OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Economic Development and Special Development Projects Committee Meeting - February 24, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, February 24, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, February 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:20:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Here, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Hughes.

0:03

We do not have a quorum, but we can go to item number three, a presentation on the administration's economic development priorities and special projects by Dr.

0:11

Jenny Mains, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, and Jeff Schwartz, the director of Office of Housing and Community Development.

0:19

Thank you so much.

0:20

Dr.

0:21

Maines, it's a pleasure to have you before the Economic Development Committee.

0:25

To the members of the public, we wanted this to be sort of an introductory meeting for Dr.

0:30

Mains to share her vision for the Office of Economic Development and all the different departments and leaders who report to Dr.

0:39

Maines.

0:40

We'll get an overview of some of the bigger economic development projects going on in the city right now.

0:47

And we'll receive that update from Mr.

0:49

Schwartz.

0:50

So Dr.

0:50

Mains, at this time, the floor is yours.

0:54

Good morning, and thank you so much for having me here.

0:59

Whenever I got the news, I was very excited to come here and present what the administration has for this 100 day 100, at least the first 100 days, and then moving forward.

1:10

Like it would say, I'm Jenny Maines, and I'm here with part of my group, and also behind we have three, if they can stand up.

1:20

We have Bruda, Margaret, and Andrew.

1:23

They're a part of our economic development group.

1:26

And we are grateful.

1:27

Well, I'm grateful for them, and because they have been so great to this specific economic development project.

1:36

So we are the face right here, but behind us is a group of people that are working every day.

1:48

So it has been they've been working on the back in silence, but I want to recognize them and their work that they have done for the city of New Orleans.

1:57

So thank you very much to all of them.

2:01

Today we're gonna walk through what we are structuring in economic development.

2:06

I have met with some of the council members, and I am working to meet with the rest so we can have a one-on-one and see um specifically in each district, how can we partner up and work together on what they have heard from their district and how we can work together to build economic development in each district.

2:25

So to start with the presentation, umic development under this administration is structured with deputy mayors.

2:32

In this case, I would go um the first is the people of New Orleans, then is the mayor, and in my department for the deputy mayor of economic development, I oversee seven seven different um seven different departments.

2:49

Office of economic development, director of house, I mean I'm sorry, housing and community development, workforce development, and cultural economy film, supply diversity, and night economy.

3:05

That's what my um my office oversees and it actually does um comes together with what it is economic development, as we can see in order for economic development to succeed, we need um our community development housing.

3:24

We need our workforce, and that's something that it has been one of the targets for the 100 days to keep building our ecosystem around economic development, and along with the other departments.

3:38

So if we go if we continue to the next slide.

3:42

Um a little bit about me.

3:45

I was appointed by the mayor in 20 January 2026.

3:49

It feels like a year already.

3:52

It has we have started um this journey into um coming in and developing this economic for the city of New Orleans.

4:03

Um that's my role, this whole portfolio that I shared previously, and we are focused on coordinating an execution-driven um strategies.

4:15

And if we move on into what's our mission, the mission that we have is to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the strength of this neighborhood, support businesses, and expands opportunity across New Orleans.

4:30

Um equity and execution are not competing goals.

4:35

It's they must work together in order for us to move forward with our city.

4:40

And our mission is economic development for all areas from New Orleans East to Algiers, um, and Savalize downtown and protecting our cultural economy as well.

4:53

So moving on to the next slide.

5:00

Our core role, what it is in the 100 day plans is the major uh major protective coordination, business recruitment and retention that we have already started, and we are creating a group that can go out and because normally um economic development we always think about okay, who are we gonna bring from the outside, like what other big company?

5:23

But we are also trying to focus on what about the ones that stayed, the ones that didn't went to another parish or the ones that didn't went to another state.

5:31

So we are having we are working to put a group together so that we can reach out to the ones that stay and see how can we help so that they can stay in business and and thrive.

