re: New Orleans 2004 vs. New Orleans 2014

quote:

---

As far as the young professionals go, no, they're not flocking to NOLA. Sure, hipsters are gentrifying bayou St. John and the Bywater, but there is still much work to be done from an aesthetic standpoint, as well as economically.

---

There are several groups of young professionals who are flocking to the city.

1) Entreprenuers

2) Teach For America types

3) People who want to work with nonprofits / community service types

4) Anyone who can be considered an "artist" in any stretch, such as music, painting, literature, craft, etc

5) Just within the last 12-24 months, Info Tech

What there is a significant absence of, is young professionals in traditional professional fields - finance, accounting, engineering, architecture, etc.

This is because, by and large, these fields have most of their entry level jobs inside large firms or large corporations, neither of which we have many of in this city.

When you think of a traditional young professional, NOLA is still a very difficult city in which to get your first professional job. I've seen that upclose with a family member, who is a recent graduate in the same field that I work in. She has struggled to even get interviews... of the four she has gone on, three of them were with people I know through professional relationships.

quote:

---

NOLA 2004: Steady decline of population, jobs

NOLA 2014: Steady incline of population, jobs

---

Simple, and pretty accurate. The population is also more diverse and there's a much higher Hispanic population now. All in all, if all of that money spent on hurricane protection is effective, we should be looking at a sustained period of economic and population growth, if not I don't want to think about it.

I'll put it this way. In 2004, I strongly was considering leaving the city. Katrina did it for me. But I willingly came back.

This city has a positive vibe in it that I don't ever remember seeing growing up. It's as if we are finally moving forward. People want to invest here. People are moving companies here. The schools are on the way up (although they have ways to go). Things are being built.

Of course, it's uneven. Black druggie gangbangers are still killing other black druggie gangbangers. But by and large, as long as you stay out of a few select areas of the city, you are safe.

The one thing that makes me wonder is... how much better off would this city be at this minute, if Mitch could have beaten the chocolate man in 2006. We basically pissed away four years.

There is one big concern I have though, and this is more for the city proper than the region. The city has made a lot of improvements with Katrina money. However, will the city be able to afford to keep up those improvements in the long run? Or will the schools, the few new roads, etc go to crap in ten years?

Freret St. is a great example.

quote:

---

Is better than it has been since I have been alive. And yes, I am old.

---

I'm not quite as old as you, but I wouldn't have moved back in 2004 but would now.

quote:

---

Tulane still needs to bring back their Engineering program.

---

We have Engineering.

LINK

After Katrina they eliminated the majority of the Engineering degrees. Civil for example.


LINK

LINK

quote:

---

There is an awful lot of excitement and optimism right now.

---

There's never been more of these during the modern area. It's an amazing time for the city and the state.

White people in the bywater-marigny
More black people on the west bank and in east jeff
More tech jobs
More investment in healthcare

I was headed down that hippie life-long waiter job in 1974(Victoria Station Restaurant) but fortunately turned things around. Was still making $200 a night and it was very tempting to stay put.