Fat City: A prime target for redevelopment to complement downtown New Orleans and serve the suburban population.

  • Built in the early 1970s with nightclubs, presumably in anticipation of legalized gambling

  • Attracted wealthy, middle-aged population looking for entertainment outside of the central city

  • Characterized by shoddy construction and the lure of quick money

  • Area peaked in mid-1970s, “newness” wore off; and a younger, less wealthy crowd “moved the party to the street”

  • Underage drinking, litter, and noise drove off older, wealthy crowd

  • Businesses began to empty, the area continued to deteriorate, and some property owners insisted on change

  • In 1977, the Parish conducted its first study of the area

 

““Fat City had an inside charm of sorts.” ”
— New Orleans Magazine, 1979

What We've Achieved

  • 1986

    • New zoning makes bars and adult uses legally nonconforming

    • Bars continued, problems persisted

  • 2001

    • Jefferson EDGE 2010 called for “quality of life plans” to retain and attract residents

    • Metairie CBD Land Use and Transportation Plan adopted (RPC)

    • Called for additional study of Fat City

  • 2008

    • Metairie CBD Special District created (LA RS 33:1420.19) 

    • Metairie CBD Economic District No. 1 created by Ord. No. 2263

  • 2009

    • Fat City Strategic Redevelopment Plan adopted by Ordinance No. 23627, one of JEDCO’s “quality of life plans” and a subarea plan of Jefferson Parish’s Comprehensive Plan

    • Called for new zoning and amortization of adult uses (2012) and nonconforming signs (2015)

  • 2010

    • Fat City Zoning and Street Improvement Plan adopted by Ordinance No. 23881; included early closing hours for bars

  • 2011

    • Fat City Advisory Board created to make recommendations on remaining implementation tasks

    • Early bar closing hours upheld by courts

  • 2012

    • Last adult use amortized out of Fat City

    • First redevelopment projects approved under new zoning

  • 2013

    • Council adopted Final Report of Fat City Advisory Board as addendum to Strategic Plan

    • Included Capital Improvement Program

    • Nonprofit Friends of Fat City, Inc. created

  • 2014

    • State legislature to consider amendments to Metairie CBD Economic Development District to enable BDD