5:44

Um another core core core role is initiative and deal of the structuring.

5:51

Public-private partnership, it's another one that um that in it it's needed in order to bring economic development in our city.

6:01

How how can we connect with the private sector and together um bring business retention and also continue with what what's the plan for our economic development?

6:13

Intergovernmental alignment as well, how can we just together work together commercial corridor, um, that reliability?

6:22

We have a lot going on on that that uh we're very excited on the east, and um that I will explain shortly how how are we gonna how we plan to um to do that?

6:34

And moving on to the next one, our administration, our first 100 days.

6:40

So our first 100 days is to restore economic competence that we have from what we have heard that it has that was one of the well that was one of the main concerns that the trust wasn't there anymore.

6:56

So, how can we come together and uh restore that trust, improve permitting and um I think that's something that is that it's big, but we are working since day one, working with Microsoft, how we can help with the permitting so that our businesses can get permit and get their businesses open.

7:18

Activate our priority redevelopment projects, the ones that have been for previous years that were just steady, how can we reactivate them?

7:27

How can we go back and see where where and why it was stopped and how we can work together if um to do that?

7:35

Strength workforce and youth pathways, that's something that um is very close to the mayor's heart and also my heart.

7:43

The youth, the youth program, the summer youth program, which we actually just left the meeting on that.

7:49

It's um how can we get the youth to work during the summer?

7:53

Um, not only to work but to have a meaningful um job that they can bring in income.

