The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (Authority), the governing board of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, received five responses to a Request for Qualifications to identify a Master Developer for its planned mixed-use, upriver development. A nationwide Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued in September, 2019.
The five qualified responses came from the following firms:
- Atomic Entertainment
- The Domain Companies
- River Park Neighborhood Investors, LLC
- Provident Realty Advisors, McDonnel Construction Services, and Provident Resources Group
- A Joint Venture Between Woodward, Leventhal, and Carpenter & Company, Inc.
All five firms will be interviewed, and a short-list of Master Developers will be issued a request for proposal (RFP).
“We are very pleased with the amount of interest and the number of qualified firms responding. These 40 acres are some of the last undeveloped urban real estate in the country, and will be one of the most important and transformative developments for New Orleans and the State of Louisiana in decades,” said Authority Executive Vice President, Michael J. Sawaya.
The Authority envisions that the 20 acres will be for a mixed-use development to complement a convention center headquarters hotel already in negotiations. The Authority expects the master-planned development to be reflective of the unique culture and history of New Orleans, and include elements not commonly found in other parts of the nation.
The Master Developer, expected to be selected early next year, would enter into a long-term agreement with the Authority to create and execute a master-plan that includes residential, entertainment, and retail components.
In June of 2018, the Authority approved a $557 million capital improvement plan that included funding to ready the site for development, as well as upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the Convention Center. A 7.5 acre pedestrian park fronting the entire length of the Convention Center is currently under construction, and a Transportation Center for shuttles, taxis, and ride shares recently opened to widespread acclaim.
Over the next five years, well over $1 billion will have been invested into the Convention Center and its surrounding complex. This dynamic new economic development is expected to spawn additional private investments similar to the model of the New Orleans Warehouse District, which is home to several thousand residents, and features a vibrant dining, retail, and cultural scene.
For updates on these and other developments, go to advantagenola.com.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space, in an entirely contiguous hall, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center provides the largest single exhibit space in the country. The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center features an award winning staff and first class amenities, and is the sixth largest convention center in the nation. A consistent Top 10 host of the largest conventions and tradeshows in the nation annually, the Convention Center is also one of the city’s “Top Workplaces.” A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, the Convention Center’s event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.
About the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority
The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s (Authority) exclusive mission is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the State of Louisiana and New Orleans Region. The Authority is composed of a 13-member board of commissioners, ten appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, and three appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans. Since 1985, event activity at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.
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