NEW ORLEANS — Mayor Cantrell joined NORD and other City officials on Thursday to celebrate the opening of the Rosenwald Annex, formerly the NFL-YET club located at 1140 S. Broad St. The club was transferred to the City of New Orleans in August of 2020 by the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana. Located adjacent to the NORD Rosenwald Recreation Center, the Annex will host year-round seniors programming and afterschool enrichment opportunities for youth and teens.
“What we are celebrating today, at the heart of it, is the seniors of the city of New Orleans. As we look to the recovery of this city, this is a beautiful day and a beautiful time to continue to highlight the priorities, and that we understand the importance of our seniors in our community,” said Mayor Cantrell.
[WATCH: Rosenwald Annex ribbon-cutting ceremony]
The 8,500-square-foot facility consisting of four large multi-purpose rooms, a music room, a kitchen area that services indoor patrons, pantry space, two office spaces, and Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible male, and female restrooms. By offering year-round seniors programming, the Annex will help fill in the gap of services that are currently available to the elderly who live in the area. The building will also house NORD’s FitNOLA offices and programming team.
“We are proud to officially unveil this year-round Senior Center, and multi-purpose building. Today’s ribbon-cutting is an extension of our efforts to improve the physical and social well-being of the community and residents we serve. The Annex will serve as NORD’s first facility to house and program year-round senior’s activities and events. We look forward to considerable usage and providing social and recreational opportunities for our seniors,” said NORD CEO Larry Barabino, Jr.
“Today’s ribbon-cutting is just another step forward in fulfilling NORD’s commitment to provide safe recreational spaces for our residents and to provide something for everyone. As Commissioner-at-Large, I’d like to invite the community to participate in the programming here at the new Annex and NORD parks and facilities across the city. NORD has a diverse mix of programming and events for all ages,” said Kim Abramson, Commissioner-at-Large, NORDC.
“I am a senior of this community, so we’re excited. Thanks to all those who assisted in getting this effort underway,” said Avis Brock, Director of Community Affairs, City Councilmember Jay H. Banks, District B.
Learn more about NORD programming at www.nordc.org.
The opening of the Annex was another example of the City’s commitment to infrastructure in general but NORD in particular, even through the pandemic. Just as we began our response to the pandemic in March 2020, Mayor Cantrell celebrated the opening of the 10,900 square-foot, $1.6 million Lafitte Greenway Multi-use, concessions/event facility (old brake tag station) for public and private use. The City also celebrated the completion of the $546,000 clubhouse for the McCue Playground, featuring concessions and ADA-compliant restrooms. Other NORD projects that have started or been completed during the pandemic include:
- Joe Bartholomew Golf Course/Pontchartrain Park Walking Path – $630,438
- East Shore Playground Concessions/Restroom – $1.2 million (opening in late July)
Additional in progress or upcoming projects include:
- Desire/Florida Community Center – $6.5 million (scheduled to open the spring of 2022)
- Behrman Pool (Renovations and Enclosure) – $4.2 million (breaks ground in winter 2021)
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