8:00

A lot of the youth where they live in the household is are either single parents.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Affordable Housing███████████16%
Community Engagement█████7%
Workforce Development███5%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Procedural█1%
Transportation Safety█1%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Economic Development and Special Development Projects Committee Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Economic Development and Special Development Projects Committee of the New Orleans City Council met on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting featured a presentation from Dr. Jenny Mains, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, and Jeff Schwartz, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development, on the administration's economic development priorities and major special projects. Committee members present included Chairperson Matthew Willard, Aimee McCarron, Eugene J. Green, and Jason Hughes; Councilmember Lesli Harris (District B) attended as a non-member. Committee member Jean-Paul "JP" Morrell was absent. Public comment was heard, and several key discussion items were addressed, though the meeting adjourned without a formal vote due to a lack of quorum.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (August 12, 2025): Motion to approve the minutes from the August 12, 2025 committee meeting was moved by Chairperson Matthew Willard, seconded by Aimee McCarron, and passed with 3 yeas (Willard, McCarron, Hughes), 0 nays, and 2 absent (Morrell, Green).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Steven Kennedy emphasized the importance of equitable business opportunity (EBO) legislation and urged the administration to prioritize minority small businesses and emerging developers. He noted that he had previously traveled to Atlanta with then-Vice President Marino to study similar programs.
  • Eugene Ben spoke about the Housing Trust Fund, requesting a cohesive implementation strategy that integrates economic incentives, workforce development, and community engagement. He asked for a follow-up meeting to develop an actionable plan.
  • Melika Honore questioned how the Office of Economic Development plans to support small businesses in New Orleans East and reminded the committee that New Orleans East contributes significant revenue to the city that often does not return to the area.
  • Tangee Wall expressed that New Orleans East is ready for business revitalization and cultural enhancement, praising the committee's focus and looking forward to partnership.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation on Economic Development Priorities: Dr. Jenny Mains outlined her first 100-day plan, emphasizing restoring trust, improving permitting, activating priority redevelopment projects, strengthening workforce and youth pathways, launching a business retention and recruitment council (initially 10 seats from various sectors), and moving city-owned properties into commerce. Key early actions included progress on the NSA campus, Rouse supermarket reopening, the Tour Shakespeare senior affordable housing groundbreaking, the Mercy Hospital CEA, and the West End project. Dr. Mains also noted the summer youth program aims to cover 2,000 youth this summer.
  • Mercy Hospital Redevelopment: Jeff Schwartz described the former Mercy Hospital site as a 20-year eyesore. The developer (Woodward with St. Margaret's) proposes a mixed-use, mixed-income project with approximately 200 housing units (5-10% affordable), ground-floor retail, and parking. The project includes a unique up-to-4-million-gallon water retention system in the basement to address flooding on Norman C. Francis Parkway, with a city investment of $11.5 million ($6 million from drainage bond, $5.5 million from infrastructure bond). The CEA is expected to be shared in 2-3 weeks, with demolition ahead of a financial closing likely in fall 2026. Councilmember Harris noted the project will return blighted property to the tax rolls.
  • NSA Campus: The 1.5 million-square-foot former naval base's first phase closed in December 2025 and broke ground in January 2026. It is a $196 million project with 294 units of 100% affordable housing (largest LIHTC project in state history), 37,000 sq ft of retail, 900 parking spaces, and 41 EV charging stations. A separate New Lab facility (30,000 sq ft, $30 million) will be a clean-tech incubator attracting startups. A second phase remains for 500,000 sq ft in Building 601.
  • River District: The convention center-led project has a new master development agreement approved by the convention center board. The Shell building (7-800 employees, $100M+ payroll) will go into a PILOT for 15 years, then return to tax rolls. Top Golf is no longer moving forward. The first phase of affordable housing (Ravana) has $16 million in post-IDA CDBG funds expiring this spring; the administration is working to get it to a financial closing. The overall project includes 900 units with 450 affordable.
  • Lake Forest Plaza Mall: The site once generated 25% of all sales tax revenue in Orleans Parish and has been vacant for decades. First-100-day priority to develop a strategy. Councilmember Hughes expressed urgency, noting District E has been overlooked for 20 years, and requested commitments for twice-monthly meetings and a half-day tour of New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward. Dr. Mains and Mr. Schwartz agreed.
  • Charity Hospital: Tulane University is taking over two-thirds of the million-square-foot building as an anchor for a bio-innovation district. The project has grown from $250 million to $650 million and will include 256 housing units (affordable, workforce, and market-rate split TBD). Councilmember Willard asked that some units be reserved for employees and medical students.
  • Municipal Auditorium & Armstrong Park: The mayor announced funding to hire a world-class master planning team. The vision is akin to a "World War II Museum campus for culture," telling the story of Black New Orleans and Congo Square. Expect solicitation in Q2 2026.
  • Plaza Tower: Lincoln Avenue Communities and Brian Gibbs have the building under contract with a closing anticipated in the first quarter of 2027. The current owner (estate of Mr. Yeager) completed $400,000-$500,000 in remedial work to secure the building. Engineers confirm the structure is not in danger of collapse. The administration prefers redevelopment over demolition.
  • Workforce Development: Courtney from the Office of Workforce Development noted the department manages federal workforce grants, operates opportunity centers (e.g., Job1 at Myrtle Banks), offers certification programs, and provides employer stipends. Councilmember McCarron suggested stronger ties with unions like IBEW.
  • Councilmember Hughes' Additional Concerns: He asked for attention to blighted commercial buildings (vacant IHOP, Save A Lot), the need for a multi-pronged housing strategy to avoid creating new blight, and support for small businesses through marketing and technical assistance. He also raised the Lincoln Beach project, which is moving too slowly (projected opening 2027). Chairperson Willard suggested a strategic plan for New Orleans East.

Key Outcomes

  • Commitments Made: Dr. Mains and Mr. Schwartz committed to meeting twice monthly with Councilmember Hughes and to spending a half day each in New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward within the next 30 days.
  • No Formal Votes: The motion to adjourn (moved by Willard, seconded by Green) failed with 2 yeas (Willard, Green) and 3 absent (Morrell, McCarron, Hughes), as a quorum was not present. The meeting was effectively concluded after public comment.
  • Next Steps: The administration will continue work on all major projects, with specific timelines for CEA execution, demolition (Mercy), master planning (NSA Phase 2, Municipal Auditorium), and financing closings (River District, Plaza Tower). The council will receive updates on city-owned property inventory and the new business retention/recruitment council.

