New Orleans — St.Claude Planning

January 2013

The Times-Picayune on its website reports the opinions of real estate developer and St. Claude neighborhood resident Pres Kabacoff about the development potential of the neighborhood and the impetus that the planned streetcar will add to the process. He notes that with the Loyola line finished, the Regional Transit Authority will continue the Loyola tracks across Canal, along Rampart Street and St. Claude to Elysian Fields. It is hoped construction will start in 2013. Kabacoff is working with others to secure additional funding from Washington to extend the line as far as Poland Avenue.

“Just having that streetcar in the street gives people the feeling that this is an old great community,” he said. “It’s a powerful magnet.”

Kabacoff has developed art lofts in the neighborhood. He believes that people are moving into St. Claude from the local area and also from across the country. Over the next 20 years he thinks the neighborhood will change dramatically, as "young progressives" are attracted by the authentic urban nature of the area.

The potential of the district was further demonstrated by the award to the St. Claude Main Streets program of $275,000 to improve St. Claude between Elysian Fields and Poland Ave. The funding came from Artplace, a granting organization that supports arts related development.