Last Friday I was in New Orleans to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for two facilities, the new Sector New Orleans complex new Integrated Support Command. These projects are funded through Emergency Supplemental Appropriations provided following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Sector New Orleans:
This complex will house the Sector and consolidate local operational commands currently dispersed throughout the area, including the Bucktown site on Lake Ponchatrain, Marine Safety and Logistics functions currently located downtown, and the Vessel Traffic Service located on Canal Street.
The 53,000 square-foot facility will be built by IKBI, a Native Indian, tribally owned small business, on a 6.64 acre parcel of land in the NW corner of Naval Support Activity West Bank. The property was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard by an agreement reached with the US Navy, BRAC, Federal City and New Orleans Federal Alliance. The project is currently valued at $26 million.
Integrated Support Command New Orleans:
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, ISC New Orleans operated out of a facility adjacent to the Inner Habor Navigation Canal (Industrial Canal) on the west bank. That facility was flooded and severely damaged by Katrina. Planning had been underway to relocate the facility before Katrina to accommodate changes to the lock system and bridges on the canal. Following Katrina the ISC set up operations in temporary buildings at the NASA Michoud site in East New Orleans. The new ISC will be constructed on 26 Acres adjacent to the temporary facilities.
Construction will include an 81,000 square-foot Admin and Berthing building, a 49,000 square-foot Industrial/Shipping and receiving building and 7,200 square feet of covered storage. Waterfront facilities consist of a pier, a wharf, and a floodwall gate through which vessels and buoys will be transported to the Industrial building. The contract was awarded to a joint venture of Broadmoor and Boh Brothers and is currently valued at $76 million.
The groundbreaking ceremony for both sites was conducted ceremonially at the site of the Sector New Orleans construction. This long awaited event marks the beginning of the rebuilding of the Coast Guard in New Orleans.
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