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Greetings!
On behalf of the BioDistrict New Orleans Board of Commissioners and staff, it is my pleasure to publish this biweekly newsletter about the plans, opportunities and activities of the District.
Each edition of our newsletter we try to focus on a topic relevant to our holistic approach to economic development. Anything less than a complete effort reduces the chances of success. In our last issue we focused on workforce. Today we will focus on the Built Environment and what it means to our health, including some interesting links to conversations generally not heard in your daily life. We ask for your continued support of our mission, as we launch into the implementation phase of creating thousands of new, high paying quality jobs, better healthcare and new educational opportunities in a sustainably built environment. Building the ecosystem necessary to support this industry is hard but necessary work and will be the reason this effort, unlike other past efforts, will succeed.
Please share this newsletter with a friend, colleague or loved one looking for positive news about the future of New Orleans as the center of Southeast Louisiana's Super-Region and the emergence of a fourth pillar to our economy.
Sincerely, James P. McNamara President & CEO |
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BioDistrict New Orleans: Developing the Built Environment for sustainable urban lifestyles
The National Institute of Health defines the Built Environment as encompassing all buildings, spaces and products that are created, or modified, by people. That includes housing, retail, schools, workplaces, churches, parks/recreation areas, greenways, business areas, economic opportunities, public and private transportation systems, pedestrian access and landscapes in which we live. We all know the negative effects of a blighted house but do we know the the effect of waste disposal sites and overhead expressways?
 | | Ancient City of Delos |
Public Health officials and urban planners at all levels believe the "Built Environment" is the determining factor of how our society will function in the future. The early concepts of built environments was introduced 4,000 years ago by Hippodamus of Miletos, who was known as the "father of urban planning." Visiting ancient Greek cities, we can see the street grid, central plazas and street markings for shops and suppliers. Central baths and drainage were all part of the planned cities.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Daniel Hudson Burnham, a noted Chicago architect, actively promoted partnerships to reform and beautify American cities that included parks, public landscapes and architecture to improve both the moral compass of the cities but also to encourage the upper class to spend their money in cities.
Today's Built Environments or Healthy Environments are typically used to describe the interdisciplinary fields of design, construction, management, and use of surroundings as an interrelated holistic community where the relationship to our activities are intertwined with our need for humans. This need includes interaction, nourishment, learning and long-term health\longevity. It involves professional or academic disciplines of public health, finance, sustainable construction, urban design, transportation, housing, finance, pre k-12 education and good public policy.
Harmony Oaks replaced the Magnolia Housing project which is a great improvement over what existed before the demolition.
 | | Development features green spaces, buried power lines, newly paved streets with community amenities is a great example of the Built Environment. |
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The BUILT ENVIRONMENT Is Linked to long term Health, Crime and Our Future.
Having learned form the past, New Orleans has the chance to reset herself and become the city of the future -- properly prepared with the right skills for the Innovation Economy. The solution starts at home in your neighborhood.
BLIGHTED AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES
 | | Abandoned properties encourage disinvestment |
There is a long association between substandard housing or blighted neighborhoods and public health issues and there is a significant body of evidence that shows the correlation between the two. A large body of research has taken place at our own Tulane School of Public Health that suggests that physical and mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic abuse, aggressive behaviors, obesity, malnutrition, heart disease and even crime relate to the lack of good urban planning and design which fosters substandard housing, limited access to affordable healthcare\wellness and poor food choices.
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Vacant and Abandoned Properties without power or post service
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Solution: Encourage new residential development in the Gert Town and Galvez Tulane Ave. neighborhoods
TRANSPORTATION
American's have had a love affair with the automobile since the end of WWII. The images of the convertible car speeding down the open highway are indelibly etched in brains. This hastened the use of more cars, trucks and super highway system speeding people out of the inner core of cities. This also caused US residents to have a greater reliance on cars and trucks, which burn fossil fuels. Increased vehicle use and the methods employed in energy generation contribute to air pollution that negatively impacts health. The true downside has been on the environment as the polluted atmosphere contributing to lung disease and groundwater pollution. All the hard street surfaces also cause street and flash floods on rainy days.
