maps (Cont.)

Section 6: UtilitiesMaps

Map 47.......................................................................Electrical Distribution System: Entergy Aerial PrimaryMap 48........................................................................Electrical Distribution System: Entergy Underground PrimaryMap 49.......................................................................Electrical Distribution System: Entergy High Voltage Transmission LinesMap 50.......................................................................Electrical Distribution System: SWB 25Hz, Specialized and Dedicated FeedersMap 51.......................................................................Natural Gas Distribution System: Entergy High Pressure Lines (4 and Greater)Map 52.......................................................................Communications Systems: Verizon Long Distance & Local Trunk LinesMap 53.......................................................................Communications Systems: Cox Communications Digital & Coaxial LinesMap 54.......................................................................Water Systems: SWB Potable Water (6 & Greater)Map 55.......................................................................Water Systems: SWB Wastewater (10 & Greater)Map 56.......................................................................Water Systems: SWB Stormwater (36 & Greater)Map 57.......................................................................Water Systems: Entergy Chilled Water & SteamMap 58.......................................................................Utilities: Electrical Distribution SystemsMap 59.......................................................................Utilities: Communication Systems)Map 60.......................................................................Utilities: Water Systems

Section 7: SustainabilityTables

Matrix.........................................................................Sustainability Opportunities & Constraints MatrixMaps

Map 61.......................................................................Spatially Dependent District Scale Sustainability Opportunities

Section 8: Biosciences District SWOT AnalysisNo tables or maps

7Section 01:Task 3 Overview

9Overview

The vision of the Biosciences District is to: Build a globally competitive

economy for the New Orleans region to diversify our opportunities and

build a community through innovation that contains the healthiest, safest,

smartest, and most sustainable neighborhoods in America.

Task 3 Overview

The purpose of Task 3 is to provide a detailed assessment of the existing physical, functional and regulatory conditions of the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Economic Development District (GNOBEDD). The analysis is based on a detailed review of existing data, plans, reports and other information collected during Task 1, Stakeholder Interviews, and Task 2, Data Gathering. The analysis is divided into eight sections: Biosciences District Overview; Community and Social Context; Urban Design; Traf c Analysis; Utilities; Sustainability; and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis. Section 2, Biosciences District Overview, provides an overview of the existing conditions within the Biosciences District, including its physical and regulatory context. Detailed assessments on the community and social infrastructure, urban design as it relates to the areas around the proposed VA Hospital and University Medical Center (UMC) hospital campuses, traf c , utilities, sustainability and a SWOT analysis are provided in subsequent sections.

Section 02:Biosciences District Overview

10 August 2010Working Paper 3 Biosciences District Overview

Biosciences District Overview


Physical Context

City and Regional contextMap 1: Regional Context

New Orleans is one of the largest cities on the Gulf Coast. Throughout the history of the city, its strategic location on the mouth of the Mississippi River has made it one of the most important cities in the United States in terms of trade. The city is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world and is a hub for transportation and distribution of goods throughout the rest of the country. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, as of 2008, the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana just north of the city ranked 59th and 14th in the world, respectively, in terms of cargo volume. Other key industries that support the citys economy include oil and gas production and tourism.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the third largest in the gulf region despite a decrease of approximately 13% from 2000 to 2008. As a result, it is also a major regional hub for the health care industry. The Biosciences District spans 1,500 acres in the heart of New Orleans and includes a number of institutions and hospitals that support the industry. They include the Louisiana State University (LSU) and Tulane Health Science Centers, Xavier University and its School of Pharmacy, and the Charity School of Nursing for Delgado Community College. Important educational institutions, hospitals and other research centers in the city and the region include: University of New Orleans, Delgado Community College, Loyola University, Dillard University, Childrens Hospital, Ochsner Baptist, Ochsner Hospital, Touro In rmary, LSU School of Dentistry, Tulane National Primate Research Center, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.

Neighborhood contextMap 2: Neighborhoods

The Biosciences District is bounded by Loyola Avenue, Iberville Street, Carrollton Avenue and Earhart Boulevard; and encompasses portions of ve neighborhoods within New Orleans: Central Business District (CBD), B.W. Cooper, Tulane-Gravier, Mid-City and Gert Town. The CBD is riverside of I-10. The B.W. Cooper neighborhood is located uptown of I-10 between Claiborne Avenue and Broad Street. Tulane-Gravier is also located between Claiborne Avenue and Broad Street but downtown of I-10. The area bounded by I-10, Carrollton Avenue and Broad Street, encompassing almost three quarters of the Biosciences District, is all part of Mid-City. Gert Town is located lakeside of Broad Street and uptown of I-10, and includes Xavier University. Other neighborhoods that adjoin the Biosciences District are Central City, French Quarter, Iberville and Dixon.

The Biosciences District includes the Criminal Courts Building, parish prison, the headquarters for the New Orleans Police Department, as well as the homes of several famous jazz musicians in New Orleans history, including Louis Matthew Verges, John Bayersdorfer, Emile Stalebread Lacoume, Johnny De Droit and Louis Satchmo Armstrong, who was born in a house on Jane Alley, a street that was once behind the court building.

Natural Environment

Physiography

Geomorphic, or physiographic, regions are broad-scale subdivisions based on terrain texture, rock type, and geologic structure and history. Physiographic regions are described using a three-tiered classi cation system: division, province and section. Based on this system,

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the City of New Orleans is located in the division of the Atlantic Plain, the province of the Coastal Plain and the section of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain.

In Louisiana, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain encompasses all the lands in the historic Mississippi River oodplain. The relatively level lowland plain is characterized by rich soils of silt and clay deposited over millions of years through periodic ooding. Historically, dominant plant communities include bottomland hardwood forests and cypress swamps.

Climate

The climate of New Orleans is subtropical with hot, humid summers and short, generally mild winters. The average annual precipitation is 64.2 inches, a few inches more than many cities in the country receive. Generally,

the summer months are the wettest, while October is the driest month. Snow is a rare occurrence in the city. There are almost 220 days of sunny and partly sunny days each year. Prevailing winds in the region are from the south to south southwest and the average wind speed is 8.2 miles per hour.

