NEW ORLEANS - District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer will ask the Council to support a modified plan for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) proposed mixed-income development at 4100 Royal Street. HANO requested to rezone the entire site to HM-MU for a five-story, 150 unit affordable housing development. HANO's developer, ITEX group, has since reduced the unit number to 136; however, the HM-MU zoning would allow for up to 184 units.
Councilmember Palmer is proposing to modify the zoning, capping the units at 143. The Councilmember will also initiate a planned development for the site, which is newly available under the City's inclusionary zoning laws. Through this process, HANO can continue its dialogue with the community to design a building appropriate for its residents and the neighborhood.
"Requiring a planned development for the site locks in the number of units and a design which benefits the neighborhood. It will also guarantee affordable housing while making provisions to ensure that housing is designed and equipped to a standard that New Orleanians can thrive in," said Councilmember Palmer.
"As a former Councilmember, I know how difficult finding a win-win on land use cases like this one can be, especially when they include affordable housing. The inclusionary zoning rules my administration pushed through earlier this year were created just for projects like this one - to ensure affordability in high opportunity neighborhoods near job centers and transit routes. I applaud Councilmember Palmer and the whole team for working with the community and the project stakeholders to come up with this solution," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
"This zoning change would allow the long-awaited development to move forward. Through our efforts to establish rules that would support a Smart Housing Mix strategy, the Council recently added mandatory inclusionary zoning to affordable housing toolkit. Given our city's current affordability crisis, it is critical to support mixed-income developments such as this one that will provide safe and affordable housing for the large percentage of hardworking New Orleanians who are currently paying more than they can afford," said Andreanecia M. Morris, Executive Director of HousingNOLA.
"This is a unique opportunity to provide quality affordable housing allowing residents to be close to their jobs and neighborhood amenities such as Crescent Park. We will continue to work with Councilmember Gisleson Palmer, Mayor Cantrell, community stakeholders, Bywater residents and future residents of 4100 Royal Street," said Will Moyers, Vice President of ITEX Group.
To view the full meeting agenda, or to tune in to live coverage, visit council.nola.gov/meetings.
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Media Contact:
Tiffaney Bradley
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"
Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov
(504) 658-1034