New Orleanians and Louisiana residents as a whole could benefit from a revitalized and thriving Canal Street, and that’s been a focus moving forward according to Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. He told WWL’s Tommy Tucker that he would like to create more residential living in the spaces above the shops that line Canal Street to create a more local base for future businesses.
“We’ve got to find a way to utilize those upstairs buildings above those shops. Whether it’s apartments or something to bring more people into that corridor … and do it wisely to where it doesn’t hurt other businesses. But, we have these buildings that are 4,5,6 stories tall and need to use that extra space for offices, housing, or something,” Nungesser explained.
The Lieutenant Governor also noted that safety is a top priority in the current planning, both when it comes to crime prevention and access in and out of the multi-story Canal Street. “We’re on a mission to save the French Quarter and bring it back to what it used to be,” says Nungesser. A huge part of that, he says, is ensuring the buildings being occupied are easily accessible to all who are using them. “The challenge is giving people a safe exit without going through the shops on the bottom. Those are the challenges of making Canal Street all it can be,” he went on to emphasize…