Heating degree days and cooling degree days re ect the amount of energy need to heat or cool a home or business. The subtropical climate creates a strong demand for air conditioning rather than heating. This is re ected in the total number of annual cooling degree days versus heating degree days of 2,655 and 1,513, respectively.

Hurricanes pose a severe threat to the area due to its location on the gulf coast. New Orleans is surrounded by water on its northern, southern and eastern perimeters.

The Alluvial Plain of the Mississippi Delta. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3AMississippi_Delta_IR.jpg

This fact, compounded with its low elevation and sinking coastline, makes it especially vulnerable to ooding. Portions of Greater New Orleans have been ooded by 10 signi cant hurricanes: Grand Isle Hurricane of 1909, New Orleans Hurricane of 1915, 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane, Hurricane Flossy in 1956, Hurricane Betsy in 1965, Hurricane Georges in 1998, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008.

TopographyMap 3: Elevation

The elevation of the Biosciences District generally lies between ve feet below sea level to ve feet above sea level; the majority of the Biosciences District, including those areas within the Mid-City and Gert Town neighborhoods, is at sea level. The higher areas of the District are found riverside of I-10 in the vicinity of the Superdome and Union Passenger Terminal (UPT), with elevations around ve feet above sea level.

SoilsMap 4: Soils

Three soil types are found in the Biosciences District: Sharkey Clay, Urban Land and Harahan Clay. Sharkey Clay covers the majority of the Biosciences District and is found primarily downtown of I-10 and lakeside of Claiborne Avenue. The majority of Xavier University is situated on this soil type as well. Sharkey clay is a poorly drained, rm, mineral soil with very slow permeability and very high shrink-swell potential. Water may stand in low places for short periods after heavy rains. Flooding is rare but can occur after prolonged periods of heavy rains. The soil can support the foundation of most low structures without the use of piling.

Urban Land is found primarily uptown of I-10, riverside of Jeff Davis Parkway and riverside of Claiborne Avenue in the CBD. Urban Land is designated in areas where more than 85% of the surface is covered by asphalt, concrete, buildings or other impervious surfaces.

Harahan Clay is found only in the Gert Town neighborhood area within the Biosciences District. This poorly drained soil type is characterized by wetness, very high shrink-swell potential, very slow permeability, low strength and medium total subsidence potential. Flooding is also a potential hazard. Given the above, this soil is poorly suited to urban uses. If buildings are constructed, pilings and specially constructed foundations are needed.

Hydrology

New Orleans lies between three signi cant water bodies: the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. Flooding from the Mississippi River has been an annual event well before the settlement of the city, and has helped shaped the delta as it reaches into the gulf. The periodic ooding of the river also left behind soil deposits that created natural levels along its banks upon which the city was originally built.

Since the 1800s, efforts have been made to protect the developing city from the ood waters of the Mississippi through the creation of an extensive levee and canal system. The rst canals were built from hollowed out logs with bricks being used for construction of newer canals, prior to the use of pipes. The overall drainage system, which is managed by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, includes a system of underground drainage canals, almost 150 drainage pumps and numerous pumping stations. The total miles of above and below ground canals exceed that of Venice, Italy.


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The lobes of the Mississippi River Delta that formed over thousands of years due to deltaic switching. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mississippi_Delta_Lobes.jpg

Additional information on the canals can be found in Section 6: Utilities.

FloodplainMap 5: 1999 FEMA FloodplainMap 6: ABFE

The 1999 FEMA oodplain maps for the city show that majority of the Biosciences District lies within the 100 year oodplain. The only areas of the District that lie in the 500 year oodplain are found along sections of I-10 and a small area around Claiborne Avenue and Canal Street.

Area Flood Rate Insurance Maps (FIRM) establishes a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) that indicates the minimum required building elevation to help avoid ooding. The existing FIRM maps date back to 1984. Due to the extensive ooding from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, these maps are currently being revised to provide a more accurate build level. In the interim, FEMA has established Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) to protect property owners from future ooding. ABFE is de ned as the greater of either the existing FIRM BFE or the highest existing adjacent grade (HEAG) at the building site plus three feet.


Hurricane Katrina Flooding in the Biosciences District, September 3, 2005. Source: http://www.katrina.noaa.gov/maps/images/katrina- ood-depth-estimation-08-31-2005.jpg

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For the Biosciences District, the ABFE ranges from a BFE of 0 to 2.5 feet above sea level, with the areas within the 500 year oodplain designated as 3 feet above HEAG. The area bounded by Claiborne Avenue and I-10 has a BFE of 0 feet. The CBD has a BFE of 2.5 feet. Gert Town has a BFE of 0.5 and 1.5 feet. Existing elevations at the building site must be known in order to determine the minimum elevation of the buildings rst occupiable oor, including basement.

Built Environment

Edge ConditionsMap 7: AerialMap 8: Figure Ground

The Biosciences District is primarily surrounded by one to two-story residential neighborhoods and those services or uses that support them, including schools and small-scale commercial and of ce uses. The downtown core is located on the riverside boundary of GNOBEDD along Loyola Avenue, with lodging, high density residential,

high-rise of ce towers and commercial uses. The plan for the Biosciences District should include urban design principles that encourage new development to respect and re ect these edge conditions so there is a gradual transition between building forms inside and outside the District, rather than a hard edge.

Key Developments: Existing and In-ProgressMap 9: Key Developments Existing and In-Progress

There are numerous important developments in the Biosciences District that are either completed or in-progress (i.e. under construction). Development projects fall generally into three categories: institutional (schools, universities and hospitals), non-residential and residential. Institutional projects include Delgado School of Nursing, LSU Medical School, Tulane Medical School, Xavier University and several primary and secondary schools within and immediately around the Biosciences District. Non-residential landmark projects include City Hall, Louisiana Superdome, Union Passenger Terminal, Orleans Parish Prison, Police Headquarters, The Building

The Biosciences District abuts a variety of land use including residential, industrial and high density commercial of ce. The former La tte Housing Development and the area within the CBD adjacent to the Louisiana Superdome are shown above.