The higher dependency on automobiles comes at the expense of pedestrians. More cars and trucks means less safe streets and poor health. Research indicates only 10 percent of children walk to school and even less adults walk to work. The sedentary lifestyle is a possible factor in obesity and heart disease. Bicycling when streets have designated bike paths has demonstrated the ability to make people less car dependent.
Solution: Complete Street to improve circulation and pedestrian experience
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Plan contemplates the removal of the Claiborne Overpass
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HEALTH DISPARITIES
We believe that the social, health, and economic consequences of the distressed urban environment leads to isolation which promotes even more obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and limits economic opportunity large and small. The negative impact of the environment leads to more public health issues, higher crime and ultimately very high mortality rates amongst the poor.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ARE THE KEYS TO CHANGING THE PARADIGM
The President's Council on Sustainable Design in 1993 offered a definition for sustainable communities to address the Innovation Economy as "healthy communities where natural and historic resources are preserved, jobs are available, spawn is contained, neighborhoods are secure, education is lifelong, transportation and health care are accessible and all citizens have opportunities to improve the quality of their lives.
 | | Connecting the Lafitte Greenway and proposed BioDistrict green spaces is a quality of life improvement for residents and workers |
Following the plan as will be put forth by the BioDistrict will provide the conducive environment for the well being of our citizens. It will provide the opportunity for more parks and recreation, higher quality jobs and accessible healthcare.
STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BIODISTRICT 20 YEAR PLAN
Creating the model for the sustainable Built Environment that changes the physical and social conditions that are in place is a complex undertaking. It will require many partnerships, collaborations, loose coalitions and trust between policy makers, developers, the community, researchers, planners, and health specialists with a common vision. What has been determined so far is:
1) What are the economic opportunities
2) Who are the people best served by this endeavor
3) What is he baseline of existing conditions
4) What are the standards for green specs, complete streets, affordable housing, industry growth and job creation
5) What are the transportation links
6) What does it cost and how do we pay for it
The BioDistrict Master Plan Final Report contemplates these and other issues concerning the development of the District, how it will be financed and operated.
Here's a link to a recent interview that is worth the time...  | | On Being with Krista Tippett is a public radio project delving into the human side of news stories + issues. |
  
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BioDistrict New Orleans: In the News BioDistrict New Orleans' growing brand recognition and product development produces positive results!
BioDistrict based Theodent wins International Package Design Prize!
 | | Theodent wins International Package Design Competition |
One of the earliest success stories has been Theodent, the cocoa extract toothpaste that is on sale nationwide.
The International Package Design award highlights how the bioscience industry also creates new jobs in other industries, in this case package design. New Orleans has a great opportunity to create the economic model of a multidisciplinary ecosystem working together for the greater good.
Designers don't all work for big firms and are not always found in high rise office buildings until they get to the scale that they need to have space for meetings, planning and administrative functions.
1 Bioscience job creates 5.3 support jobs!
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Louisiana Technology Council Digital Gumbo segment highlighted Dr. Sudhir Sinha, on recent show.
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CSI technology in New Orleans
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DID YOU KNOW?
The BioDistrict is growing. Lots of new construction proceeding, new investments in the offering, and stronger collaborations developing!
In every way we are succeeding in creating the positive buzz and increasing in size the number of commitments to attract outside investment to attract outside investment and provide for quality, better paying jobs and economic opportunity for New Orleanians.
 | | Help us move the missing pieces into place -- networking is a key! |
BioDistrict New Orleans has created a special group on LinkedIn called Bio New Orleans where professionals and employers can post job opportunities, discuss research findings or industry trends and network with other professionals in the biosciences industry. The aim is to create a bioscience community.
