In The News › Economic Development
Coverage of BGR in local, regional, and national media
State panel votes to issue report in favor of renewing Crescent City Connection tolls
Jan 20, 2012
The task force’s recommendation to renew the tolls is at odds with a report released in April by the non-profit Bureau of Governmental Research, which said the tolls should be allowed to expire because just 19 cents of every toll dollar goes toward bridge maintenance and policing.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Stuck in the toll lane at New Orleans Crescent City Connection: An editorial
Jan 18, 2012
Lawmakers also should consider the Bureau of Governmental Research report from last year, which pointed out the basic unfairness of the tolls that are now collected on east-bank-bound drivers.
Source: The Times-Picayune
World Trade Center redevelopment appears ready to move forward
Jan 17, 2012
The Bureau of Governmental Research suggested in January 2009 that instead of trying to make a deal with another developer, the city should buy out the trade organization’s lease and then sell the tower and garage outright to a private developer.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Costco proposal raises questions about need for, availability of incentives in New Orleans
Nov 10, 2011
Residents of Hollygrove and neighborhoods surrounding a proposed new Costco Wholesale store on South Carrollton Avenue walked among renderings at an Oct. 20 community meeting at Xavier University like they were perusing a candy store.
Source: New Orleans City Business
New report calls for massive overhaul of S&WB
Oct 26, 2011
A new report calls for drastic measures to improve the crumbling sewer and water services in the city, including removing elected members from the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board and giving the agency more control over its own finances.
Source: WWLTV
New Orleans voters will weigh in on tax for business park
Oct 20, 2011
To its defenders, the 7,000-acre New Orleans Regional Business Park can be one of the city’s most important tools for promoting economic development. To its critics, the eastern New Orleans park has failed for 30 years to prove that its potential can be turned into reality. Instead, it has been the subject of frequent unfavorable publicity because of management turmoil, political squabbles and ethical problems.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Election recommendations in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes propositions: An editorial
Oct 20, 2011
As the Bureau of Governmental Research noted, the park has accomplished very little, and businesses that pay the tax haven’t benefited from it in services or infrastructure.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Economic development leaders warn against state budget cuts
May 24, 2011
The larger question about the effectiveness of the entire ecosystem will be around for awhile. But Hecht and Miller are getting their message down while positioning themselves as point men for specific geographies. Hecht successfully tried out a metaphorical line on an audience gathered this morning at the Chateau Bourbon for an event hosted by the Bureau of Governmental Research.
Source: The Newsroom, CityBusiness
Heads of local economic development groups air concerns about siphoning money away from “mega fund”
May 24, 2011
Hecht and Miller were together Tuesday to deliver presentations during a breakfast meeting of the Bureau of Governmental Research.
Source: The Times-Picayune
City Hall faults itself on taxes
Feb 24, 2011
Janet Howard of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a local watchdog, offered a critical assessment of several agency policies, among them a lack of consistent criteria for qualifying projects and the fact that the board does not need the blessing of local taxing bodies before it absolves developers from local taxes.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Tenants around Lake Forest Plaza wait for signs of life
Jan 26, 2011
The City Council subsequently approved tax-increment financing, which would divert tax revenue to developers. But the council conditioned its approval on a matching agreement from the state, which remains under consideration. The controversial TIF arrangement drew opposition from the Bureau of Governmental Research and divided community and business leaders in eastern New Orleans.
Source: CityBusiness
Who Gets to Rebuild New Orleans?
Aug 31, 2010
Even before Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans, activists and businesses charged that the city had an opaque and cronyism-ridden system for awarding building and contracting deals — a major hurdle for local firms. The Bureau of Governmental Research, a private, independent research organization released a major report entitled “Contracting with Confidence” to call attention to the matter and make recommendations in March.
Source: The Washington Independent
On Anniversary of Katrina, Signs of Healing
Aug 27, 2010
“That you would end up with a major blight problem was absolutely predictable,” said Janet R. Howard, executive director of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit advisory group here. “You come to a point where you have to get beyond the political question to the actual question.”
Source: The New York Times
Kenner council to consider TIF taxing district to lure Target to The Esplanade mall
Apr 6, 2010
But officials with the New Orleans-based Bureau of Governmental Research, a watchdog group, take a dim view of TIFs. Janet Howard, BGR’s president, didn’t speak to Kenner’s plan specifically but said part of the concern with TIFs is that they could be a “zero-sum gain from a regional point of view,” meaning that the revenue is just moving from one area to another. TIFs sometimes are unnecessary subsidies for big businesses and could hurt smaller businesses, she said.