Meeting Transcript

Here, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Hughes. We do not have a quorum, but we can go to item number three, a presentation on the administration's economic development priorities and special projects by Dr. Jenny Mains, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, and Jeff Schwartz, the director of Office of Housing and Community Development. Thank you so much. Dr. Maines, it's a pleasure to have you before the Economic Development Committee. To the members of the public, we wanted this to be sort of an introductory meeting for Dr. Mains to share her vision for the Office of Economic Development and all the different departments and leaders who report to Dr. Maines. We'll get an overview of some of the bigger economic development projects going on in the city right now. And we'll receive that update from Mr. Schwartz. So Dr. Mains, at this time, the floor is yours. Good morning, and thank you so much for having me here. Whenever I got the news, I was very excited to come here and present what the administration has for this 100 day 100, at least the first 100 days, and then moving forward. Like it would say, I'm Jenny Maines, and I'm here with part of my group, and also behind we have three, if they can stand up. We have Bruda, Margaret, and Andrew. They're a part of our economic development group. And we are grateful. Well, I'm grateful for them, and because they have been so great to this specific economic development project. So we are the face right here, but behind us is a group of people that are working every day. So it has been they've been working on the back in silence, but I want to recognize them and their work that they have done for the city of New Orleans. So thank you very much to all of them. Today we're gonna walk through what we are structuring in economic development. I have met with some of the council members, and I am working to meet with the rest so we can have a one-on-one and see um specifically in each district, how can we partner up and work together on what they have heard from their district and how we can work together to build economic development in each district. So to start with the presentation, umic development under this administration is structured with deputy mayors. In this case, I would go um the first is the people of New Orleans, then is the mayor, and in my department for the deputy mayor of economic development, I oversee seven seven different um seven different departments. Office of economic development, director of house, I mean I'm sorry, housing and community development, workforce development, and cultural economy film, supply diversity, and night economy. That's what my um my office oversees and it actually does um comes together with what it is economic development, as we can see in order for economic development to succeed, we need um our community development housing. We need our workforce, and that's something that it has been one of the targets for the 100 days to keep building our ecosystem around economic development, and along with the other departments. So if we go if we continue to the next slide. Um a little bit about me. I was appointed by the mayor in 20 January 2026. It feels like a year already. It has we have started um this journey into um coming in and developing this economic for the city of New Orleans. Um that's my role, this whole portfolio that I shared previously, and we are focused on coordinating an execution-driven um strategies. And if we move on into what's our mission, the mission that we have is to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the strength of this neighborhood, support businesses, and expands opportunity across New Orleans. Um equity and execution are not competing goals. It's they must work together in order for us to move forward with our city. And our mission is economic development for all areas from New Orleans East to Algiers, um, and Savalize downtown and protecting our cultural economy as well. So moving on to the next slide. Our core role, what it is in the 100 day plans is the major uh major protective coordination, business recruitment and retention that we have already started, and we are creating a group that can go out and because normally um economic development we always think about okay, who are we gonna bring from the outside, like what other big company? But we are also trying to focus on what about the ones that stayed, the ones that didn't went to another parish or the ones that didn't went to another state. So we are having we are working to put a group together so that we can reach out to the ones that stay and see how can we help so that they can stay in business and and thrive. Um another core core core role is initiative and deal of the structuring. Public-private partnership, it's another one that um that in it it's needed in order to bring economic development in our city. How how can we connect with the private sector and together um bring business retention and also continue with what what's the plan for our economic development? Intergovernmental alignment as well, how can we just together work together commercial corridor, um, that reliability? We have a lot going on on that that uh we're very excited on the east, and um that I will explain shortly how how are we gonna how we plan to um to do that?

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