Block (Eco Park), Benson Tower and a number of hotel developments and redevelopments along Canal Street. Recently completed major residential projects are found primarily along Tulane Avenue and include the Canal Condominiums, Marquis Apartments, Falstaff Apartments and Crescent Club. The former La tte Housing development just outside of the Biosciences District boundary is currently being redeveloped by Providence Community Housing.

Key Developments: ProposedMap 10: Key Developments Proposed

There are several large developments proposed within the Biosciences District that are in various stages of the planning process. These projects include most notably the new VA Hospital and University Medical Center located lakeside of Claiborne Avenue between Tulane Avenue and Canal and Rocheblave streets. Other notable planned developments include the Orleans Parish Prison redevelopment and expansions of Xavier University and Tulane Medical School under their proposed master plans.

Historic LandmarksMap 11: Historic Districts and Landmarks

There are three historic districts that cover portions of the Biosciences District. The largest district is the Mid-City Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and covers much of the area lakeside of Claiborne Avenue and north of I-10. Canal Street includes two historic districts: one designated by the NRHP and the other designated by the citys Historic District and Landmarks Commission (HDLC). Within the Biosciences District, the boundaries of these two historic districts are coterminous and include the properties bounded by Crozat and Iberville streets and Cleveland Avenue.

There are 20 historic properties within the Biosciences District. They are designated historic by the HDLC, NRHP or both. Notable historic landmarks within the District include the Dixie Brewery, Blue Plate Building, Criminal Courts Building, the home of Lafcadio Hearn, Pan Am Life Insurance Company Building, Xavier Universitys Administration Building and the Charity Hospital School of Nursing.

Other buildings that are not designated as historic by either NRHP or HDLC, but are good representations of the unique architectural styles of New Orleans or are important to the community should be identi ed so that recommendations for their preservation can be incorporated into the plan for the Biosciences District.

BlightMap 12: Blighted and Roadhome Properties

There are over 220 blighted properties within the Biosciences District. Properties are determined as blighted in accordance with Chapter 28 (Postdisaster Recovery and Neighborhood Stabilization) of the municipal code or by the New Orleans Redevelopment

The Falstaff Brewery is one of several historic landmarks within the Biosciences District.

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Authority (NORA). Properties that were designated as blighted prior to Katrina and Roadhome properties are also shown.

The majority of blighted properties, including those considered blighted pre-Katrina, are found in Gert Town. Other blighted properties are found in the area generally bounded by Galvez, Canal and Banks streets and Carrollton Avenue.

Brownfields and Other EPA Reporting FacilitiesMap 13: EPA Reporting Facilities

There are 15 sites within the Biosciences District that are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Three brown elds exist within the in the District: Old Falstaff Brewery located riverside of Broad Street; Dixon Tomato located just on the District boundary by the B.W. Cooper housing development; and David Drive Incinerator located on La Salle Street between Perdido and Gravier streets. Dixie Brewery on Tulane Avenue and the Coca Cola Bottling Company on Jefferson Davis Parkway are listed on the EPAs Toxic Release Inventory.

There are also 10 RCRA sites that are monitored for hazardous materials.

Parks and Open SpaceMap 14: Existing Conditions

There are approximately 29 acres of designated parks and open space within the Biosciences District. Parks are primarily located in three areas within the district: Gert Town, along Jefferson Davis Parkway and along Loyola Avenue. Most parks and open space are small pocket parks that are plazas or other passive recreation space; four playgrounds are located within the Biosciences District. The Gert Town Pool, the only pool in the area, suffered damage during Katrina and has not reopened. Gravier Park, located on the corner of Perdido and Gayoso streets, has the only park zoning designation within the Biosciences District.

The La tte Corridor is a proposed greenway and revitalization project just outside the GNOBEDD Iberville Street boundary. The corridor is a three-mile long strip of land that stretches from the French Quarter to Canal Boulevard in Lakeview. The former rail line will create a continuous open space corridor for pedestrians and bicyclists and link a number of neighborhoods and existing park spaces. Once built, the corridor will provide an excellent recreational space for those living within the Biosciences District. Connections to this corridor from the Biosciences District will need to be assessed and included in the plan for the District.

Urban ForestThe extent and value of the tree canopy provides an important indicator of the level and quality of green infrastructure within a city. Urban trees provide important greenhouse gas reduction and other sustainability bene ts including reducing the Urban

A blighted property within the Biosciences District.


Table 1: Park and Recreation Resources in the Biosciences District

Park District Acreage Park Type Owner ManagerUse

A=Active P=Passive

Facilities (2002)January

2010 Status

Cancer Survivors Park

1 0.44 Pocket City Parkway P Monuments, benches

Comiskey Playground

4 2.25 Neighborhood City NORD A Playground equipment, basketball, multi-purpose eld, baseball, booster club, lights, restrooms, sports activities

Active

Duncan Plaza 1 6.83 Neighborhood City Parkway / DDD

P Gazebo, benches, monuments

Elk Place 1 0.83 Pocket City Parkway P Neutral ground, monuments

Gert Town Pool 4 1 Center City NORD A Pool Closed

Gravier Park 4 0.43 Pocket City Parkway P Multi-purpose eld

Jefferson Davis Playground

4 3.5 Neighborhood City NORD P Playground equipment

Norwood Thompson Playground

4 1.3 Neighborhood City NORD A Playground equipment, basketball, multi-purpose eld, baseball, lights, restrooms

Active

Pershing Place 4 0.35 Pocket City Parkway P Monument

Jefferson Davis Playspot

4 10.93 Neighborhood City NORD A/P Neutral ground, monuments, playground

Simon Bolivar Plaza

1 0.15 Pocket City Parkway P

Union Passenger Terminal Plaza

1 0.9 Pocket City Parkway P

Source: Plan for the 21st Century. New Orleans 2030. Volume 3: Context and Appendix. January 2010

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Heat Island effect, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing energy demand of buildings through shading, providing habitat, improving pedestrian comfort, and increasing property values.

