A LEGACY OF PRESERVATION & INNOVATION

The FMIA has seen its share of developments that had the potential to threaten the fabric of our neighborhood but has also been instrumental in helping create innovative solutions that make the Marigny an even better place to live. 

Stop Cold Storage

The State wanted to move a cold storage facility to a larger site so it could berth larger ships.  The easiest site was at the foot of Elysian Fields which would have had over 100 18-wheelers up and down the street on a daily basis.  Even worse was the hazard of having tanks of toxic ammonia at a site that has been hit so many times by ships that the wharves surrounding it were never rebuilt.  The FMIA worked with the City, State and Federal Government to secure the money to put the facility in a better suited location.

Size Matters

A developer wanted to build a hotel that was outside our Historic District Height Limits.  The residents worked together to educate the City on the dangers of allowing exceptions to the rules that created the wonderful place we have today.

Riverfront High Rises

The City, at the behest of developers, wanted to create a special zoning for the riverfront to allow buildings that were much greater in density and way over the allowed 55 feet.  FMIA worked to with the City to have them honor our historic limits.

Riverfront Expressway

The State wanted to build a riverfront expressway that would go down Press Street (now Homer Plessy way) along the riverfront to the Mississippi River Bridge.  The residents of both the Marigny and French Quarter worked with the City, State and Federal governments to educate them on the dangers of having such an expressway in the heart of the city and our neighborhoods.

Timeshares

The City put a moratorium on them in the early 90’s.  Some individuals wanted to revisit the moratorium to consider lifting it.  The FMIA worked with the City to educate them on the negative impact they would have on our neighborhood and city.

Frenchmen Street Overlay

The FMIA worked with the City to help create the entertainment zone along our entertainment district on Frenchmen to help businesses secure necessary City services and put in responsible regulations to protect both the businesses and the nearby residents.

Residential Diversity Overlay

The FMIA worked with the City to bring back limited use businesses in buildings that were traditionally used for stores and other low impact businesses.  This allowed the reintroduction of corner businesses in the neighborhood which helped bring back the services and walkability to our neighborhood.

Bed & Breakfasts

When the idea of Bed & Breakfasts came into New Orleans, FMIA worked with the City to help draft the language and secure the necessary neighborhood support to make it happen, but within limits to protect the residential nature of our area.

New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA)

When NOCCA needed to move from uptown, they had land on Pontchartrain Blvd in Lakeview but the residents did not want the school.  The FMIA lobbied the school to move into our neighborhood and help them secure the necessary neighborhood support to make it happen.