"the council gives up the city's ownership of the streets in the 37-acre area"

Times-Picayune: New Orleans City Council votes to close streets in hospital footprint

The Lens tweeted the meeting, sharing a number of nuanced observations and quotes - like this one about Jerry Jones losing his temper.  And this one, shortly thereafter, as he was clearly fuming, dismissive of the city council's legal role under the city charter, and ticked at Stacy Head for challenging him.

 You can also watch the debate on the street revocation here.

"Before the hospital board met the New Orleans City Council voted to give the medical center control of streets in the project's footprint."

"Smaller Hospital Needed"

Fox8 seems to be getting it with this piece on today's UMC Board meeting.  The report delves into what the Kaufman-Hall presentation might mean for New Orleans:

The consultants said to make the $ 1.2 billion medical complex work $ 75 to $100 million in state funds will need to be infused into it annually to maintain sufficient cash flow.

"And frankly there are a lot of risks out there as well too," said Majka.

"These are not inconsequential risks when I look at the state sources, it's going to be paying for 17 to 20 percent of our budget," said Board member Dr. Byron Harrell.

UMC Street Revocation - On Thursday's City Council Agenda

The meeting is slated for 10 a.m. in Council Chambers, but it's unclear when the council will get to this item:

39. CAL. NO. 28,457 - BY: COUNCILMEMBER HEAD (BY REQUEST)

Brief:

An Ordinance To authorize the revocation of dedication and transfer to the State of Louisiana of those portions of Cleveland Avenue between Squares 521 and 522; Cleveland Avenue between Squares 469 and 470; Cleveland Avenue between Squares 467 and 468; Cleveland Avenue between Squares 436 and 437; Palmyra Street between Squares 520 and 521; Palmyra Street between Squares 470 and 471; Palmyra Street between Squares 466 and 467; Palmyra Street between Squares 437 and 438; Palmyra Street between Squares 433 and 434; Banks Street between Squares 519 and 520; Banks Street between Squares 471 and Tulane Ave.; South Johnson Street between Squares 519 and Tulane Ave.; South Johnson Street between Squares 471 and 520; South Johnson Street between Squares 470 and 521; South Johnson Street between Squares 469 and 522; South Prieur Street between Squares 466 and 471; South Prieur Street between Squares 467 and 470; South Prieur Street between Squares 468 and 469; South Roman Street between Squares 438 and 466; South Roman Street between Squares 437 and 467; South Roman Street between Squares 436 and 468; South Derbigny Street between Squares 433 and 438; South Derbigny Street between Squares 434 and 437, and all the intersections included within said area; being generally bounded by Canal Street on the northeast side, South Galvez Street on the northwest side, Tulane Avenue on the southwest side and Claiborne Avenue on the southeast side, together with all improvements and appurtenances thereon, all in the First Municipal District in the City of New Orleans, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

Two Relevant Meetings this Week

I.

The City Council’s Public Works Committee will convene on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 1:00
p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The agenda will include the following


III. Discussion of Ord. Cal. No. 28,457, regarding LSU street dedication.
To appear: Cedric Grant (or designee


II.

AGENDA
Select Committee on Hurricane Recovery
May 26, 2011
New Orleans City Council Chambers 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70122 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Chairman: Senator Karen Carter Peterson


DISCUSSION OF HURRICANE RECOVERY ISSUES:
1. Presentation by the Office of Community Development/Disaster Recovery Unit and the Office of Facility Planning and Control on the New Facilities for the University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
a. Site Acquisition and Control
b. Funding report/outstanding issues
c. Construction Timetable
d. Financial Feasibility Study

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization - Opposes LSU Footprint Street Revocation

This letter to Stacy Head from MCNO is encouraging:

According to Derrick Morrison of the Committee to Re-Open Charity, here's how things stand on the LSU Footprint street revocation after the City Council Meeting on Thursday:

"At the May 05 New Orleans City Council meeting, an ordinance, prepared by the City Attorney's office and based on Property Disposition 1/11 (PD 1/11) of the City Planning Commission, was accepted by the Council. The CC has to wait 21 days before taking any action, meaning that, at the earliest, the ordinance won't come up until the Thursday, June 02 meeting."

UMC Street Revocation Advances

The state/UMC doesn't have the money, but the city is nevertheless on its way to giving up the streets.

Mr. Jerry Jones illustrated yesterday that he will say just about anything to force this hospital into being. 

Thankfully, Mr. George Amedee, the lone vote against revocation, asked a number of skeptical questions...and very clearly wasn't satisfied with the non-answers he got.

The City Council must still approve the CPC action for revocation of the streets to be ordained.

It was good to see that a CPC proviso, added to the measure by staff, requires the state to preserve McDonogh No. 11 School in place or move it.  So our efforts on that front have paid off.  Unfortunately, the measure said nothing about requiring the state to move houses off the site - and another shotgun was demolished along Palmyra yesterday.

Empty Squares

The "northwest" square of the VA Hospital Footprint - bounded by Banks, S. Rocheblave, Palmyra, and S. Tonti - is now completely devoid of all structures.   After the demolition of the former Dutel building today, this is the first entire city block in the Footprint that has been cleared.

A second city block or square has been entirely cleared as well - except for a single house, 223 S. Galvez, that remained up on wheels through midday.  That block, surrounded by Cleveland Avenue, S. Galvez, Palmyra, and S. Miro, is the "southeastern" corner block in the VA Fooptrint.

Above, photographer Stephen Hilger trudges around to avoid the muck and water that now sits where the S. Miro roadway once existed.  This is the first patch of street inside the VA Footprint that has been functionally removed other than sites of utility upgrades.  You can also see one of the utility poles behind him - several have now been removed.