ULI Louisiana relaunched their Real Estate Breakfast series on April 1, 2026. The series brings together experts from across sectors to discuss the intersection of real estate development and economic development. This year’s overarching theme is “Building Confidence in the New Orleans Market.”
The first session, “Unpacking Vision 2035,” included speakers Alice Glenn, Executive VP of New Orleans & Co., Grady Fitzpatrick, Chief Business Development Officer of GNO, Inc., and Lauren Siegel, Managing Director at the strategic consulting firm Trepwise.
Their discussion centered on the newly released Greater New Orleans Region Vision 2035 plan, a comprehensive 10-year roadmap to make our region a stronger place to live, learn, work, and visit.
The plan was created by New Orleans & Company, in partnership with Greater New Orleans Foundation, Greater New Orleans Inc., Jefferson Economic Development Commission, New Orleans Chamber, and Urban League of Louisiana. It represents two years of collaboration and was grounded in community voices to ensure the plan reflects real needs and long-term priorities, involving:
- 70+ interviews with leaders/organizations
- 120+ community members engaged
- 20+ plans researched
- 5 roundtable sessions
The plan moves beyond tourism and tackles the very systems that affect residents’ daily lives including affordable housing, transportation, jobs, and quality of life. The Urban Land Institute brings together people working at the intersection of real estate, development, and community revitalization, who understand that issues like housing affordability, infrastructure, and cultural preservation are deeply linked. Vision 2035 recognizes that and addresses each of those issues head-on.
The focus on neighborhood investment, connectivity, small business development, and innovative land use strategies aligns perfectly with the kind of projects that can truly reshape our region for the long term. There was optimistim that as these goals are realized, New Orleans will see more resilient neighborhoods, stronger property values, and a market where visitors, residents and investors can all thrive.
It’s encouraging to see this level of alignment among public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Collaborative planning like this is how real, sustainable progress gets done in New Orleans.
Learn more about the Vision 2035 here.