Flanked by construction equipment and the hulking brick buildings of a long-abandoned military complex, newly elected Mayor Helena Moreno joined dozens of city, state and business leaders Wednesday to mark the formal start of a $300 million redevelopment that aims to transform the former Naval Support Activity site in Bywater into one of the city’s most ambitious blends of affordable housing and technology-driven economic development.
The project, known as NSA East Apartments, will convert the derelict riverfront property into 294 affordable apartments, retail space and a major startup incubator, while laying the groundwork for a broader vision that backers say could reshape a section of the city that has been fenced off from public life for more than a century.
Moreno said the site had long been a symbol of frustration for nearby residents — a sprawling eyesore associated with blight and crime — but is now positioned to become a citywide economic catalyst. The redevelopment, she said, reflects a deliberate effort to pair affordable housing with innovation and entrepreneurship, creating a pipeline that keeps jobs, talent and investment in New Orleans.
“This development marks a pivotal moment not just for this neighborhood, but for the city of New Orleans as a whole — driving innovation and business growth while also securing long-term investment in affordable housing,” Moreno told the crowd of about 200 gathered for the groundbreaking.
A serious economic diversity plan
If the city is serious about diversifying its economy, Moreno added, it must prioritize startups and small businesses alongside housing. The NSA project is designed to do both at once. She described the redevelopment as a pivotal moment not just for Bywater, but for New Orleans as a whole, and urged public and private partners to view it as a model for unlocking other long-stalled properties…