As of today, we have posted 11 new job openings and more will follow as the community builds. In five months, more than 377 (up 42 since the last newsletter) multi-disciplined professionals have joined and started sharing ideas, leads, knowledge and contacts. Some are locals, some ex-pats and some have never been to New Orleans and are sharing in our growth and want to stay in touch.
This is how industry hubs are formed, thrive and take on a life of their own.
Are YOU in the game or on the sideline?
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For more information, please visit www.BioDistrictNewOrleans.org
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Meetings, Conventions and Conferences
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BioDistrict Quick Links
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We Are Social
Stay in touch:
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BioDistrict New Orleans has it's own channel. Subscribe today for updates!
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BioDistrict
1515 Poydras St
Suite 150
New Orleans 70112
Come by to see
renderings of the new
proposed developments within the BioDistrict
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Vision and Value Proposition for New Orleans:
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The Vision
In 20 years BioDistrict New Orleans (the BioDistrict) will become a thriving and highly livable business, education, science and health destination, regarded throughout the City and the nation as the premier revitalized urban district of choice. The BioDistrict will be known for its walkable scale, new and historic neighborhoods, excellent schools and services, vibrant retail, accessible open space and transit, as well as a range of
stable and well- paying bioscience and health industry jobs.
The BioDistrict will become a national model for urban revitalization and the Built Environment for healthier living, job creation and economic and industry development.
With visionary leadership and long-term commitment, the BioDistrict can expect a host of economic benefits through the successful implementation of the Action Plan, including:
* Direct and indirect job creation 34,000 jobs
* Construction jobs 3,600 jobs
* Local Economic investment $3.3 billion
* Increased local personal earnings $2 billion
* Increased local tax revenue $1.4 billion
* Increased state tax revenue
$1.9 billion
* New and renovated buildings
11.6 million SF
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A STRONG FOCUSED SCIENCE BASE THAT IS GROWING + Positive Business Environment
Top Rankings
Just Released: 16 Years and Counting: #1 - Xavier University graduates more pre-med students that actually attend medical school than any other university in the country! ------ |
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District Demographics
Transparency and predictably are critical issues for individuals and businesses thinking about investing in a community. We are making available data about the District and the expanded area around us. This is also an effective tool for the District to determine the effectiveness of its programming. We invite you to follow the link and customize your query.
 | | Select Biodistrict |
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HOUSING 
A wide array of beautifully transformed homes of all sizes, offer flexibility and comfort to anyone, from artists, researchers, families and singles. Most of our units are conveniently located to employment opportunities and have easy access to public transportation.
 | | Click Here for more info |
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Click Here for more info
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CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
 | | PJ's on Poydras 1515 Poydras Street |
and
Ur Way Yogurt & Coffee
in the BioDistrict
3001 Tulane Ave
Shops at the Crescent Club
Great treats and good eats! Free WIFI for customers.
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| SPECIALIZED FACILITIES
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Real-Time
Construction Cam
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New Orleans
BioInnovation Center
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Rev. Avery C. Alexander, Jr. Academic Research Hospital
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Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium
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more information
on either the BioInnovation
or the LA Cancer
Research Centers
about business
opportunities and partnerships.
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Partners In Trade
 | | The BioDistrist is a Founding Member of the Workforce Collaborative |
 | World Trade Center
New Orleans |
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NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership is a coalition of over fifty stakeholders in the Treme/Lafitte and Tulane/Gravier neighborhoods of New Orleans.
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Building the Ecosystem of Support
To be competitive in the Innovation Economy, we must make sure school children have the basic skills in science, technology, engineering and math. A high school junior will in two years be the workforce we need to continue the growth of the industry.
As a nonprofit 501(c)3 they supply teachers with the tools to ensure students will be ready for the opportunities ahead.
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Promoting Quality Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
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One way you can support Core Elements by attending the August 15 fundraiser sponsored by the Society of Petroleum Engineers:
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