It was with great pleasure that the Algiers Development District and NOFA announced the ground breaking for Federal City! The Federal City Groundbreaking Ceremony was held at the Naval Support Activity, New Orleans, West Bank on Tuesday, 30 September at 11:00 AM.
Federal City will be "a critical investment that will help retain an estimated 1,660 jobs in the New Orleans area and add roughly 300 positions for a total of 1,960 jobs, in addition to spurring indirect economic development opportunities and investments throughout the region."
- Governor Jindal, August 14, 2008
"This is a great day for Louisiana and especially New Orleans as this is the largest economic development project in the entire state."
- ADD Chairman and Algiers State Representative Jeff Arnold
Federal City offers an approach that could make it a National Model for the future configuration and operation of small to mid-sized DOD installations. The State of Louisiana has shown a strong commitment by providing a portion of the capital funding required to construct new facilities at Federal City, and the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 provides tax incentives for developments in the region. It is anticipated that DOD and civilian federal agencies, as well as the contractors and suppliers who support them, will be housed at Federal City. All tenants will share Federal City’s amenities and gain the advantages of the force protection features that will be provided. Federal City is intended to offer tenants an outstanding quality of life and provide vital economic development and job creation opportunities for the New Orleans community. Federal City will create energizing synergies with additional anticipated private sector development while incorporating the latest in sustainable design, great visual aesthetics, energy efficiency, and design for enhanced hurricane and flood protection. Federal City also provides a means for community recovery and progress in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf Coast.
The goal of Federal City is to create state-of-the-art facilities that will attract thousands of federal and private sector workers during the next ten years. The construction of new facilities at Federal City will provide its tenants with energy and maintenance efficient facilities and the latest hurricane and flood protection factors and standards. Under this concept, the State of Louisiana has committed to contribute to the capital costs of this installation in return for the economic and social benefits of retaining and expanding the number of workers in the DOD, Federal, and “spin off” civilian organizations that would occupy the Federal City.
The installation will provide different levels of security inside its boundaries so that both high-level military and lower-level federal or civilian tenant requirements for protection and customer access can be accommodated. With sensitive analysis of needs and stringent and smart “zone based” master planning, Federal City will provide a highly desirable place to live, work and train, enhancing the quality of life for our military personnel and civilian employees. With more than just DOD tenants on the base, Federal City will include support functions on the installation that are normally provided or managed by DOD assets. Support functions include provision of single person housing, child care center, food services, athletic and recreational facilities, security, etc. The concept also envisions establishing an aesthetically attractive, campus type environment on the installation that makes it a very desirable place to work. The location of the base offers spectacular views of the Mississippi River that will be exploited.
The 2005 BRAC law requires that the Marine Corps units now located at NSA New Orleans (East Bank) and the people at the
Marine Corps Support Activity, Kansas City, Missouri relocate to Federal City at NSA New Orleans (West Bank). The
Department of the Navy will relocate these Marine Corps activities to Federal City by September 15th 2011.
The New Orleans Federal Alliance (NOFA) welcomes the realigning Marine Corps units as the “anchor tenants” for the initial phase of Federal City. As suggested by the State and the City of New Orleans to the BRAC Commission, other tenants may include other Federal agencies, and Federal contractors or suppliers. NOFA is currently working in conjunction with its Master Developer, HRI/ECC, to solicit as many of these potential tenants as possible for Federal City.
NOFA will work closely with HRI/ECC to ensure the development scenario and land uses achieve the desired outcome of a sustainable military/federal installation together with other private development that creates jobs and promotes local economic development. To achieve this vision, NOFA’s development partner, HRI/ECC, had the unique opportunity to shape not only the terms of the transaction between NOFA and DON, but the property interest to be conveyed as well as the final scope of the development. The entire project site was formerly part of the DON’s land ownership on the West Bank acquired in 1849.
The acreage at Federal City provides a tremendous development opportunity in a highly-favorable location. The recovery of New Orleans is accelerating and is beginning to achieve beneficial results. In addition to the full support of the State and the City of New Orleans, Federal City enjoys the bipartisan sponsorship and expressed support of the Louisiana congressional delegation. As mentioned, NOFA has been energetically engaged in identifying potential Federal City tenants in addition to the Marine Corps units directed to Federal City by the BRAC law and prospects for additional tenants are very promising. NOFA and HRI/ECC will continue these efforts.
