Federal City in Algiers One Step Closer to Reality

I can’t begin to express how pleased I am that the proposed Federal City in Algiers seems to be moving forward!

What is the Federal City? 

Scheduled to open on the existing Naval Support Activity in Algiers, the City is expected to house multiple military offices, with 2,000 Marine personnel to be transferred to the installation and the eventual addition of other federal, state and local offices.  The plan was developed when the NSA facility was slated for closure as part of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure).  I’m actually already seeing the results of BRAC in other states with many new military families being transferred to NAS JRB in Belle Chasse recently and more scheduled by the end of the year.

As a resident, I’m thrilled at the prospect of the positive impact that potentially thousands of new jobs will have on the area.  As a REALTOR, this project gives me reason to envision a light on the horizon for the Algiers real estate market which has taken such a hit in the last year.  More jobs means more people coming into the area every day.  With high commuting costs today it only makes sense that many of these employees will choose to live close to their jobs, especially with the reasonable housing costs offered by so many neighborhoods.

The city has a real opportunity during the planning and development stages to encourage the revitalization of General Meyer and Newton Streets.  Where there are jobs there is always a need for services, so opportunities for local small businesses should increase as well.  Think about all of the little errands that you try to get done on your lunch hour and those are the business owners and entrepreneurs who should be considering investing in the area in the upcoming years.

I’m not a Pollyanna, and I have no doubt that there will be bumps along the way.  But, I think that Algiers is being presented an opportunity that shouldn’t be wasted.  I, for one, am glad to see progress in one of the best kept secrets of New Orleans.

Here are some of the local media takes on the news of the project:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/jindal_federal_city_in_algiers.html

Funding For Federal City Project Approved

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