Advertisement Coming soon: NORA selects 5 developers for Lower Ninth Ward housing initiative Share Shares Copy Link Copy

As part of an affordable housing initiative by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, five developers have been selected to construct homes on more than 200 vacant lots in the Lower Ninth Ward.The plans were recently announced after NORA selected the five developers during its February board meeting. The homes will be constructed within the boundaries of the Industrial Canal, North Galvez Street, St. Claude Avenue and the St. Bernard Parish line.NORA wants the five developers to construct affordable single- and two-family homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. The homes will be built on vacant lots, which were transferred to NORA by the Road Home Program or other acquisitions.“We are excited about the prospects of bringing vacant properties back to life, providing jobs in construction and making available affordable places to live," said Jeff Hebert, executive director of NORA.Related: CVS to come to Lower Ninth WardNORA said it received 10 proposals, and five were approved by the board. The developers are New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity Inc., the St. Bernard Project Inc., Perez APC/Harmony Neighborhood Development Inc., Jourdan Valley Development and Neville Development.Now that the developers have been selected, NORA said it will enter into purchase and development agreements for the properties. The developers will be responsible for securing acquisition and development financing, while ensuring that the properties are developed in a suitable and timely manner.NORA said the 229 vacant properties were selected during an internal planning process, which analyzed market conditions in the Lower Ninth Ward. The study concluded that there would be a demand for an additional 250 housing units in the neighborhood over the next five years.Some of the other redevelopment projects in the Lower Ninth Ward include the recent opening of the Sanchez Community Center, a CVS pharmacy opening soon and improvements to the area's infrastructure.Officials said NORA will divide up the vacant properties between the developers. Habitat for Humanity will receive 48 vacant lots, while St. Bernard Project will receive 36 properties to develop 72 two-family units.Video: Lower Ninth Ward community rallies in support of opening Louis Armstrong ElementaryPerez APC/Harmony Neighborhood Development will acquire 61 properties and develop 100 housing units. Jourdan Valley Development will acquire 13 vacant properties to construct 13 two-family homes, while Neville Development sought to acquire 30 parcels to develop 35 housing units.The upcoming project follows the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which NORA partnered with to help create 463 affordable housing units in seven neighborhoods across New Orleans. Fifteen nonprofit and for-profit developers were part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program."We hope to continue to offer similar opportunities and work to create a more resilient and vibrant city," Hebert said.More information about NORA and its projects can be found online.