Flagship Initiative
St. Claude Initiative
A long-term, community-led effort to transform one of New Orleans' most culturally significant and most underinvested streets into a corridor that works for businesses, residents, and the visitors who come here for experiences they can't find anywhere else.
Overview
What we're building, and why.
St. Claude Avenue is the spine of Bywater & Marigny — the corridor that connects over seven New Orleans neighborhood organizations and anchors the economic life of the area.
The St. Claude Initiative is BYMBO's coordinated answer to decades of underinvestment: safer streets, better infrastructure, real lighting, healthier tree canopy, a cohesive cultural identity, and an honest funding mechanism to make all of it real.
It rolls up three concurrent workstreams — the Master Plan, Safer St. Claude (with the Complete Streets Coalition), and SPARK: Light Up St. Claude — under one umbrella, plus the establishment of a voter-approved Economic Development District to fund execution.
Workstream 1
The Master Plan
A community-led plan for St. Claude built in collaboration with neighborhood associations, universities, city agencies, and LADOTD. The Plan addresses safety, infrastructure, lighting, tree canopy, bike + pedestrian facilities, and the cultural identity of the corridor in one unified roadmap.
- →Cross-jurisdiction coordination with the City + State
- →Public realm improvements + lighting
- →Bike + pedestrian network plan
- →Cultural and economic identity for the corridor
Workstream 2
Safer St. Claude
In partnership with the NOLA Complete Streets Coalition, BYMBO is advancing a corridor-safety package: safer crossings, calmed traffic, protected bike + pedestrian space, and a public-realm strategy that prioritizes the people who live and work along the avenue.
Annual St. Claude Event
SPARK: Light Up St. Claude
The placemaking arm of the St. Claude Initiative. SPARK transforms the corridor after dark with light installations, activated storefronts, and live programming — bringing visitors and locals out for one of New Orleans' most vibrant nighttime corridors.
Recap · January 2026
SPARK lit the match.
The first edition of SPARK transformed several blocks of St. Claude after dark with light installations, activated storefronts, and live programming — proving the corridor's appetite for nighttime activation.
Member businesses participated as venues, sponsors, and hosts. Foot traffic spiked on participating blocks during the event window.
SPARK 2027 · Coming February.
More Blocks
Expanding the activation footprint up and down St. Claude beyond the original 2026 edition.
More Installations
Larger light + art installations from local artists, plus partnerships with regional studios.
More Programming
Live music, food + bev partners, family-friendly daytime activations, and after-dark headliners.
Funding the Plan
Bywater Marigny Economic Development District
BYMBO is building a coalition of neighborhood associations, businesses, and organizations along the St. Claude corridor to establish an Economic Development District — with a dedicated funding mechanism (a small Tax Increment Financing levy) governed by a community-led board.
01
A Unified Coalition
We're building a coalition of neighborhood associations, businesses, and organizations along the St. Claude corridor to align on shared priorities for our collective future.
02
Community-Led Governance
A representative board of these stakeholders will guide decisions about investment and infrastructure — led by the people who live and work in the community.
03
Collective Advocacy & Action
Acting as one unified body on behalf of the corridor — fostering self-governance and intentional investment in quality of life, public safety, and long-term neighborhood vitality.
04
Independent Funding
We're pursuing a Sales Tax Increase through an Economic Development District — a small, dedicated sales tax managed by a community-led board, creating a sustainable funding source reinvested into the projects that matter most. Linking 8 neighborhood organizations with local government and non-profit leadership.
05
An Open Invitation
Take a seat at the table. This is real influence over how our neighborhoods grow — not waiting for outside decisions, but proactively shaping the future of St. Claude together.
Want a Seat at the Table?
The EDD only works if the people on the corridor are part of building it. Reach out to BYMBO and join the coalition.
Get InvolvedSpecific timeline, ballot information, and tax increase percentage will be shared as the campaign progresses.
Join us on St. Claude.
Members get a seat at the table on St. Claude planning, sponsorship opportunities for SPARK and other corridor activations, and direct access to BYMBO's policy + advocacy work.