Committee backs bill to create West End Economic Development District across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes

Representative Hilferty presented House Bill 892 to create a West End Economic Development District spanning Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, aimed at restoring a long-shuttered lakeside site and funding nearby infrastructure and West End Park improvements. The district would allow joint RFPs and direct spending to the immediate redevelopment area and park.

Developer Trevor Bailey described Howell Place, the larger mixed-use development adjacent to the site, saying it will bring hotels, a charter school, medical services and hundreds of millions in private investment and that the West End project would provide the “last key component” — a grocery store and retail — for neighborhood viability. “We now are, in May, going to open up our fifth hotel there, bringing over 500 hotel rooms, about $400,000,000 in investment to the area,” Bailey said.

Councilmember Amy McCarron testified in support, saying the project restores an economic focal point that had been shuttered since Hurricane Katrina and praised multi-parish cooperation. Lakeview resident Adrian Bruno also urged favorable passage, recalling family visits to Bruning’s and describing the proposal as a long-overdue step forward for the neighborhood.

Senators pressed project proponents on concerns raised by residents about whether the plan would “fill in” the lake for parking. Proponent responses were explicit: the bill and testimony do not authorize filling Lake Pontchartrain or blocking the city’s pumping station. Representative Hilferty said the project will place new development on land and not obstruct the pumping station, and Senator Miller noted that filling the waterway would be infeasible because of the pump infrastructure.

Committee members noted intergovernmental support: both the Orleans and Jefferson councils have signaled backing, and the measure involves state water bottoms. With no recorded opposition on the record, Senator Miller moved that HB892 be reported favorable; the committee approved the motion and the bill was reported favorably.

The committee’s action moves HB892 to the next stage; proponents said any park improvements would preserve open green space and that district revenues would be shared among the parishes for the specified redevelopment area.

Ending: The committee reported HB892 favorably and will forward it for further consideration by the legislature.