NEW ORLEANS — Due to strong interest from both the local and national development community, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (Authority) has extended the deadline for the selection process to find a developer for its development upriver. According to a press release, Request for Qualifications (RFQ) responses will now be due on Friday, Oct. 18.
“The RFQ has generated a lot of interest, and some have expressed a need for more time to appropriately respond given that these 20 acres are some of the last undeveloped urban real estate in the country,” said Authority chairman Melvin Rodrigue. “This will be one of the most important developments for New Orleans and the State of Louisiana in decades, and it is important that we allow more time for additional responses and further clarity beyond the initial phase.”
The process provides for a short list of qualified respondents to be determined who will be asked to submit a Master Development Proposal to ultimately be considered by the Authority.
The Authority envisions that the 20 acres will be for a mixed-use development to complement a headquarters hotel, an entertainment concept, specialty retail, and residential uses already being considered. The Authority expects the development to be reflective of the unique culture and history of New Orleans and include elements not commonly found in other parts of the nation. The selected Master Developer would enter into a long-term agreement with the Authority to implement the plan for all or portions of the site. Selection criteria will include experience and capabilities, financial components, and commitment to inclusion of small and emerging business enterprises (SEB).
A complete timeline for the process includes:
- October 18, 2019 All RFQ submittals due.
- October 21-24, 2019 Panel review and scoring/short-list.
- October 24, 2019 Notice of Interviews.
- November 11-15, 2019 Interviews and scoring.
- November 19, 2019 Finalists notified. Issue RFP to finalists.
- January 17, 2020 RFP responses due.
Qualified parties should visit https://exhallnola.com/opportunities/available-opportunities/ to register with the Exhibition Hall Authority website to view and download the RFQ details.
