When a large out-of-scale building went up next to Washington Square Park, residents realized that unless steps were quickly taken this intact nineteenth century neighborhood would be destroyed by poorly planned development. The Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association (FMIA) was formed in 1972 to respond to this and to protect the neighborhood.

Vital to the effort to protect the neighborhood was the rezoning of the neighborhood to protect the built environment and prevent the construction of out of scale or otherwise inappropriate buildings within the neighborhood.  Working with City Planning and the Tulane School of Architecture, the residents helped develop the Historic Marigny Zoning (HMZ).  It was adopted by the City Council in 1972 for the triangle area (between Esplanade and Elysian Fields) and in 1974 for the remainder of the Marigny (Elysian Fields to Press Street).

The FMIA continued its efforts to protect the built environment by having the Faubourg Marigny put on the Historic Registers of the city, the state and the federal government.  This allowed for better protection of the historic structures as well as increased value of the buildings with in the neighborhood.

In looking for more ways to renew the Marigny, the FMIA asked City Planning to develop the Residential District Overlay (RDO).  The purpose of the overlay was to allow low impact businesses to occupy corner buildings that were at one time used commercially.  The FMIA worked closely with City planning to develop the ordinance.  The result has been the revival of businesses which has brought economic development, jobs and services into our neighborhood.

The FMIA has been the driver to both protect and promote the Marigny. Working with the City, it helped develop the Frenchmen Street Arts & Cultural Overlay.  The purpose of the overlay was to manage the growth of Frenchman Street so that it protected both the businesses and the residents yet still allowed for the musical entertainment that it has become know for. The result of the overlay is a thriving musical and cultural district famous for its music, bars and food.

Over the decades, the FMIA has worked to revive and rebuild New Orleans’ 3^rd oldest neighborhood.  Its charge is to protect the architectural, cultural and historical legacy that has been handed down generation after generation.  To that end, the FMIA with the help of City Planning has helped developed the Historic Marigny Zoning, the Residential District Overlay and the Frenchmen Street Arts & Cultural Overlay.  Additionally, the FMIA secured a place for the neighborhood on the historic registers at the Federal, State and local level.

The Marigny is a thriving neighborhood that is ready for whatever century comes and welcomes new development that respects all the hard work that has been done to make the Marigny what it is today: a great place to live, work and play.