Sep 10, 2009 9:49 AM

The city of New Orleans as seen from outer space.

New Orleans Cold Storage (NOCS) plans to build a 147,000-square-foot cold storage facility in uptown New Orleans. Construction is anticipated to take around 18 months.

NOCS, an exporter of frozen chicken and other products, no longer had deep-draft water access when the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet canal was shut down after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

The firm at first intended to construct a new refrigeration terminal at a wharf by the French Quarter. That plan ignited resistance in the neighborhood. Foes of the planned terminal said it would interfere with a planned park along miles of riverfront once occupied by wharves. Opponents also mentioned a threat to health and safety, as well as the noise factor.

Officials said the new project enhances existing plans to rebuild and revive the riverfront. City leaders say this project goes hand in hand with the Reinventing The Crescent project, a multimillion-dollar plan to convert the riverfront into an area of shops, parks, and businesses.

Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal praised the NOCS decision, saying it would retain hundreds of jobs in the area.

“New Orleans Cold Storage’s commitment to New Orleans solidifies the company’s place in the local business community and represents even more exciting news of economic development from our existing Louisiana companies during this national economic downturn,” he said. “The new terminal will enhance the company’s competitiveness and productivity, in addition to increasing port activity and creating more jobs for our people.”