NEW ORLEANS — Demolition is now underway at the former Mercy Hospital, marking the beginning of a major transformation of the long-vacant Mid-City property.
After sitting dormant since Hurricane Katrina, work has begun on the former nursing school and central power plant, with demolition of the main seven-story hospital building to follow.
“This is a big day,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “When I ran for mayor, I said my administration will push for progress. For far too long, people have waited for things to happen, and we are pushing back against that and getting things done and this is one of those projects.”
The $16 million project will remove the approximately 350,000-square-foot hospital complex and convert its existing underground structure into a stormwater retention facility, capable of holding approximately 3.8 million gallons of runoff during major rain events. Project calculations indicate the system could reduce street flooding in the immediate area by approximately 12 inches during a 10-year design storm.
“The demolition of this blighted building will make way for the redevelopment of this site and will spur improvement of sites adjacent to ours, bringing renewed energy to the already active crossroads of the Lafitte Greenway and Bayou St. John,” said CEO of Woodward Design+Build Paul Flowers. “Mercy Partners is delighted to have reached this milestone in our efforts to improve this site and the neighborhood. Our development team and its architects and engineers are proud to make a lasting contribution to the city’s long-term safety and water management systems.”
The stormwater project is supported by $11.5 million in city bond funding approved by voters and a $4.5 million contribution from Woodward Interests. The City of New Orleans will own and maintain the system’s inflow and outflow infrastructure, while Woodward will maintain the underground retention basin.
“The demolition and redevelopment of the former Mercy Hospital site is a priority for the City, and an example of how community and economic development should be done,” said Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Jeff Schwartz. “The Mercy Hospital redevelopment will achieve multiple benefits: remove long-standing blight, increase the resilience of surrounding communities, and create a catalyst at a key node in the city. The City looks forward to supporting the success of the Mercy Hospital project and those like it throughout the city.“
Constructed in the 1950’s, Mercy Hospital in MidCity served countless New Orleanians until it closed following Hurricane Katrina. The demolition marks the end of a long chapter for a property left vacant and the beginning of a new one centered on flood mitigation, economic development and investment in Mid-City.
“This has never just been about knocking down a blighted building, it’s about what comes next,” said District B Councilmember Lesli Harris. “The stormwater retention system going in underground will hold four million gallons and meaningfully reduce flooding across the surrounding neighborhood. Watching demolition begin is proof that when voters and the city invest together, we can turn a decades-old blighted property into a real asset for Mid-City.”
“For far too long, the abandoned Mercy Hospital site has stood as a symbol of the lack of revitalization that Mid-City residents have endured,” said Council President J.P. Morrell. “Finally, under the Moreno Administration, the City is taking critical first steps to transform this giant eyesore of a property into an active, productive asset that will once again be part of our community. This is about more than redeveloping a long-abandoned property. It’s about creating new opportunities, bringing investment back to Mid-City, and delivering the kind of progress residents have been waiting to see for decades.”
“This project represents an important opportunity to put this property to work for the people who call this neighborhood home,” said Council Vice President Matthew Willard. “By removing a longstanding source of blight, improving stormwater management and preparing the site for future investment, we’re laying the groundwork for its next chapter. I’m proud to see this work move forward and look forward to the possibilities it creates for the future of Mid-City.”
The City of New Orleans will own and maintain the system’s inflow and outflow infrastructure, while Woodward will maintain the underground retention basin.
“From noting safety concerns, keeping those leading this process accountable, and imagining the future of this site, this demolition is possible today in large part due to the active participation of Mid-City residents in this many years-long process,” said Board Member of the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Mary Mysing- Gubala. As we move forward together, we are committed to ensuring Mid-City voices and opinions continue to be heard by the developers of this project, the City Planning Commission, the City Council, the Mayor and her administration. We thank all of you for continued support and cooperation.”
Safety and environmental monitoring will continue throughout demolition, including air-quality and vibration monitoring. Asbestos abatement is also underway inside the main hospital building, with required inspections preceding structural demolition.
Demolition is expected to wrap in early 2027.