NEW ORLEANS — Everyone knows the French Quarter knows how to throw a party. But this weekend, a massive community gathering on Decatur Street is much more than a celebration—it is a collective fight for economic survival.
As the brutal summer heat begins to creep into New Orleans, a growing sense of dread is settling over small business owners in the lower French Quarter. For eight months, a massive Sewerage and Water Board (SWBNO) infrastructure project has left roads torn to pieces and choked off foot traffic with construction fencing.
To fight plummeting sales and lure locals back to the neighborhood, a coalition of independent shop and restaurant owners is launching the “Defend Decatur Rock the Block Party” this Sunday. Their goal is simple: convince patrons to look past the barricades.
The cost of construction
The impact of the ongoing construction is visibly draining the historic corridor. While established staples are leaning on their longevity to survive, neighbors say the financial bleeding has already turned fatal for some…