10 replies to this topic

[blackcoat]

Since this is such a large on-going project, I felt that it needed its own thread.  Ironically, no news has surfaced about the Federal City project in Algiers since that thread was created, so hopefully I'm not jinxing this...

After several recent reports about the uncertainty of the future of the hospital complex (1, 2, 3, 4), Governor Jindal confirmed the state's commitment to this project.  Though there is still much work to be done before we see any signs of construction, the governor unequivocally asserted that the state is throwing its weight behind this project.

[nola17]

Finally. I hope that but next year this time we'll be looking at a ground breaking

[nola17]

Well, hopefully its official now that the LSU & VA hospitals will be built in downtown New Orleans.

[NCB]

The most recent plans for the LSU-VA Hospital, printed in the Times-Picayune a few months ago:


The Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, to be built across Tulane Avenue from the new hospital facility:


The New Orleans BioInnovation Center, to be built on Canal Street 4 blocks down from the new hospital facility:

[nola17]

What does this all mean for Big Charity, the old VA Hospital, and University Hospital?

[blackcoat]

Some area residents have sparked debate over the location of the proposed LSU-VA Hospital.  Though only mentioned in a caption, it seems that Victory Real Estate has offered to sell its Mid-City property (site of the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center) to the government, which could quickly begin redeveloping that property as the new LSU-VA Hospital.

[breaux]

blackcoat, on Aug 13 2008, 12:11 AM, said:

Some area residents have sparked debate over the location of the proposed LSU-VA Hospital.  Though only mentioned in a caption, it seems that Victory Real Estate has offered to sell its Mid-City property (site of the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center) to the government, which could quickly begin redeveloping that property as the new LSU-VA Hospital.

This is troublesome to me.  New Orleans cannot afford to lose the VA hospital and any stalling could open the door.  In addition, Tulane Avenue desparately needs the makeover.  The hospital makes perfect sense at the Tulane location, considering its proximity to LSU and Tulane med schools.  Finally, I really doubt the residents of Mid-City are going to roll over and accept the hospital there.  I heard on WWL that they opposed building a commercial development at that site which would have accomodated fewer people.  The best thing for New Orleans is to get the facility built on Tulane ASAP.

[SlidellWX]

The state and the city have already stated that they only support a combined LSU/VA hospital at Tulane Ave. and that no other options are on the table.  I suspect groundbreaking early next year after the land is acquired.

[JPKneworleans]

SlidellWX, on Aug 14 2008, 04:40 AM, said:

The state and the city have already stated that they only support a combined LSU/VA hospital at Tulane Ave. and that no other options are on the table.  I suspect groundbreaking early next year after the land is acquired.

I think the location of this project is misguided.  If anything, the project should be between Tulane and Perdido, where there are far fewer houses worth saving.  Having spoken to many health executives, I am convinced that the city does not need a teaching hospital with nearly 500 beds.  The future of medicine is in outpatient procedures.  A state of the art hospital with a state of the art ambulatory health department is what's needed.  We're going to end up with a white elephant.  Also, I doubt that the state and city will be able to assemble of the land necessary to build the hospital, at least not in a reasonable time frame.  

Has the city purchased even one house?  I don't think it has.

Don't get me wrong.  New Orleans MUST have a teaching hospital, and the current University Hospital is not the one.  However, the proposed hospital will prove to be a money pit.

It will be interesting to see what impact the New York architects' study will have on the plans.  The study indicates that rehabbing old Charity would cost 200M less than building a new hospital.

[jennytainer]

The project site of the hospital should be near the Tulane and Perdido. This could make the hospital more accessible to the two places.

[xav13r]

Current Renderings for the VA Hospital.

Canal and Galvez


View from Rocheblave




Canal Street entrance


View from Tulane


Dixie Brewery