July 29, 2020 — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today joined other elected officials and community partners to celebrate the beginning of work on a $32 million redevelopment of Lake Forest Manor to bring it back to its original use, as a 200-unit senior living facility in New Orleans East.
The City provided a $1.5 million community development block grant to the developer TKTMJ, Inc., in collaboration with the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
The project is in keeping with several efforts by Mayor Cantrell to fight for affordable housing for the City’s residents, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the City Council approved Mayor Cantrell’s request for $35 million to be added to the 2020 budget for COVID-19 response and affordable housing in New Orleans. The ordinances appropriate funding from the State and Federal government to the Office of Community Development. They will allow the City to quickly respond to the compounded housing and economic issues related to COVID-19. This will help the City deploy funding for eviction and rental assistance, housing for homeless residents, and support small businesses.
Also, effective July 27, the Office of Community Development began taking applications for tenants residing in Orleans Parish in imminent danger of being evicted.
Mayor Cantrell also thanked a hotel in New Orleans East for stepping up to help house homeless residents downtown who had been compromised by the rodent vector that was identified in the early days of the pandemic as restaurants shuttered. Several of those residents, Mayor Cantrell added, have found permanent housing.
Mayor Cantrell also reaffirmed her commitment to improving District E, including New Orleans East. This includes housing, economic opportunity and infrastructure. Including projects currently under construction, the Department of Public Works has 40 projects valued at $211 million planned for District E. Twelve projects valued at $80 million are currently under construction, while there are 11 completed projects valued at $36 million — since May of 2018.
Mayor Cantrell was joined by State Rep. Jason Hughes, District 100; Marjorianna Willman, Director, Office of Housing Policy and Community Development, who facilitated the CDBG with HANO; and Michael Tubre and Thomas Tubre Jr., of TKTMJ, Inc.