NEW ORLEANS - At Thursday's meeting, Councilmembers will consider a motion and a resolution to encourage affordable housing in New Orleans. The motion (M-19-73) would amend the City's zoning law to require developments along the riverfront in the Marigny and Bywater to include at least 10 percent of affordable housing units in order to qualify for additional density and height limits, up to a maximum of six stories or 75 ft. The City Planning Commission (CPC) previously proposed these provisions, which already exist along the Algiers riverfront.
The riverfront includes properties between the Mississippi River and Chartres or Decatur streets in the Marigny and Bywater communities. Developments closest to the street would still be limited to avoid having large buildings looming over nearby properties.
A separate Council resolution requests that future developers prioritize affordable housing and include an adequate public park at 1141 Esplanade Avenue in the Historic Faubourg Treme neighborhood.
District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer has called on the Office of Community Development to require the site include all affordable housing without any market rate units.
"There's a severe shortage of affordable housing in our city, and we must look at every new development as an opportunity to put affordable units back into the local housing market. We also must recognize the neighbors in Treme who have been fighting for years for a park to provide a safe, accessible public space for the community to gather and enjoy. We don't need to choose between affordable housing and a public park; we can have both and make the neighborhood a better place to live. I believe the type of development outlined in this resolution can create vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods with all the public services and the amenities necessary to support our citizens, regardless of economic status," said Councilmember Palmer.
"We're very excited to be righting some detrimental wrongs for our city through critical initiatives and policies such as these, and we hope the Council will step up tomorrow and Put Housing First," said HousingNOLA Executive Director Andreanecia Morris. "The proposed legislation represents significant steps toward supporting and incentivizing quality, affordable housing development and the goals outlined in the Smart Housing Mix and HousingNOLA's 10-Year Strategy and Implementation Plan. We look forward to continuing to work together with Councilwoman Palmer, and the entire Council to address our current affordability crisis."
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Media Contact:
Tiffaney Bradley
Communications Director
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"
Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov
(504) 295-4970