New Orleans City Business

American Red Cross Provides Canteen Services at Site of Gas Spill in New Orleans

In Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Swat Team Members Find Outlet in Boxing

Jeff Roach, a SWAT team member and former amateur boxer, hung a heavy bag wrapped in frayed silver duct tape in an office two months ago in the New Orleans Police Department's Third District headquarters. Roach battered the black hulk with jabs, hooks and straight right hands. It made him feel better.

Louisiana Ports Given Short Shrift, Officials Say

Martime industry leaders say city and state officials have long ceased investing in the state's ports, particularly the Port of New Orleans, to the deficit of Louisiana's economy and quality of life. Yet the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the 2005 hurricane damage drove home the need to better protect the reason New Orleans was founded, said Scott Slatten, president of the 116- year-old Bisso Towboat Co. Inc. of New Orleans.

Part Ii: Outside Investment in New Orleans' Asian-American Business Recovery

Editor's Note: This is the second story of a three-part series on the recovery of the Vietnamese business community in New Orleans.

Oct. 9-15

The following calendar of business meetings and events is for Oct. 9-15. The deadline for submissions to the business calendar is 10 days prior to publication date. Oct. 9-13

Three Alternative Building Systems Gain Attention From New Orleans- Area Homeowners

If only the three little pigs had these options for their houses. As homeowners collect insurance money and other funds tied to storm recovery, three alternative building systems are beginning to gain attention - modular, concrete and steel framing.

Louisiana's Road Home Program Proving to Be Uphill Climb

The Road Home program, which provides Louisiana homeowners up to $150,000 each to cover uninsured property damage from last year's hurricanes, has given funds to only 13 applicants. That's the sum total of the program since officials opened 10 housing assistance centers in August to accept applications from homeowners affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Interview with Skip Weber About Commercial Real Estate Industry in New Orleans

Age: 59 Hometown: New Orleans

Gretna Police Blocking Passage of New Orleanians Seeking Refuge Continues to Attract Attention

It is one of the most infamous incidents to arise out of the aftermath of Katrina - a thin blue line of Gretna Police Department officers blocking passage across the Crescent City Connection to hundreds of New Orleans residents in search of refuge. According to eyewitnesses, police fired rifles into the air, told the crowd they would not be allowed to cross the bridge and instructed them to return to New Orleans.

Analysts: Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Issue Still has a Shot in Congress

Louisiana's decades-long battle to expand offshore oil and gas drilling and secure billions in federal royalties to combat coastal erosion did not end when Congress failed to strike a deal in September. Political analysts such as University of Houston professor Dr. Timothy Nokken say the measure could pass when Congress reconvenes Nov. 13 after a five-week recess to allow members to hit the mid- term campaign trail.

Why Stay? Naturalist at Audubon Zoo Missed the White Tigers and Elephants

Many displaced New Orleanians say they really miss the food, music and culture of home. Jerry Sandberg missed the white tigers. "I had this hollow feeling," he said. "All I could think of were those white tigers, and the elephants."

New Orleans Dome's Reopening Generates $20m in Tourism Business

When the New Orleans Saints kicked off against the Atlanta Falcons before a nationwide audience Sept. 25, the moment opened the city's full convention calendar along with the return of cruise ships, three major sporting events and a 30,000-person convention - the largest in New Orleans in two years. The game drew the biggest audience among all TV networks, broadcast or cable. The Dome reopening pumped an estimated $20 million into the city economy, according to the New Orleans Metropolitan Co...

La-Based Ochsner Health System Renames Hospitals Acquired From Tenet

After acquiring three Tenet hospitals for $56.8 million, Ochsner Health System will rename the facilities and open 100 more beds in the city by the end of the year, said Warner Thomas, chief operating officer and president. Ochsner announced in July it would acquire Kenner Regional Medical Center, Meadowcrest Hospital in Gretna and Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans from Tenet.

Phase Iv Expansion of New Orleans Convention Center Is Not Dead

Warren Reuther Jr., president of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority, the Convention Center's governing body, said the planned Phase IV expansion project is still alive. The convention center suspended its contract with Broadmoor Construction LLC of New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina so the center could bring the existing facility back online.

New Orleans West Bank Residential Project Gains Pivotal Rezoning Nod

A major West Bank residential project proposed for land owned by Blaine Kern was rezoned commercial Sept. 26 by the City Planning Commission. The zoning change was an important hurdle to clear for the developers, J.S. Karlton Co. and International Sales Group, although more city approvals will be needed before construction can begin on the 13-acre project.

Chase Bank to Reopen Most New Orleans Branches

Chase Bank had 56 branches in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina and will reopen 48 of them. Chase's New Orleans retail market manager Michael Lulich said telecommunications have been an obstacle in bringing branches back online. In areas where high-speed data lines are not yet available, Chase used satellite-equipped vans to reopen limited service branches. Larger, trailer home branches replaced vans once communications become available, and work continues to rebuild branches damaged in th...

New Orleans Citybusiness to Honor 50 'Women of the Year'

New Orleans CityBusiness has chosen 50 honorees for its eighth annual Women of the Year awards luncheon to take place Nov. 10 at the Sheraton Hotel. Honorees were selected based on successes in business and contributions to the New Orleans community. The 2006 Women of the Year special publication will run in the Nov. 13 edition of New Orleans CityBusiness.

Rising Costs Drive Prime Office Space Rents Higher in New Orleans

New Orleanians are paying more post-Hurricane Katrina for prime office space. Second-quarter rent for the Central Business District's Class A office space was 55 cents higher per square foot than the same period last year, according to a report released by Bruce Sossaman, leasing director in New Orleans for Chicago-based Equity Office Properties Trust.

Plaza Developers Find Property Tax Tifs in New Orleans Are Too Cumbersome and Not Lucrative Enough

In late August, developers of the moldy, asbestos-plagued Plaza Tower thought they had the solution to cleaning the building. With plans to convert the blighted property into condos, the developers went before the City Council to request use of the building's property taxes to pay for half of a $27-million remediation.

Stout Crude, Gas Reserves Ease Pressure at the Pump

As he pulled into a Marrero gas station and twisted the gas cap off his green Saturn's nearly empty tank, Baltimore native Geoffrey Shannon heard a familiar hiss and wheeze as the last remaining fumes wafted out. Glancing up at the S&K fuel marquee advertising regular unleaded gas at $1.99 a gallon, the 25-year-old journalist said he could afford to fill up his tank this time.