NEW ORLEANS — Tuesday, Bywater residents got a closer look at what will become of the old abandoned Naval Base on Poland Avenue.
“They’ve given us an opportunity to have our voices be heard,” said Bywater resident Veronica Miles. “I hope they will listen.”
For more than a decade, the property has sat vacant. On Tuesday, a handful of Bywater residents listened as the City Planning Commission gave updates on the building’s redevelopment plan.
Earlier this month, we learned the Environmental Protection Agency awarded the site a 2-million-dollar grant.
“It’s going to help cover remediation costs,” said Jeffrey Schwartz, Director of Economic Development. “Getting rid of asbestos and a lot of the other hazardous materials out of the NSA buildings.”
Schwartz says the site is leased to developer Joe Jaeger, who wants to turn the once bustling complex into nearly 300 affordable apartments, shops, and a large parking garage.
During the meeting, Jaeger told residents the process has taken longer than anticipated partially because it’s been challenging to secure funding from state and federal agencies.
“The developer has been actively working on it for 7 or 8 years,” said Schwartz. “We know that the site has been a nuisance over time, and we’ve worked really closely with the development team and the community to get to a spot where the site is safe and secure, but we know that we have to get the property back into commerce.”
Residents were asked to submit their ideas for future use of the property.
“I think we have a lot of concerns on how this is going to affect our quality of life,” said Miles. “Whether it’s going to be a negative effect or a positive effect. Whether there is actual genuine care for our quality of life.”
Miles says she doesn’t want the city or the developers to lose sight of what’s important to the people who live in Bywater.
“In the spirit of New Orleans and what’s important to us in the community and the culture of this city, I think it [should be] spaces that support small businesses and non-profits,” said Miles.
According to Jager and Schwartz, the next hurdle should be reached in May when a determination on if state and federal funding could be reached. Jager says if those funds are not secured, he will give the keys to the old base back to the city.
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