The nonpro t organization, American Forests, prepared an analysis of New Orleans tree canopy in 2002. The analysis found that 24% of the metropolitan area was covered by tree canopy, 33% was impervious surfaces; 28% was open space (not tree covered); and 12% was water. Using an aerial from December 2009, the AECOM Team analyzed the extent of tree cover within the Biosciences District and found that 3.6% of the District was covered by tree canopy. Most trees are found along Jefferson Davis Parkway, Canal Street and Banks Street, with a scattering of individual trees found throughout residential areas. American Forests recommends that there be 25% tree canopy cover in urban residential areas and 15% tree canopy in central business districts. The primary species of tree found within the Biosciences District are live oaks. Palms are located within the neutral ground of Canal Street; crepe myrtles are also found in the Biosciences District.

It is estimated that 100,000 trees were lost during Hurricane Katrina. During the 2030 Master Plan process, preserving and restoring the tree canopy throughout the city was a key priority identi ed by the public. Increasing the urban tree canopy within the Biosciences District should be a high priority for the project.

Pedestrian and Vehicular Circulation

Pedestrian CirculationMap 15: Walking Distances

With the exception of the Pontchartrain Expressway / I-10 and certain sections of Earhart Boulevard, Poydras

Street, and minor streets in the I-10 industrial corridor with abutting industrial or transportation uses, the streets in the Biosciences District have sidewalks, but many of these are in poor condition, especially in residential areas. In many areas, such as Gert Town, the disrepair is due to general lack of maintenance, resulting in the disappearance of some sections of the sidewalks. In some locations where trees have been planted in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the curb, tree roots cause the sidewalks to bucklea common condition in New Orleans.

The poor condition of the sidewalks results in very few areas within the Biosciences District that are ADA accessible, even where curb ramps are present. Despite a current major citywide initiative funded with federal money through the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) to provide accessible crossings, most of the delineated crossings in the Biosciences District are found on Canal Street and Carrollton Avenue, which are a result of the recent streetcar construction. More recently, sidewalks and accessibility have improved on other major streets through the RPC initiative. Minor streets, especially in

One of the few tree-lined boulevards within the Biosciences District.


residential areas, rarely have accessible and demarcated crosswalks.

As in many cities, although the sidewalks are within the street ROW, which is city or state property, the abutting property owner is responsible for maintenance. Jurisdiction over sidewalks rests primarily with the Department of Public Works (DPW), but Parks and Parkways has the right to determine any plantings, and Safety and Permits has to give permits for overhanging balconies or other intrusions into the sidewalk at grade or above. Special regulatory and/or development districts have some control over materials, and the utilities have certain rights as well. (Detailed maps of utilities within the Biosciences District can be found in Section 6: Utilities).

There are no established pedestrian paths in the Biosciences District other than sidewalks that are open to the general public. There is an elevated pathway connecting various buildings of the LSU campus that

crosses Claiborne Avenue. Tulane Medical School also has overhead walkways connecting their hospital with the garage across La Salle Street and the medical school buildings across Tulane Avenue.

A map showing ve minute walk distances from key existing and proposed developments within the Biosciences Districts is provided. However, the general condition of the sidewalks as well as the perception of lack of safety (an issue that arose during the stakeholder interviews) suggests that the Biosciences District currently has few pedestrian friendly areas. Recommendations on funding sources for the repair and continued maintenance of sidewalks and crosswalks should be incorporated into the plan for the Biosciences District.

Roadway InfrastructureMap 16: Street Network Important arterial and collector streets in the Biosciences District include the following:

River/Lake Up/Down RiverEarhart Boulevard (in District)

Carrollton (in District)*

Washington Avenue Jefferson Davis Parkway*

Poydras Street Broad Street*

Tulane Avenue Galvez Street*

Canal Street Claiborne Avenue*

Basin Street (downriver of Canal)

Loyola Avenue/Elks Place (upriver of Canal)

* On upriver side of Canal, these street names are pre xed South or S. and on the downriver side, North or N.

Ot the streets identi ed above, Tulane Avenue is perhaps

A sidewalk along Tulane Avenue within the Biosciences District.

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one of the most important within the Biosciences District as it links the institutional land uses on both ends of the District. Tulane Avenue is also part of US Route 61, which runs 1,400 miles from New Orleans to Minnesota. The route was an important northsouth connection in the days before the interstate highway system. The highway is often called The Blues Highway, because of the course it takes from Minnesota, and into Louisiana (primarily New Orleans), which is considered the heart of the blues, as well as Dixieland jazz.

Existing Traf c ConditionsRegarding Level of Service (LOS) and congestion management, there is no universally available source of data, except for the RPC Congestion Management Program. Without copying what is available from websites or extracting the data through a formal request by GNOBEDD, it is reasonable to say that congestion seldom (if ever) occurs, except at peak hours and then it is usually on the interstate system or on streets leading to it. While it does provide access to the interstate, the only roadway in or near the Biosciences District that is frequently congested is S. Carrollton Avenue between Claiborne and Tulane Avenues, especially between Earhart Boulevard and Washington Avenue. This likely results from a combination of badly times signals, too many driveways and the interstate entrances, in that order.

Annual Daily Traf c (ADT) volumes are provided by the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for several years, including 2008, 2004, and back into the 1990s. All count stations do not have data for exactly the same years, but in the Biosciences District, there are three stations for which Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) can be calculated, which are shown in Tables 2 and 3 on the next page. The second table presents ADT for 2008 and the previous period available for all count stations in or

near the Biosciences District. The shaded cells are near but outside the study area.

ADT has decreased in all but one location, which is on the interstate, and the increase is only 9%. The greatest decrease of 52% has been on Tulane Avenue at Roman Street in the area of the proposed UMC, which is currently largely vacant.

ParkingOn-street parking is generally metered on major streets and is free on minor streets. Outside the CBD and the immediate areas of LSU Health Sciences Center and the Criminal Justice area, there is little or no need for additional parking at present.

Off-street parking for facilities developed in the last few decades has been guided through the parking requirements found in the existing zoning ordinance. In some cases, current demand does not appear to exceed supply, especially in the older medical district in the CBD where facilities are abandoned (e.g. Charity Hospital) or in the process of being phased out and relocated, including the existing VA hospital and LSU Medical School. Future uses in this area, however, may revive a demand for these available spaces. Parking demand may also be impacted by the current efforts to encourage transit ridership and bicycles for work trips.

