New Orleans Reborn: Development Returns to the Big Easy

New Orleans is shaking its distressed-city status as an influx of investment heads to town. National retailers and developers, many of them first-time investors in the city, are looking to set up shop.

1 minute read

September 28, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


It's hard to believe it's been seven years already since New Orleans was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the city has witnessed the city's best tourism year on record in 2011, and a swath of new development. "A deeper sign of the city's resilience can be found in the national developers and retailers now coming to town as first-time investors," reports The New York Times' Shawn Kennedy.

"Taken together, these completely different retail projects demonstrate a new confidence by outside developers and retailers in New Orleans's post-Katrina economic strength. It also underscores the city's ability to successfully woo badly needed retail businesses." New Orleans suffers from below-average levels of retail business for a city of its size, says Kennedy.

Much of the new development has been focused in the city's downtown, such as the Howard Hughes Corporation's plans for a $70 million renovation and expansion of Riverwalk. "To help correct the retail imbalance," notes Kennedy, "earlier this year the city embarked on a loan and grant program intended to encourage the reopening or development of grocery stores in neighborhoods where shopping opportunities are sparse."

"Several areas are not part of any new plans," Rodrick Miller of the New Orleans Business Alliance said. "We need to do what we can to correct that."

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business