French Quarter Citizens for the Preservation of Residential Quality

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Letter From The President

Dear French Quarter Citizens,

I guess we have all grudgingly learned to be more patient in the last few months. After a rush of hopefully optimist predictions about the rebirth of New Orleans we sat by while nothing happened. We endured piercing questions from around the country about what was going on here. Why weren't things better after so much time had passed? The rest of the country surmised that perhaps the "Big Easy" really was the "Big Easy" where all we did was sit around, drink, dance, eat and listen to wonderful music. We wish that it were so in the French Quarter. It seems while nothing much was happening in the rebuilding of the city, we were up to our elbows working against inappropriate development. It appears that rebuilding activity may actually now be starting. We hear promises of big, big bucks coming and wait and watch to see it come true.

With no city inspectors and no Vieux Carré Commission inspectors, violations were popping up everywhere. I must say that I think the Commission has done an incredible job with the inadequate staff and what they have had to deal with on a daily basis. Unfortunately for us, the Commission became embroiled in controversy and seems doomed to be replaced by an upset mayor. While I don't condone the highly offensive and inappropriate words that were spoken in frustration by the head of the Vieux Carré Commission , I must also say that we have had a wonderful Commission when it came to protecting the French Quarter and I hope that they are not all replaced. It will be a tremendous loss for us if the French Quarter is denied the expertise of this entire Commission.

The French Quarter has been battered by a crime wave. It is too bad that we've always had a small number of armed robberies, but hearing about our friends and neighbors getting mugged and viciously beaten was very hard to take. With their other haunts demolished, the criminals turned to the Quarter for their prey and it hasn't been a pretty picture. It was hard not to face a lonely and deserted street with trepidation. Thank goodness, the police responded and the streets now seem safer, however, as long as we are the murder capitol of the country, visitors and permanent residents will likely hesitate to visit and/or invest and those of us who live here will walk very cautiously at night and take a lot more taxis.

Investment in real estate in the Quarter has always been a sure bet and has always enjoyed double digit annual increases. For the first time in many years values seem to have flattened out and people from around the country are not rushing in to buy our condos and houses. This clearly presents a great opportunity to buy in the Quarter. Most people agreed that prices were too high and that they will now be more realistic and affordable. The tourism industry is saying that visitors will be soft during the hurricane months which is no surprise with such a killer storm still in our collective memory.. I think everyone is dreading the hurricane season, I know I am. The last few weekends, however, we saw beautiful spring weather and the return of crowds of visitors in the Quarter.

In spite of our challenges, the Quarter is still a wonderful neighborhood of friends and families with all the attractions we love. We do miss being able to walk to the Opera, however, I hear that the city will have the Theatre for the Performing Arts and Municipal Auditorium back up and running in the fall of 2008. Most of our favorite restaurants are open and serving better food than ever if that is possible. The French Quarter is magnificently and unbelievably clean. We think it looks wonderful the way it is now, so we continue to fight against the garbage cans and encourage people who can opt out to do so and the others to continue to use bags.

We are closely monitoring the proposed development along the river. We know that world class architects, planners and landscapers are involved but based on past experiences; we will want to see the actual plans before we can relax and trust that the wishes of the neighborhoods adjacent to the river will be reflected in the plans. Clear plans were developed during the United New Orleans Plan so that we know what the riverfront neighbors want to see happen.

While many parts of New Orleans are still struggling, the country needs to know that a great deal of the city is moving along just fine and ready to welcome them back. So enjoy the spring and be an ambassador for New Orleans when you travel. We are a determined, creative and delightful cadre of people who know we have challenges but love where we live and will relentlessly work for the survival and growth of New Orleans.

Warm regards,

Carol Greve, President