Parking requirements may also be adjusted during the revision to the comprehensive zoning ordinance, which may affect demand if requirements are reduced for individual uses, especially non-residential developments. As the ordinance is revised over the next year, great attention must be paid to the impact of changing parking policies by zoning district would have on development in the Biosciences District.


Table 2: VMT Count at Key Intersections in the Biosciences District

US 90 Tulane Ave & Roman St

I-10 Between split & Gravier St

US 61 Tulane Ave & Carrollton Ave

VMT VMT VMT

2008 28,995 107,476 30,042

2004 60,193 164,377 49,144

Highest record year 2004 2001 2008

Record year VMT 60,193 196,915 49,144

2008 compared to highest record year

52% 45% 39%

Table 3: ADT Count at Key Intersections in the Biosciences District

Count Station 2008 ADT 2004 ADT ChangeUS 61 (Airline Hwy) & Joliet st 32,373 36,634 -12%

US 61 (Tulane Ave) & Carrollton Ave 23,470 38,394 -39%

US 61 (Tulane Ave) & White St 21,959 36,136 -39%

US 61 & US 90 (Tulane Ave) & Roman St 17,467 36,261 -52%

US 90 (Broad St) & Palmyra St 23,244 42,951 -46%

I-10 between Carrollton Ave & Metairie Road/City Park Avenue

67,744 124,939 -46%

I-10 between Carrollton Ave & I-10/US 90 Business split

88,607 80,968 9%

At the US 90 Business I-10 split 98,851 101,366 -2%

I-10 between split & Cleveland Ave 66,343 101,467 -35%

I-10 between Cleveland Ave & Orleans Ave

69,466 91,600 -24%

Note: While the gures in the tables above are derived from the DOTD website, anecdotal information obtained through conversations with DOTD personnel indicate that traf c volumes are returning to pre-Katrina levels on the interstate system.

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Before discussing speci c conditions that apply to the new VA hospital and UMC or other major projects in some state of development or construction, it should be noted that the current practice for the provision of off-street parking is that it is provided by your home institution, i.e., your place of employment and, in some cases, the institution at which you are a student. If, for whatever reason, during the course of a work day, an individual is required to spend any time at another institution, they must park on street, possibly pay as a visitor or use a mode other than private automobile to make the trip. While the last case is preferred from an environmental perspective, the distance between institutions poses serious problems in this regard. (See Section 5: Transportation Analysis for additional information).

The VA hospital apparently has adequate parking for on-site staff and expected visitors, including patients. No parking is provided for students. It has been estimated that there will be an average of 600 individuals on site each day who are students or others that will not have available parking. Parking for such individuals is expected to be provided by host institutions.

A similar plan applies to UMC, but staff parking is currently planned for within the proposed surface lots. Non faculty and students are not accommodated within the parking counts, but will be able to park in visitor areas. As with the VA, it is assumed that parking will be provided by the host institution -- or that you can walk, take transit or bike to the hospital.

Further analysis on parking needs and accommodations should be completed for both the VA and UMC hospitals. Such research and potential resulting recommendations should look at the overall balance of parking to make sure that there is adequate parking, rather than an

overabundance of it which could impact the overall urban design of these campuses.

The Cancer Center has a waiver for some required parking, as the LSU members of the consortium are expected to park across the street in their own surface lots.

Evacuation RoutesThe Union Passenger Terminal (UPT) is the of cial evacuation mobilization location for individuals without private transportation to evacuate the city before a hurricane or other disaster for which suf cient warning is available. Evacuees are picked up by Regional Transit Authority (RTA) buses at designated sites and brought to the UPT, which is located at the extreme uptown river corner of the Biosciences District at Loyola and Earhart. Evacuation can be provided from UPT by highway coach (Greyhound) and /or rail (Amtrak).

Evacuation routes from the city primarily are via contra ow interstate highways and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Depending on the direction of the storms approach, US 90 (east or west), US 61 (west only), and US 11 (northeast only via US 90 east) also are available to evacuate the immediate urban area. From the Biosciences District, there are several opportunities to access these roadways as Tulane Avenue is in part both US 90 and US 61 and I-10 can be accessed at both the southeast and northwest extremities of the District.

TransitMap 17: TransitMap 18: Bikeways

Bus and streetcar transit service is provided by RTA. RTA has both regularly scheduled line service and the RTA LIFT service, which provides accessible buses and taxis


to ADA certi ed riders by appointment.

Bus Service

The more important bus line service in the Biosciences District includes:

Galvez, a crosstown (up/downriver) route connecting downriver neighborhoods with the CBD. The route serves the sites of new hospitals, turns to river on Poydras, to Loyola, to Tulane, back to Galvez and back downriver. It enters the District when it crosses Iberville Street. It has 20-minute weekday headways.1

Tulane begins on Claiborne Avenue at the Jefferson Parish line (near Ochsner, which is farther out in Jefferson), travels downriver to Carrollton Avenue where it connects with the Claiborne line and the St. Charles streetcar, turns left and enters the Biosciences District when it crosses Earhart Boulevard, continues to Tulane Avenue, and then travels toward the river to Loyola and returns. It provides the only transit link between Xavier University and the remainder of the Biosciences District. The line has 20-minute weekday headways.

Broad, the major crosstown route prior to Katrina, is becoming more heavily traveled again. It connects New Orleans East along Chef Menteur Highway with Gentilly Boulevard and Broad Street (the same corridor across the city) and enters the Biosciences District at Broad Street and Iberville Street, continues across Canal Street within walking distance of the new VA Hospital site and

1 Headways are de ned as the distance from the tip of one vehicle to the tip of the next one behind it, expressed as the time it takes for the trailing vehicle to cover that distance. A shorter headway signi es more frequent service.

past the Criminal Justice area, and leaves the District as it crosses Earhart Boulevard. It then continues to its terminus at Broad Street and Washington Avenue where it provides a transfer with the Louisiana line. Weekday headways are 20 minutes.

Claiborne is a crosstown line that begins at Claiborne and Carrollton Avenues and travels down S. Claiborne Avenue to enter the Biosciences District as it crosses Earhart Boulevard. It turns to the river on Poydras Street, to Camp to Canal to river, to Poydras Street and return. This route is similar to the Tulane shuttle, but does not reach Tulane Avenue. It has 30-minute headways on weekdays at peak, but has 1 hour headways during the base period.

