Scott Satchfield / Eyewitness News
Email: ssatchfield@wwltv.com | Twitter: @satchfield
NEW ORLEANS -- For Kelisha Garrett, it was the perfect opportunity.
In January, Garrett and a partner opened UR Way Yogurt and Coffee Shop on Tulane Avenue, close to the massive biomedical corridor construction sites.
'I think that this area is going to be at the cusp of the redevelopment,' Garret said.
Her decision to set up shop here was based heavily on the hospital project.
Garrett, who now serves on the New Orleans BioDistrict Board of Commissioners, said other businesses are following suit, and snapping up available space in the area.
'Many of those (buildings) that may look as if they're still abandoned or blighted are under contract, so they're looking forward to the changes that are gonna be made.'
For every new biomedical job created, five new support jobs will follow, according to BioDistrict officials.
With the project's master plan now finalized, officials said momentum is picking up.
While the project still faces two and a half more years of construction, it's already creating a major impact, bringing in more than 7,600 construction jobs.
Kelisha Garrett said the area's transformation is already well underway.
'Everything is bright and vibrant and new and customers actually come in say, 'I haven't been on Tulane in years, I didn't know where I was,'' Garrett said. 'We get that reaction a lot.'
Officials expect the new hospital facilities to be operational by the first quarter of 2015.
