Media Clips

Full Speed Ahead for FC
Thursday, January 17, 2008
By Melinda Morris

The federal city in Algiers is on track to break ground in September, said retired Maj. Gen. David Mize, who is leading the project.

"I'm very encouraged. We're more optimistic than we've ever been," Mize, senior vice president of Apogen Services, told the Algiers Economic Development Foundation at its Jan. 9 luncheon. "It's full speed ahead."

Transforming the 100-year-old Naval Support Activity in Algiers into a 21st-century campus for federal and military agencies will include housing and small businesses.

"We're building a neighborhood of convenience," Mize said, adding that it's not too early for interested businesses to start contacting federal city planners.

After listening to Mize's talk, Sheila Green-McCorkle, owner of Christians Salon and Day Spa in Algiers, told him she was one of the people waving signs to save the base a few years ago, but now she's worried how the project will affect her business.

Her salon is located on Horace Street off Gen. Meyer Avenue, near the Naval Support Activity.

"I believe businesses in the surrounding area, including mine, will suffer," Green-McCorkle said, to the applause of many in the sold-out crowd. If people don't need to leave the base for goods and services, "they won't," she said.

But Mize said the project will bring in such a large number of workers -- 1,900 Marine Corps reservists in the short term and 10,000 total workers within 10 years -- that plenty of new customers will be generated for all Algiers businesses.

Hal Fairbanks, director of acquisitions for HRI Properties, one of the developers of federal city, said, "The rising tide will lift all boats."

Fairbanks said the hope is that federal city will have the same effect on Algiers that redevelopment had on the Warehouse District.

Our hope is to revitalize Algiers," Fairbanks said.

Mize said two major recent developments for federal city are the approval of $100 million for the project by the Legislature, and the selection of the national firm ECC and the local firm HRI as the development team.

ECC has put together many bases overseas, but none in the United States and is eager to add that aspect to its portfolio, he said. "They bring something strong and valuable."

Mize said, "We are equally delighted with HRI. They know the region and the culture here."

Post-Katrina construction costs have risen, which is a challenge for any commercial development in New Orleans looking to offer competitive leases to prospective tenants, including federal city. HRI has experience in using tax incentives that will be helpful in securing tenants, Mize said.

Federal city planners hope to present a business and lease plan to the Navy by mid-February, and they hope the Navy will give its OK by July. Construction will take about two years, Mize said.

Mize said he is willing to meet with community groups to discuss federal city. Those wishing to set up talks with him should call Kathy Lynn Honaker, executive director of the Algiers Development District, at (504) 362-6436.

Retail businesses interested in talking to planners about federal city should call Fairbanks at (504) 566-0204.

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Melinda Morris can be reached at (504) 826-3782 or mmorris@timespicayune.com.