NEW ORLEANS — Leaders at the State of Louisiana, the City of New Orleans, and Jefferson Parish have signed a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to proceed with the development of the West End park area facing west on Lake Pontchartrain’s shoreline. For the first time since Hurricane Katrina, leaders hope the area directly across from the 17th Street Canal will again be a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors as the process to select a developer for the site advances.
The City and Parish, supported by the New Orleans Building Corporation and the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation, are carrying out a two-step solicitation process to select a developer capable of restoring the site with a vision that builds on its historic reputation and integrates it into the boathouse community and natural environment. Two additional public meetings will be held in November to receive community feedback that will be considered in the development of the site.
“Bringing this part of West End back to life took all parties pulling in the same direction,” said New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno. “Previous attempts to restore this site failed due to a lack of compromise and partnership. But make no mistake – we are now on a path to redevelopment because of a shared commitment by the State, the City of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish to restoring this historic West End site to the regional attraction and amenity it is. That cooperation is represented by the final signature on the CEA.”
“Lake Pontchartrain is one of our greatest assets, but we lack public access to it across much of the Parish,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “However, the redevelopment of this West End site, which has a unique commercial profile and one-of-a-kind history, will allow the public to enjoy increased access to the lake – with both recreational and food and beverage options for residents and visitors.”
The West End site is nearly five acres of lakefront and 500 feet of seawall with some potential for development on the water. The 70124 ZIP code that hosts the site has grown 48% since 2011 and has seen major investments in the yacht harbor community, including a 400-slip floating-dock marina, a new fishing pier and a new Community Sailing facility.
“West End is an important part of District A, with a park, marinas, boathouses and a surrounding neighborhood that will help shape its future,” said New Orleans City Councilmember Aimee McCarron. “Signing this agreement brings us closer to redevelopment that complements those assets and creates a welcoming place for residents and visitors to enjoy the lakefront.”
“West End offers a valuable opportunity to support local businesses and creates jobs along a stretch of lakefront shared by both parishes,” said Jefferson Parish District 5 Councilmember Hans Liljeberg. “Getting this agreement signed took sustained cooperation. Our focus now is on carrying that cooperation into a redevelopment project that brings lasting economic and recreational benefits to Jefferson Parish and our partners in New Orleans.”
“This CEA is important not just because it memorializes a commitment to reviving an economic and family-friendly destination but also shows the importance of regional partnership and working collaboratively,” said New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso. “The project came together because Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, and the State worked together to push the West End redevelopment to its next phase.”
State Representative Stephanie Hilferty authored recent state legislation that created an Economic Development District (EDD) for the site, authorizing up to a 2% additional sales and use tax whose proceeds can fund economic development and infrastructure costs in West End. The City Council and Jefferson Parish Council both passed supporting resolutions for the EDD.
“I’ve worked toward this redevelopment project for my entire career as a State Representative. Creating the West End Economic Development District to help support this project was a big step in the right direction, and now this signed CEA establishes how our public partners will work together,” said Hilferty. “This effort reflects the importance of partnership among the State of Louisiana, Orleans Parish and Jefferson arish in moving this project forward. Together, these steps give us the tools to receive new investment that creates jobs and is accountable to the public.”
“We’ve heard from residents, businesses and developers who are excited for this opportunity,” said Annie McBride, CEO of the New Orleans Building Corporation. “Waterfront commercial opportunities are rare, especially with this amount of space and access, and we expect that the eventual lease will reflect a premier proposal that brings out the best of this beautiful space and incorporates best practices from similar developments. The clarity provided by this CEA shows prospective developers that the State, the City of New Orleans, and Jefferson Parish are committed to ensuring the successful development of a first-class project that responds to the goals outlined in the solicitation.”
“For generations, West End was a place where families gathered for waterfront dining, entertainment and time on Lake Pontchartrain,” said Bryan Whited, Executive Director of the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation. “That history gives this site a special place in our region and should help guide its future. With the CEA signed, we have an opportunity to build on that heritage and create a destination that future generations will make their own.”
The CEA is signed by Jefferson Parish, the State of Louisiana, the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation, the New Orleans Building Corporation, and the East Bank Consolidated Special Service Fire Protection District of Jefferson Parish. The New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation will be the landlord of the site, while the New Orleans Building Corporation will shepherd the developer selection, conduct the redevelopment process, and negotiate up to a 99-year lease with the selected developer on behalf of the Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation. Both are city-owned public benefit corporations.
The next deadline is for the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), due November 16, 2026. Parties interested in the RFQ can register as a supplier on BRASS, the City’s supplier portal, and use NIGP code 912-77 (Real Estate Developers).