Downtown Development District of New Orleans

Last week, The National WWII Museum officially broke ground on its Floyd Education and Collections Pavilion—a new complex that will support the Museum’s ongoing growth and expansion in Downtown New Orleans. The Pavilion, located at 1042–60 Magazine Street, was made possible through a $7.5M gift from longtime Museum supporters Timber and Peggy Floyd, whose donation will be used to create a two-story space dedicated to the continued education of people from across the country and around the world. DDD celebrates this new chapter of excellence at this iconic City landmark and looks forward to witnessing the opening of this terrific and engaging space. Learn more in our weekly newsletter at the link: https://bit.ly/3G9IlDG. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA

Downtown Development District is proud to release to the community its 2025 State of Downtown Report, offering a detailed look at the present economic health, vitality, and trajectory of Downtown New Orleans. The 2025 Report reflects a year marked by bold investments, increased visitation, and significant urban improvements that reaffirm Downtown’s position as a dynamic hub for business, culture, and community, both within the City and across Louisiana as a whole. “This year’s Report demonstrates the momentum we’ve been building across all sectors of Downtown,” said Chris R. Ross, Chair of the DDD Board. “From residential and retail growth to cultural resurgence and cutting-edge innovation, Downtown New Orleans is not only thriving—it’s leading.” Access the full 2025 Report and learn more about our vibrant neighborhood at the link: https://bit.ly/43yrsfK. As always, DDD thanks you for your commitment to building a stronger future for Downtown. #DowntownNOLA #DDD

The biotech sector continues to boom in Downtown New Orleans. In March, Beken Bio—a biotech firm revolutionizing early cancer detection—announced its receipt of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 Grant from the National Science Foundation. This award supports the development of a liquid biopsy diagnostic test that will detect ovarian cancer much earlier in disease progression. This SBIR funding opportunity was made possible through the support of Downtown’s own New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC), which focuses on advancing life science entrepreneurship and technology in Louisiana. The funded research is set to take place in hospitals and research centers across New Orleans, primarily led by doctors from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and Tulane University. Read more about this scientific breakthrough and its wide-reaching implications in the DDD weekly newsletter, linked here: https://bit.ly/43vaY8i. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #BioDistrictNOLA #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA

In a move that should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever lived in or visited the Crescent City, hospitality giant Time Out Magazine recently named New Orleans to the top slot of its globe-spanning list: “The World’s 20 Best Cities for Food Right Now.” Downtown Development District couldn’t agree more. Our vibrant and central neighborhood is home to approximately 250 eating and drinking establishments, all of which capture something special about the flavor of our diverse and historic city. Dining and hospitality are integral to the culture and industry of our District, and clearly, the world agrees. Read the full list and the details of New Orleans’ first-place finish at the link: https://bit.ly/3R5jtj0. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DineDowntownNOLA #NewOrleans

We can't stop admiring these key statistics from #SuperBowlLIX. Thanks for the insights, New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, and for orchestrating one truly unforgettable event! #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DDDEvents #SuperBowlLIX

This week, join Downtown Development District and The Idea Village for the 3rd Coast Venture Summit (3CVS), taking place Wednesday, March 26, to Friday, March 28, at the Common House Downtown. This three-day event invites Gulf South startup founders and nationwide investors, business leaders, and corporate partners to connect and collaborate on entrepreneurial ventures and ideas—ultimately aiming to increase deal flow for Gulf Coast companies and grow the regional venture ecosystem. To learn more about this year’s event and register to attend, please visit the link here: https://bit.ly/3DODgA8. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA #3CVS

Wave City Market, the brand-new multi-outlet dining spot for Tulane University's Downtown campus, celebrated its grand opening last week—marking an exciting new development for the school's footprint in our neighborhood. Cheers to Tulane on another impressive stride and to the continued expansion of its presence in Downtown New Orleans. Read more at the link: https://bit.ly/4kPxONP. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA #DineDowntownNOLA

Downtown Development District recently celebrated the completion of its long-term Downtown Parks and Open Space Cultural Activation Plan. Led by Manning Architects, the developed plan looks at six parks and/or open spaces within DDD boundaries to ideate future cultural programming and infrastructural upgrades. With the plan now complete, DDD will begin to approach park ownership and collaborate on grant opportunities to bring these ideas to life in Downtown New Orleans. We thank all those who participated in the community effort to develop these visions for a greener, more accessible, and more beautiful DDD. Stay tuned to our page for updates as this plan progresses. Photo credit: Frank Aymami. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA

In late February, DDD Chief Economic Development Officer René C. Pastorek, AICP joined fellow Louisiana Downtown advocates as a panelist at ULI Louisiana's Emerging Trends in Real Estate Conference 2025. Together, these regional leaders discussed pertinent topics related to urban development—including the challenge of balancing cultural identity with redevelopment, the importance of advocacy for housing supply, and the potential of new innovations in urban design. We thank our partners at ULI for creating the time and space for these important conversations and look forward to collaborating with our fellow Louisiana Downtowns in the near future. Read more about this forward-focused panel and its key takeaways at the link: https://bit.ly/4itjV6n. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DowntownDevelopmentNOLA

The ongoing growth and success of Downtown New Orleans relies on the powerful women who help work towards it each and every day. Join 600+ local women leaders on Thursday, April 3, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for Power Up Women’s Conference 2025, presented by the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. This inspiring day-long conference aims to connect and empower women from across the Greater New Orleans region with inspiring keynote speakers, multiple breakout sessions, ample networking opportunities, and more. Make connections with top professionals—both Downtown and beyond—at Power Up 2025. Find the link to purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/3ojISao. #DowntownNOLA #DDD #DDDEvents #PowerUp #NewOrleansChamberofCommerce