Source: The Times-Picayune
City of New Orleans considers demolishing the World Trade Center
Feb 4, 2010
The trade group has asked for a $6.2 million payment to terminate its lease of the building: $5 million that it was supposed to receive from the most recent failed redevelopment efforts, plus the $1.2 million lease termination payment that the Bureau of Government Research had suggested in a report last year.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Uncertain future for fast-fading WTC site
Jan 25, 2010
Clarkson and others, including the nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research, believe the city should rid itself of largely vacant skyscraper by selling it.
Source: CityBusiness
The Lens: Failed economic development
Jan 20, 2010
“We don’t believe that giving out grants to individual businesses is wise. It leaves you very exposed to the risk of patronage,” says BGR’s Janet Howard.
Source: Fox 8 News
Controversial property tax break for Hyatt topic of public hearing today
Nov 17, 2009
The Industrial Development Board of New Orleans is expected to get an earful today at a public hearing about a property tax break given to the developers of the Hyatt hotel last month even though the board’s own advisers say it was excessive.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Debate on the World Trade Center’s future is renewed
Oct 25, 2009
The litigation involving the latest failed bid to redevelop the World Trade Center building has been settled, raising questions about whether the city and trade club will continue with the same approach that they’ve been trying since 1998 to redevelop the building, which remains largely empty.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Report sheds light on dismal commercial market recovery
Oct 12, 2009
As the commercial real estate market continues its downward plunge, its recovery may not be the robust, v-shaped surge in activity that many economists had been hoping for.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
TEDA lobbies parish for tax policy
Oct 11, 2009
It’s a tool that could help bring new businesses to Terrebonne. But it also could mean higher taxes for shoppers and business owners.
Source: The Daily Comet
Forum bullish on more parish growth
Oct 3, 2009
Discussing strategies that St. Tammany Parish can use to harness and maximize growth, University of New Orleans economic development expert Ivan Miestchovich Jr. had admittedly little to offer in the way of advice to leaders of the steadily growing parish Friday.
Source: The Times-Picayune
St. Tammany poised for growth, officials say
Oct 2, 2009
Despite a few recession-induced hiccups, St. Tammany Parish is poised for horizontal growth along Interstates 10 and 12.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Council approves Lake Forest proposal
Oct 2, 2009
After more than two hours of debate that divided longtime allies and created some of the strangest political bedfellows in memory, the New Orleans City Council voted 6-1 Thursday to authorize millions of dollars in tax breaks for a team of businessmen hoping to redevelop the mostly empty site of the former Lake Forest Plaza mall in eastern New Orleans.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Mall tax break wins New Orleans City Council support
Oct 1, 2009
A controversial tax break to fund the redevelopment of an eastern New Orleans mall won approval from the New Orleans City Council today, even thought the council member in whose district the mall resides voted against it.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Lake Forest Plaza redevelopment tax break vote expected Thursday
Sep 30, 2009
After hours of apparently tense closed-door negotiations, the leader of an effort to redevelop the site of the former Lake Forest Plaza mall in eastern New Orleans said late today that he expects the New Orleans City Council to vote Thursday to approve a significant tax break for the project.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Council to vote Thursday on Lake Forest Plaza redevelopment
Sep 28, 2009
The council will once again take up the issue of a high-profile tax break. It would help a developer who says his vision will dramatically transform what used to be the Lake Forest Plaza.
Source: Fox 8 News, New Orleans
Councilwoman wants details on Lake Forest Plaza project
Sep 28, 2009
Before New Orleans City Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis supports a tax break for the former Lake Forest Plaza mall, developers and the city are going to have to answer some questions — quickly.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
More details sought on N.O. project
Sep 23, 2009
Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis, a major supporter of efforts in her district to redevelop the defunct Lake Forest Plaza into a modern lifestyle mall, has asked Mayor Ray Nagin to get more detailed information on the proposal and more assurances that the project will move forward as pitched.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Willard-Lewis letter to Nagin expresses concerns about mall project
Sep 22, 2009
Before New Orleans City Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis supports a tax break for Lake Forest Plaza mall, the developers and the city are going to have to answer some questions.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
City Council defers decision on special tax district for former Lake Forest Plaza mall
Sep 18, 2009
Over the objections of developer Cesar Burgos, the City Council deferred action Thursday on a tax break that Burgos has said he needs to redevelop the mostly vacant site of the former Lake Forest Plaza mall in eastern New Orleans.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Editorial: Lake Forest Plaza deal is too risky
Sep 17, 2009
The rebuilding of eastern New Orleans is vital to the city’s ongoing recovery, and city officials are right to look for ways to spark economic development there. But the deal being proposed by developers who want to use a portion of sales tax revenues to remake Lake Forest Plaza isn’t a smart way to achieve that goal.
