Hoffman Neighborhood Association Meeting: Special NORA Meeting
April 23, 2008
5:30-7pm
Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church
3327 Toledano st:
Attendance:
Residents: 31
Church Representatives: 3
NORA: 3
NDF: 3
RALLY: 1
TOTAL: 41
Opening Prayer and Announcement of Officers
Agenda
:
New Orleans Development Authority (NORA) is here to speak about development plans for the
neighborhood, as well as information on their programs for residents
1. NORA seeks to help the neighborhood come back
-NORA owns properties in the area, and additional properties are in the pipeline via Road
Home Program and the Louisiana Land Trust
-NORA has tools and programs designed to help residents
-Lot Next Door Program: Designed for neighbors with homestead exemption to acquire
adjacent properties
-Possible $5,000 price reduction as greenery and fencing credit on property
-Property will be transferred with clear title, no liens, fines, or any other
outstanding financial burdens will transfer to new owner
Possible Issues/Problems to overcome: Zoning
-Almost all properties that NORA will own are residentially zoned
-Would require rezoning for commercial use and possibly a special use permit
-It is easier to go from commercial to residential than vice versa
-Neighbors in each direction (several blocks) must be consulted and OK the zoning
change
-Commercial Lots are not part of Lot Next Door Program
-How do revitalize the area with existing small businesses if they are excluded from Lot
Next Door program (no homestead exemption etc?
-NORA is currently working on a solution
Question: Does Lot Next Door Program apply to Churches or small businesses?
-Answer: NO, but NORA is working on additional programs targeting small businesses
and non-profits such as churches. Possible changes and suggestions will be brought before
Redevelopment Committee
-“Soft Second” mortgage options
-Alternative Housing Pilot Program
Small Entrepreneur Program:
Approaching end of the year before first wave of properties can
be put into the program
-Developer Application available May 1
-RFP by interested parties is precursor and will evaluate ...
-Capacity to rebuild
-Standing in community
-Scale of developer (2 properties vs. 100 etc)
What about Eyesore/Cleanup issues?
-Will the property be cleaned up before sale?
-How will it be maintained?
-Purchaser will be required to clean up and maintain the property
WINN DIXIE:
-Not owned by NORA, but NORA is working with the developer
-NORA trying to make sure a certain standard of stores in the plaza (high quality
etc)
-Façade improvement is also a major initiative to keep area looking strong and
commercially viable
RESIDENT: People want groceries and don’t care what the outside looks like!
-Whats going into the plaza?
-No definitive answer yet
Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP) homes:
possible use of NORA lots
-Showed possible layouts for different lots, double/single occupancy, creole cottages and
shotguns etc.
-Size of house going into the lots is an issue
-Must be family size (1000sqft etc)
-There are elevation issues for Orleans Parish which must be resolved before installation
(some housing designs cannot be elevated etc)
Concluded with a prayer
NEXT MEETING: May 13, 2008 5:30-7pm