Louisiana, a route running along a series of river lake streets, passes Touro Hospital in uptown near the river, enters the Biosciences District as it crosses Earhart Boulevard on Washington Avenue, passes Xavier University, turns on Carrollton Avenue to access I-10, and continues out of the Biosciences District to the City Park Avenue/Metairie Road interchange. It has variable 30 to 38-minute headways on weekdays.

The Jackson-Esplanade and the Martin Luther King and Westbank lines pass the river side of the Biosciences District on Loyola Avenue, but these are all subject to change as discussed below.

On time performance of the transit system has improved since the rst years after Katrina, but even if service reaches 100% on time performance, the no better than 15 minutes schedules are not likely to attract premium riders.2 2 A premium rider (sometimes called a choice rider) is a person who is not transit dependent and who selects transit as a travel mode because they nd it at least as satisfactory, if not more satisfactory, than driving a personal

27

If headways do improve, it does not ensure the attraction of premium riders or a signi cant reduction of congestion, especially on the interstate system. Improved headways would, however, better serve workers within the city, especially those who are transit dependent and would restore at least some of the premium riders lost since Katrina. Peak hour congestion is suburban ight in action. The real test for transit rests with the acceptance of transit service in the suburbs (New Orleans East, Westbank, East Jefferson).

The only potential effect this is likely to have on the Biosciences District (until the District itself becomes a major employment center) is the proposed changes in RTA service on Loyola Avenue. The actual effect cannot be determined or even estimated until RTA revises the service delivery plan, which can then be studied.vehicle. A transit dependent person is one that is unable to have access to a personal vehicle as a result of poverty, age (either too young or too old), or some disability.

The Canal Street streetcar line.

Streetcar Service

The Biosciences District is served by an ADA accessible streetcar line along Canal Street. This line operates in the river/lake direction for the length of Canal Street, from the intersection of the Riverfront streetcar line on the river to the Cemeteries Terminal at City Park Avenue where it provides transfers to bus lines continuing to the lake and into Jefferson Parish. It also has a spur on N. Carrollton Avenue that terminates at the entrance to City Park. There is full operational access among the Canal, Riverfront, and St. Charles lines, but the St. Charles cars can operate on other lines only during emergencies and only to reach the heavy maintenance facility on Willow Street. The storage and light maintenance facility for the Canal/Riverfront cars is located on Canal Street at Dupre Street, and is partially in the Biosciences District. Headways on Canal Street are 15 minutes on weekdays. RTA has announced an intention to revise its routes and service delivery patterns. A major proposed change would be to create a transfer point at the UPT to shorten a number of routes that now travel along Loyola Avenue and that could have riders shifted to the new streetcar extension from Canal Street to the UPT. As the Biosciences District plan develops, close coordination with RTA will be necessary.

Historically a streetcar line operated on Tulane Avenue. From 19001951 the St. Charles and Tulane lines operated in a loop as the St. Charles-Tulane Belt, taking passengers past the beautiful homes on St. Charles Ave., up S. Carrollton Ave. past the St. Charles Lines present termination at S. Claiborne Ave., across the New Basin Canal (now the site of the Pontchartrain Expressway), turning at the former Pelican Stadium onto Tulane Ave. and back downtown. In 1950, the Tulane Avenue service became a trolley bus route. Today, the street is serviced by an RTA bus route as previously described.


University and Hospital Shuttles

Three shuttle services are provided within the Biosciences District, Tulane University, the VA Hospital and LSUHSC.

Tulane University has a route that allows its students, faculty, and staff to travel between the downtown medical campus and the main campus uptown. The shuttle runs along Claiborne Avenue from the uptown campus driveway in the vicinity of Claiborne Avenue and Calhoun Street. The shuttle route includes portions of Canal Street and Loyola Avenue around the downtown campus. A map of the shuttle route has been requested of the University, but none has been provided.

The VA Hospital has a system that is primarily

for the movement of patients, their families and caregivers. There is no designated route as the shuttle is a demand responsive service.

The existing LSUHSC facilities have several shuttle routes in operation, shown below and at right. The primary purpose of the shuttle is to ensure access to University Hospital by their medical, allied health, and other employees. LSUHSC currently allows employees and others with badges from other institutions to ride as well, but plans to eliminate the service when the new facilities are completed.

Numbers of shuttles in circulations and ridership information has been requested by the institutions but not provided to the AECOM Team. Additionally, it should be noted that both Tulane and LSUHSC hospitals use the

The three routes provided by the MCLNO shuttle service to the existing LSUHSC facilities. Source: http://www.auxent.lsuhsc.edu/parking/shuttle%20routes.pdf

29

The three routes provided by the MCLNO shuttle service to the existing LSUHSC facilities. Source: http://www.auxent.lsuhsc.edu/parking/shuttle%20routes.pdf


parking which may also reduce storm water runoff.

There is suf cient capacity in the citys underground main conveyance canal systems, but many of the feeder drain lines leading from the catch basins to the canals are undersized and not regularly cleaned or maintained. The necessary capacity of these feeder lines needs to be investigated and suf cient upgrades should be factored into future planning.

The Sewerage and Water Board (SWB) maintains all drain lines 36 and greater. DPW is responsible for maintenance of lines smaller than 36, as well as all catch basins. Some ooding could be reduced if the catch basins were properly maintained, but DPWs resources for this kind of work are vastly overextended .

Water

Potable water supply is not a limiting issue. SWB indicates that between 115 and 135 million gallons per day (MGD) is currently being produced, with an in-place plant capacity of 200 MGD.

A stormwater canal along Washington Avenue by Xavier University.

the same subcontractor, New Orleans Tours, to manage and operate their shuttle services.

Utility Overview

The biggest challenge related to utilities is that the Biosciences District is a densely developed urban area while its utility infrastructure was primarily designed to serve residential customers and long-established commercial clients. As bioscience related research and development increases within the District, new ways must be found to accommodate the demands of future growth and development. The problem with retro tting such a densely developed area is the increased costs associated with the selective demolition needed to install new facilities. This must be done while trying to minimize the disruption to existing users caused by construction.

As the Biosciences District develops, its utility requirements may shift to an increasingly diverse mixture of commercial, residential and industrial uses. The Biosciences District will create increased demands principally in the following areas: water, wastewater, power and telecommunications.

Storm Water

Storm water is the only utility sector not expected to see an increase in demand, but must be carefully reviewed in light of any revisions in storm water design requisites or constraints. Since the area is already heavily developed, there will be very few conversions of green space to impervious surfaces. More than likely, additional green space will be installed as a result of urban planning, reducing the storm water system demand. As planning and development proceeds, there may also be a reduction in the amount of dedicated off-street surface

31

There is an effective density of large water mains throughout the Biosciences District, capable of meeting the needs of new entities to the area, which have been discussed. Depending on the required meter size, new supply lines may have to be routed to the customers desired point of delivery .

Wastewater

Wastewater conveyance availability does not appear to pose a problem. The city has some capacity issues in the French Quarter and the Downtown Development District due to the fact that the number of hotel rooms in the city has more than tripled in the last 20 years. Since most of the new development will be outside these areas, capacity does not appear to be an issue .

Telecommunications

Telecommunication, on a small scale, is available throughout the Biosciences District. There are several plans to increase service in the Biosciences District to correspond with a number of apartment complexes and hotels that have recently opened. This increase in population density will further stress the existing telecommunications bandwidth , slowing down the rate of information exchange. It will need to be determined if the existing systems are suf cient for larger customers, such as universities and of ce buildings. Upgrades to private telecommunication capacity involve the least invasive requisites, processes and lead times to adapt to changing demand. High capacity, dedicated systems are presently in use and expansion planning is being pursued. With the exception of Xavier, many area universities are interconnected using the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI) system for which there is currently a small presence within the Biosciences District.

Most of the large Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) only have a presence in and around the Poydras Street corridor, which is on the outer fringe of the District. There will have to be a signi cant increase in demand to incite these CLECs to make the necessary capital investment to extend their systems.

Energy

Energy, in the form of electricity and natural gas, provided by Entergy, appears to be adequate in the Biosciences District. Entergy can meet all of the hospitals reliability concerns, and there are few issues from other consumers in the area. Of particular concern for the electric provider is any unique, specialized or high demand application (mainly industrial needs) that may need to be accommodated at service levels above what has typically been required in the Biosciences District. With the exception of the potential for centralized plants, the development(s) being discussed do not appear to be outside the service capacity.

Chilled water and steam heat are available in a limited area of the Biosciences District and are currently very expensive, unless an expanded customer base can be developed . It is unlikely that many consumers, apart from the hospitals, will take advantage of this option.

In the case of natural gas, New Orleans is well positioned to meet demands. The gas system infrastructure sustained little damage from Hurricane Katrina, and the system had been engaged in a comprehensive upgrade, which has essentially been completed.


Regulatory Context

Planning DistrictsMap 19: Planning Districts

Planning Districts are the primary reference used in the development of the Citys 2030 Master Plan and associated update to the zoning ordinance. The

Biosciences District includes two primary city designated Planning Districts: District 4 (Mid-City) and District 1a (CBD). The majority of the Biosciences District is within the District 4 planning area, with the exception of the area riverside of Claiborne Avenue, which falls into District 1a. A portion of District 2 (Central City Garden District) does cross the Biosciences District boundary, but includes only a small portion of I-10.

Example of Two-Family Residential Zoning Example of Multiple-Famliy Residential Zoning

Example of CBD Zoning Example of General Of ce Zoning

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Existing ZoningMap 20: Existing Zoning

Zoning within the Biosciences District will be revised in the next year as part of the 2030 city-wide master planning process and associated update to the comprehensive zoning ordinance. However, at this time, the following zoning designations are found in the

Biosciences District :

CBD The area riverside of I-10 and Claiborne Avenue.

Two-Family Residential Located primarily between Bank Street and Tulane Avenue and four distinct pockets scattered throughout the rest of the Biosciences District: Gert Town, the area just

Example of Heavy Industrial Zoning (Coca-Cola Bottling Company) Example of Medical Service Zoning

Example of General Commercial Zoning Example of Park Zoning (Gravier Park)


south of the heart of Xavier University, downtown of Tulane Avenue and lakeside of the police headquarters and the court house

Multiple-Family Residential Found along Carrollton Avenue and sites scattered throughout the Biosciences District.

General Commercial Located along the major arterial streets of Tulane and Carrollton avenues and Broad and Galvez streets.

Neighborhood Commercial Found primarily in some limited pockets along Banks Street.

General Of ce This zone is found primarily along Canal Street. The court house and police headquarters are also zoned as General Of ce.

Medical Service Located lakeside of Claiborne Avenue in the location of the current LSU medical school.

Light Industrial This zoning is found at the Superdome and New Orleans Arena sites, as well as in and around the existing LSU medical school and around the Gert Town neighborhood.

Heavy Industrial This zone is found on either side of I-10 north of Claiborne Avenue, with the exception of the area around Xavier University.

Park Only one park zone, designated for Gravier Park, is found in the Biosciences District

Existing and Future Land UseMap 21: Existing Land Use

The Future Land Use map is currently being reviewed and adopted by City Council. As revisions may occur to the map during the adoption process as part of the city-wide master planning process. Therefore, only information regarding currently adopted land use, as identi ed by the city, is provided.

The Biosciences District includes ve distinct land uses categories: Residential (Single and Two-Family), Commercial, Institutional, Industrial and Recreation/Open Space.

Residential (Single and Two-Family) This land use is found in four distinct pockets in the Biosciences District: between the commercial corridors of Tulane Avenue and Canal Street; the areas on either side of Broad Street between Jefferson Davis Parkway and Galvez Street bounded by Gravier and Perdido Streets; and the Gert Town neighborhood.

Commercial This land use is primarily found along the major arterials of Canal Street and Tulane and Carrollton avenues. Pockets of commercial are also found along Jefferson Davis Parkway and in the CBD.

