ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
When investment and upgrades occur around
the globe they mostly provide positive economic
outcomes for regions and communities. However,
it’s during the construction of the projects and the
disruption that occurs, that can have negative
impacts on small to medium businesses. The
disruption caused by noise, detours, and closed
footpaths can deeply impact a business’s revenue.
It is vital when infrastructure
investment occurs whether
it be through a streetscape,
a rail network, a new road or
improvements to infrastructure,
that support measures are put
in place to encourage business
continuity and business survival.
THE BIG EASY
While in New Orleans I examined two projects; the
Southeast Louisiana Urban Control Project and the
City of New Orleans, French Quarter Infrastructure
Improvement Project, which is part of the Cities
Capital Improvement Program, both projects highly
disruptive to small business. The French Quarter
Infrastructure Project is a joint venture project
between City of New Orleans, Department of Public
Works, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans
which involved the revitalisation of Bourbon Street.
If you’ve been to New Orleans, there’s a good
chance you’ve been to Bourbon Street in the world
famous, French Quarter.
In some blocks, footpaths are uneven and unsafe.
Due to insufficient drainage underneath, muddy old
water pools on the road, following the morning wash
down from the previous night’s festivities.
During the night it’s a completely different scene,
it’s a sensory overload. Hens and bucks partying
the night away, football fans celebrating their teams
wins, newlyweds with their wedding parties sipping
on daiquiris. It’s shoulder to shoulder and noisy with
southern charm.
Thousands of visitors are drawn to Bourbon St each
night, with many partying into the earlier hours of
the morning.
THE PROJECT
The Capital Improvement Program includes over
200 road and infrastructure projects across the
region. $2.3 billion is being spent of local and
federal funds across New Orleans to repair and
restore damaged infrastructure. To support the
upgrades, the City of New Orleans implemented
the Strategic Engagement Office to assist with
the communication and outreach of the Capital
Improvement Program ensuring the community and
business owners were updated about all projects.
Included in the program is the French Quarter
Infrastructure Improvement Project which is a
multimillion reconstruction on Bourbon St. The
project includes:
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New Orleans attracts millions of visitors each
year, including those visiting for the vibrant Mardi
Gras, Carnival or one of the many festivals
held throughout the year. Located in the French
Quarter is Bourbon Street, renowned for its party
atmosphere, door to door bars and parties that
overflow out onto the street. The road (closed off
to traffic during the evenings) is filled with buskers,
jazz bands and visitors celebrating pre-wedding
weekends, birthdays, football celebrations and
weekends away. This 13-block strip, also happens
to be one of the most visited places in New Orleans. •
During the day, it’s moderately busy, tourists from
all over the world visit, stock up on souvenirs, listen
to the jazz, or escape the humidity by popping into
one of the many bars on the street. •
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Remove and replace the existing pavement
Replace and upsize the existing drain lines
Replace the existing water lines
Repair the existing sewer lines
Added conduits for safety cameras and
moveable bollard system
Replace existing low-pressure gas lines with
high pressure gas lines
Replace / repair existing underground electrical
conduit
To develop the framework, I looked at what
processes and procedures were used on each
project which included:
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Business engagement process – How and when
are businesses engaged?
Business support services – What is delivered
for business owners including upskilling?
Activation during construction – What if any
activities are delivered to stimulate spending
The Bourbon Street project had been talked about
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