TODAY: French Market Place Demonstration Begins
NEW ORLEANS — Beginning on Friday, October 30, the City of New Orleans in partnership with the French Market Corporation, will begin a weekly demonstration of the French Market Place concept within the broader Reimagining the French Quarter initiative. This will involve closing one block of French Market Place between Governor Nicholls Street and Ursulines Avenue to through traffic from 7 a.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Monday on a weekly basis. Sanitation and emergency response vehicles will continue to have access along the block as needed.
"I am excited by our innovative collaboration with our community partners to quickly and intentionally reimagine our public spaces to safely fuel our economic recovery, in one of the world's most historic neighborhoods. The French Market Place demonstration will provide New Orleanians an opportunity to experience one of several concepts introduced to residents earlier this year as part of the Reimagining the French Quarter initiative, which is engaging residents and businesses on ways to promote a more person-centric French Quarter and reduce the impacts of motor vehicles," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
When closed to through traffic, the French Market Corporation will repurpose the street space as expanded seating areas for patrons to be able to enjoy the French Market while maintaining safe distancing under the City’s COVID-19 public health guidelines. Other elements of the demonstration will include new public art organized by partners at the Arts Council New Orleans.
StayLocal and adjacent businesses along French Market Place are also partnering to participate in the City’s Pilot Parklet Program and expect to have a pair of parklets permitted and installed within a few weeks. These parklets will provide business owners considering participation in the City’s Parklet Pilot Program an opportunity to see parklets in person.
"I've long supported the idea of reducing traffic and making the French Quarter more pedestrian-friendly. Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to be creative and to think outside the box to help our businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm glad that we have an administration committed to prioritizing pedestrians and businesses in an effective and low-cost way to rejuvenate the French Quarter while promoting the benefits of pedestrianization across our city," said District C Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the City to produce this demonstration on French Market Place,” said French Market Corporation Board President Anna Tusa. “Within the French Market Place footprint locals and visitors alike will be able to experience the historic open-air French Market eateries and vendors in a safe and social environment.”
In addition to the demonstration on French Market Place, the French Market will be hosting Boo Carre Halloween Hunt 2020 on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Dutch Alley. This year's event will be abbreviated due to COVID restrictions and will feature four children's activities and trick-or-treating at our shops and with our vendors in the Flea and Farmers Markets. Activities will be socially distanced and masks will be required for adults and children. To attend, please register beforehand at https://tinyurl.com/boocarre.
On Monday, Nov. 16, the City will host a virtual design charrette for the full French Market Place concept, which proposes a full closure of through traffic on the full 2-blocks of French Market Place. The charrette will present a refined concept plan and provide New Orleanians another opportunity to provide feedback. Details on how to login to the virtual design charrette will be available at www.nola.gov/calendar.
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