NEW ORLEANS - Today, the Council unanimously passed several items authored by District “A” Councilmember Joe Giarrusso approving a plan that will allow the development of 43 affordable housing units in Hollygrove.

The City Council enacted legislation in 2019 that loosened zoning restrictions for developers who build affordable units. The Grove Place development, located at the corner of Earhart Boulevard and Monroe Street, contains a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, all of which will be rented between 20% to 80% AMI.

NEW ORLEANS -  Today, Thursday, October 15, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance reducing conditional use application fees for established multi-family homes.

This ordinance, led by Councilmembers Joseph I. Giarrusso III and Jay H. Banks, creates an easier pathway for families seeking to bring their generational homes back into commerce.

"There are three ways government can kill development: study it, delay it or make it too expensive. We should be making things easier and better for everyone, and this new fee structure does just that," said Councilmember Giarrusso. "These reduced fees allow the city to provide services that help families re-establish multi-family homes without spending thousands of dollars in application fees."

Originally, fees for established multi-family conditional uses were based on square footage. Those fees ranged from $1,160 to $4,640, based on the size of the structure. Now, applications for established double- and multi-family residences cost $500. Any increase in floor area is an additional $200, totaling a $700 application fee for these expanded established structures.

NEW ORLEANS - Recently, the New Orleans City Council passed new Mardi Gras regulations that prohibit ladders and personal items on the public right-of-way four hours or more before a parade. In response to these new regulations, aside from closures related to streetcar track maintenance previously scheduled for Thursday, 2/20 and Friday 2/21, the New Orleans RTA will maintain transit service up to four hours before parades or until deemed unsafe and subject to City enforcement of new regulations. The RTA will also provide a parallel bus service along the parade route streetcar lines.

Dear Neighbors,

My office continues to receive calls and emails from New Orleanians concerned with their assessments. Now that we are past the deadline for formal assessment appeals, I want to be sure people know what comes next. Decisions at the Board of Review, at the City Council and various board and commissions, and the ballot box will all affect the 2020 tax bills. Included below are several slides from my Fall 2019 Tax Considerations Presentation.

NEW ORLEANS - Utilities Committee Chair Helena Moreno, Council Sewerage and Water Board (S&WB) Appointee Jay H. Banks, and Public Works Committee Chair Joe Giarrusso have issued the following statement regarding Entergy and the New Orleans Power Station (NOPS):

"Since taking office last May, this Council has relentlessly fought on behalf of Entergy New Orleans and Sewerage Water Board (S&WB) customers. We continue to review all aspects of service and business practices by S&WB and Entergy to determine how they can better serve New Orleanians.