City of New Orleans Department of Public Works and Downtown Development District H&H Study and Implementation for Drainage Improvements of Downtown Development District

The Downtown Development District (DDD) of New Orleans, established in 1974 as the nation’s first assessment-based business improvement district, supports economic development, safety, and cleanliness within the city’s core—bounded by Iberville Street, the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue, and the Mississippi River.

In summer 2022, the DDD entered a cooperative endeavor agreement with the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works (DPW) to initiate drainage infrastructure improvements within the district. Funded through Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s Fair Share initiative, the agreement allows for infrastructure work reimbursed to the City’s Infrastructure Maintenance Fund.

This $5 million effort prioritizes green infrastructure to address persistent flooding across 19 blocks of the DDD. Improvements include replacing undersized drainage pipes—roughly 5% of which fall below the 15-inch minimum—and installing permeable pavement in parking lanes capable of detaining over one million gallons of stormwater. These features reduce surface flooding and pressure on the city’s drainage network.

Wingate Engineers was selected by DPW to lead design and management efforts with a strong emphasis on green infrastructure and hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling. Our team is providing critical modeling to assess baseline conditions, guide drainage strategies, and quantify stormwater benefits. The modeling also supports the targeted placement and design of green infrastructure elements for maximum flood reduction impact.

Wingate’s services include:

• Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to guide drainage and green infrastructure design
• Evaluation and design of permeable surfaces, bioswales, and stormwater detention features
• Street and sidewalk reconstruction, subsurface drainage, water, and sewer upgrades
• ADA compliance, landscaping, and streetscape enhancements
• CCTV inspections, drainage asset cleaning, and condition assessments
• Topographic and ROW surveys, environmental documentation, and NEPA compliance
• Full design development (30%, 60%, 90%, final) and construction documents
• Construction administration and resident inspection

Wingate is proud to support a project that advances resilient, sustainable infrastructure in one of the nation’s most flood-vulnerable urban areas.