The Federal City Team Unveils the Progress on the
Largest Tilt-Up Building in the Gulf Coast Region

For Immediate Release:

December 4, 2009, New Orleans, LA- Today the Federal City Team gave a progress report on the construction at the Federal City site in New Orleans and unveiled the largest tilt-up building in the gulf coast region.

“We are right on target with our construction timeline and our financial budget for the Federal City site,” said Algiers Development District (ADD) Chairman Jeff Arnold. “It has been a little over one year since we had the ground breaking ceremony. Our target is to complete the Headquarters of the Marine Forces Reserve by September 2011, which is part of the 75-year lease agreement between the Algiers Development District and the Department of the Navy signed last year.”

Retired General David Mize, who heads the New Orleans Federal Alliance (NOFA), the organization charged with overseeing the day to day operations of the project, told the crowd, “the MarForRes project is the largest project ever completed using tilt-up construction for military end use as well as the largest tilt-up building in the Gulf Coast region.”

Invited honorable speakers included: Governor Bobby Jindal, Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Congressmen Anh “Joseph” Cao and Steve Scalise, Louisiana House Speaker Jim Tucker, ADD Chairman Jeff Arnold, New Orleans City Council President Arnie Fielkow, Council-at-large member Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, Councilman James Carter and Lt. Gen. John Kelly, Marine Forces Reserve Commander.

ADD, NOFA, and HRI/ECC, who are the master developer, continue to discuss their future plans with local and federal tenants, merchants, education, and recreation representatives. The goal is that Federal City will become known for and represent four key areas:
• Education (a Military-Maritime school is currently planned at the site as well as robust after hours educational opportunities)
• The Proud Tradition of the Marines (Home of the Headquarters for the Marine Forces Reserve)
• Green (This will be an environmentally friendly facility)
• A Secure Force Facility (Construction in the Secure Compound meets new Federal Standards introduced after 9-11)
Federal City offers an approach that could make it a National Model for the future configuration and operation of small to mid-sized DOD installations. Federal City’s goal is to create state-of-the-art facilities that will attract thousands of federal and private sector workers during the next ten years. Federal City’s design will feature a mixed-use development with commercial, residential, retail, cultural, recreational, and educational services within a campus-style setting.

The $150 million investment by the state for Federal City includes approximately $110 million for the Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters, $7 million for amenity upgrades on the site, and $33 million for other infrastructure improvements and other aspects of the project. Many of these improvements and upgrades are expected to be substantially complete by June of 2011. Naval Operations impacted by the 2005 BRAC action will be complete no later than September 15, 2011.

Contact: Kathy Lynn kathylynnadd@att.net 504-481-9511