Institutional This land use is found in the areas of all universities and hospitals in the Biosciences District. The Criminal Courts Building, police headquarters, parish prison, Superdome and UPT are also categorized as Institutional.

Industrial This land use is primarily found on either side of I-10 riverside of Jefferson Davis Parkway, and includes the railroad tracks on the uptown side of the Biosciences District.

Recreation / Open Space This land use is found primarily along the major arterial roads of Canal Street, Carrollton Avenue, Jefferson Davis Parkway, Loyola Avenue, Poydras Street and Washington Avenue. The Norwood Thompson Playground, Gert Town Pool and Comiskey Playground are also classi ed as Recreation / Open Space.

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Property OwnershipMap 22: City and State Land Ownership

The majority of the Biosciences District is under private ownership. State-owned lands are located primarily on either side of Claiborne Avenue uptown of Tulane Avenue. These properties include the Superdome, LSU Medical Center and the State Supreme Court. The most signi cant tract of city-owned land within the Biosciences District includes the Criminal Court Building, police headquarters and parish prison. Other properties include the New Orleans Public Library and City Hall.

Overlay DistrictsMap 23: Overlay Districts

Almost all of the Biosciences District is impacted by an overlay district. Five cultural districts are found within the Biosciences District including the La tte Greenway New City Cultural District, Downtown Development Cultural District, Museum City Park Cultural District, Rampart Basin Street Corridor Cultural District, and South Broad Street Cultural District. These cultural districts are established under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Cultural districts are established for the purpose of revitalizing a community by creating hub of cultural activity; allowing income and corporate franchise tax credits for eligible expenses for historic structures; and allowing sales and use tax exemptions from the sale of one-of-a-kind art work.

The Canal Street Development Corporation is a quasi-governmental entity that was established to stimulate business development of the CBD and adaptive reuse and development of Canal Street. Traditionally focused on historic renovations and other redevelopment projects, the organization is currently focused on the

realization of those projects identi ed in The Canal Street Vision and Development Strategy, including the recent streetscape improvements.Several city overlay zones occur within the Biosciences District: Downtown Design Review District; Inner City Urban Corridor; and Regional Medical Center Redevelopment. The Downtown Design Review district covers most the CBD and is intended to provide for a superior environment, compatibility of development, architectural continuity and to ensure the achievement of urban design goals in the CBD and adjacent riverfront areas. The Inner City Urban Corridor district is found along Carrollton Avenue and is intended to promote urban design that supports a harmonious relationship between commercial uses and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The Regional Medical Center Redevelopment covers the area that was covered by the 2008 New Orleans Medical District Strategic Integration Plan authored by Eva Klein & Associates.

The majority of the Biosciences District falls within an Enterprise Zone (EZ). According to the RPC website, the EZ program provides tax credits and sales and use tax refunds to businesses locating or expanding in designated enterprise zone areas. In order to qualify for the program, business must create a minimum of ve new permanent jobs and ful ll other employee criteria, including certifying that 35% of new employees are unemployable by traditional standards, lacking in basic skills, receiving some form of public assistance or are residents of an enterprise zone in that parish. One-time tax credits of $2,500 per each net new permanent job created, as well as tax refunds on certain purchases, are also provided through the program.


AnalysisMap 24: Opportunities and Constraints Analysis

An analysis of the Biosciences District shows that there are a number of key opportunities and constraints within the District from a planning and urban design perspective. The adjacency of the of the proposed VA and UMC hospitals to the existing medical district means that majority of the institutional and medical related facilities in the Biosciences District will continue to be in and around Claiborne Avenue. However, the proposed expansion of Xavier University will increase the institutional presence in the lakeside end of the Biosciences District. Tulane Avenue is a critical connector between these institutional land uses and should be considered the backbone to the Biosciences District. As a result, its design as a street and the uses along it will help shape and reinforce the overall look and feel of the District.

I-10 also plays a signi cant role in the look and feel of the Biosciences District. In its current elevated con guration, it forms a signi cant barrier between the uptown and downtown halves of the District. There is a movement to explore recon guring the portion of I-10 along Claiborne Avenue to bring it back down to grade. This would provide a strong opportunity to knit both sides of the Biosciences District on either side of Claiborne together both physically and psychologically. However, as such discussions are very preliminary, the planning for the Biosciences District should continue to consider I-10 in its current elevated state and make strong recommendations for how to design the District should it be brought back down to grade.

Other key land uses within the Biosciences District include the core residential areas in Mid-City and Gert Town. Mid-city is a vibrant neighborhood with a

strong identity that should be reinforced through the planning of the Biosciences District. Gert Town has signi cant blight issues and is isolated by Carrollton and Washington Avenues and Earhart Boulevard. Another key issue is the limited ability to cross of the Washington Avenue Canal which both physically and psychologically divides Gert Town from Xavier University. Stronger connections across the canal should be explored in order to strengthen the relationship and potential synergies between the University and Gert Town residents.

Opportunity zones for potential in ll development and redevelopment are found in the uptown portion of the Biosciences District along Earhart Boulevard, as well as the areas bounded by Tulane Avenue and I-10 on either side of Broad Street. As programming requirements are identi ed for the Biosciences District, these are the locations to which development should be directed in addition to smaller in ll development opportunities throughout the rest of the District.

Potential gateway opportunities exist throughout the Biosciences District; however, the most likely gateway locations are found at the key intersections of Tulane Avenue/ Carrollton Avenue, Canal Street/ Carrollton Avenue and Canal Street/ Loyola Avenue. Recommendations for the design and enhancement of these areas should be explored as the planning process advances.

There are many opportunities for increasing the sustainable aspects of the Biosciences District. They include possible building reuse, in ll (re)development, improved pedestrian connections and increased energy ef ciency. In addition, identifying key streets to allow for improved stormwater management throughout the District is critical. Such explorations should be integrated with the Dutch Dialogue explorations/recommendations

37

for the City. Additional recommendations regarding sustainability are found in Section 7 of this document.

MAP 3

TASK 3: ANALYSIS

SECTION 2: Biosciences District Overview

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Data

ra

working paper iii

Documents

biosciences district

biosciences districttable

biosciences districtmapsmap

aecom transportation

aecom economics

entire aecom team

working paper

table of contents305