Source: The Times-Picayune
BGR report criticizes Lake Forest Plaza financing district
Sep 17, 2009
A formal report by the Bureau of Governmental Research says that the proposed Lake Forest Plaza tax increment financing district that will be considered by the City Council Thursday is “fraught with problems.”
Source: The Times-Picayune
Council to decide fate of Lake Forest Plaza mall financing today
Sep 17, 2009
On Wednesday, the Bureau of Governmental Research released a report blasting the subsidy, saying tax dollars would be used to “pay for private problems.”
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Critics say proposed mall would help owners, not the city
Sep 16, 2009
A plan to use taxpayer money to develop a new mall at the site of the old Lake Forest Plaza, while touted as an effort to benefit New Orleans East residents, is actually a plan to benefit the property owners, according to the non-partisan Bureau of Governmental Research.
Source: WWL-TV Eyewitness News
BGR critical of Lake Forest plan
Sep 16, 2009
If the defunct Lake Forest Plaza shopping mall is transformed into a modern lifestyle center, it will have a positive effect on sales and property tax collections in the city as it recaptures retail spending from other parishes, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the developers.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Lake Forest Plaza developers release economic impact study
Sep 14, 2009
When the developers of Lake Forest Plaza mall go before the New Orleans City Council this week to request a subsidy to refurbish the shuttered site, they have a new economic impact study to support their request.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
TIF tweaks will pay for Lake Forest retail center
Sep 14, 2009
Developers who plan to overhaul Lake Forest Plaza mall, an 81-acre eastern New Orleans shopping venue that has been shuttered since Hurricane Katrina, envision a sparkling new mall complete with big-box retail, restaurants, a police substation and an amphitheater.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
N.O. considers mall revival in struggling area
Sep 12, 2009
On Thursday, the New Orleans City Council is expected to consider a proposal to use future tax revenue to help transform the site of the defunct Lake Forest Plaza mall into a modern shopping center called the New Orleans East Marketplace.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Plans to redo N.O. mall detailed
Aug 12, 2009
Unveiling the most detailed plans yet for their proposed redevelopment of the mostly vacant site of the former Lake Forest Plaza mall in eastern New Orleans, developers Cesar Burgos and Ashton Ryan appeared to win several City Council members’ endorsement Tuesday for a tax break needed to let them move forward.
Source: The Times-Picayune
N.O. Mayor Ray Nagin unveils policy for TIF projects
Jul 18, 2009
After three years of study and discussion, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Friday that he has issued an executive order establishing a city policy on use of tax increment financing.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Agency moves to use sales tax collections to help redevelop Lake Forest Plaza
Jun 12, 2009
Lake Forest Plaza moved a stop closer to revival on Friday, when a public agency agreed to use sales tax collections to help redevelop the eastern New Orleans shopping center, located in an area largely bereft of retail since Hurricane Katrina.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Changes to restoration tax abatement being considered
May 25, 2009
New Orleans City Councilwoman Stacy Head wants to tweak a city program that gives property tax breaks to developers upgrading outdated properties, but a key development official says more significant changes are needed to make the incentive worthwhile.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Critical eye sought on developer tax breaks
May 20, 2009
With the board’s blessing, BGR began surveying what practices economic development boards in other cities have adopted for awarding tax breaks to housing developments, retail centers and other projects. Some of these practices will be a model for New Orleans.
Source: The Times-Picayune
Council capitulates to mayor yet one more time
Feb 8, 2009
It always makes me feel good when BGR gets my back.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
BGR pushes city to change economic development fund policy
Feb 4, 2009
A government watchdog group wants the City Council to change the law dealing with the way money from an economic development fund is allocated.
Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
BGR Criticizes New Orleans Use of Economic Development Fund
Feb 4, 2009
On Feb. 3, BGR sent a letter to Councilman Arnold Fielkow, Chairman of City Council’s Special Projects and Economic Development Committee, on the use and operation of the city’s Economic Development Fund.
Source: BayouBuzz
