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Port of New Orleans Launches Plan To Bring Tenants To Inner Harbor

Travis Lux
/
WWNO
Amelia Pellegrin, Director of Sustainable Development at the Port of New Orleans, talks about the PIER plan at the Port of New Orleans on Tuesday, October 30th.

The Port of New Orleans wants to attract more businesses to the Inner Harbor area -- also known as the Industrial Canal. The port held a public meeting on the planning process on Tuesday.

The Port of New Orleans owns most of the land and buildings around the Inner Harbor. Trouble is, they’re about 25% vacant. So, it’s working on a plan to recruit more tenants -- like ship builders and manufacturers. It’s called the Port NOLA Inner Harbor Economic Revitalization Plan (PIER Plan). Amelia Pellegrin is director of sustainable development for the Port.

“The intent is to have a business case that we can point to as to why we’re hoping other businesses, other entities, will help invest in bettering this corridor," Pellegrin says.

To make that case, the Port has been working to spiff up the area, with new streets and road signs. It’s also drawing attention to specific properties.

Andrea Lowe is one of those prospective tenants. She recently started a business importing wheat from Japan to turn into alternative energy. She thinks being on the Inner Harbor could help.

“We want to have a presence [at the Port],” says Lowe. “This is a way to really ship things in and out. Get it done quickly.”

The Port’s plan comes as the Army Corps of Engineers finalizes its plans to replace the Inner Harbor Lock. Something that many area residents have pushed back against. Port officials say the PIER plan is not related.

The next public meeting is November 10th at UNO.

As Coastal Reporter, Travis Lux covers flood protection, coastal restoration, infrastructure, the energy and seafood industries, and the environment. In this role he's reported on everything from pipeline protests in the Atchafalaya swamp, to how shrimpers cope with low prices. He had a big hand in producing the series, New Orleans: Ready Or Not?, which examined how prepared New Orleans is for a future with more extreme weather. In 2017, Travis co-produced two episodes of TriPod: New Orleans at 300 examining New Orleans' historic efforts at flood protection. One episode, NOLA vs Nature: The Other Biggest Flood in New Orleans History, was recognized with awards from the Public Radio News Directors and the New Orleans Press Club. His stories often find a wider audience on national programs, too, like NPR's Morning Edition, WBUR's Here and Now, and WHYY's The Pulse.

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