Canal Street: The Epicenter That Must Be Reclaimed
By David Waldron Anderson
Have you ever been on Canal Street at five o’clock in the morning? I was there recently, and what I saw should trouble anyone who cares about the future of New Orleans.
Coming through the 100 block of Carondelet, turning toward Canal, I counted no fewer than 15 people slouched against walls, sleeping or lurking in a way that felt more predatory than peaceful. By the time I reached the Ritz-Carlton, I had seen at least 35, maybe 50, spread across two blocks, some passed out on sidewalks, others clearly waiting for their next drink, fix, or opportunity to prey on someone less wary. It felt like a snake pit, and I don’t use that phrase lightly.
This is the reality at the epicenter of New Orleans. Canal Street is supposed to be the heart of the city, the world famous artery that connects to the French Quarter, that connects to the CBD Warehouse District, Garden District, Uptown, and Carrollton on the other. It stretches toward Tremé and Gentilly, reaches Bywater and Holy Cross. Canal Street should be the bridge, the centerpiece, the gathering place that holds the whole map of New Orleans together.
And yet, at the very hours when cities with thriving downtowns are preparing for a new day. when the streets are being washed, the deliveries are arriving, the cafés are lighting their first pots of coffee, ours is unsafe, unsanitary, and unwelcoming. No investor in their right mind would put a nickel into revitalizing a corridor that feels like a gauntlet before the sun even comes up.
That’s why the work Sandra Herman and others are pushing forward is so important. They are right to see Canal Street as the key to downtown’s revival. But the truth is: before anyone can invest, the city must make the street safe.
That begins with law enforcement. The police chief must be deeply involved in any plan for Canal Street, ensuring patrols happen in those off-peak hours, midnight to six a.m. when crime and fear take root. If people feel safe, investment will follow. If they don’t, no amount of master plans or marketing will matter.
The second step is cleanliness. The Downtown Development District already has the pressure washers. Let’s marshal those forces, enforce permits, and polish this rare gem. Safety and sanitation are not glamorous fixes, but they are the foundation of progress.
The opportunity, though, is undeniable. Canal Street is not just another boulevard—it is a world-famous name. People across Louisiana and beyond know it. Visitors from Baton Rouge, the Northshore, and the West Bank all think of Canal Street as the center of New Orleans. And those of us who live here want to be proud of it again.
We can get there. The bones are strong, the location is unmatched, the potential enormous. But Canal Street won’t be reborn through talk of politics or future mayors. It will be reborn through focus, coordination, and a willingness to use the tools we already have.
Let’s make Canal Street a world-famous street for the right reasons. The city deserves nothing less.
