RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay District

In August 2024, OCAI worked with Councilmembers Thomas, Green, and King to expand the RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay District, which helps bring back into commerce historic neighborhood commericial stores.

Timeline of RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay District Expansion Legislation:

  • 4/18/2024: The City Council unanimously approved Motion M-24-142, sponsored by Councilmembers Thomas, Green, and King, which directed the City Planning Commission to call a public hearing and produce a staff report on the RDO-1 Residential Overlay District expansion.
  • 7/11/2024: The City Planning Commission staff presented their staff report, which recommended approval. The City Planning Commission voted unanimously for approval on the RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay expansion legislation.
  • 8/22/2024: The City Council unanimously approved the RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay expansion.

What is the RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay District?  

The RDO-1 Residential Diversity Overlay District permits limited commercial uses to historical commercial buildings that, without the overlay, would be restricted to only residential uses. The RDO-1 overlay was established in 2002 following resident advocacy in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods to fight blight, increase economic development, and bring back the quintessential New Orleans corner store. A similar overlay district called RDO-2 was established in 2010 for the Treme and 7th Ward neighborhoods. 

The New Orleans City Council recently expanded the RDO-1 overlay to include the following areas: