Drawing on her many years of leading initiatives and building projects in government work, Sandra Herman felt inspired to take on a major task: revitalizing Canal Street. Once home to beloved department stores such as Maison Blanche and Gus Mayer, the area became less of a common destination when these retail anchors departed. After asking around, Herman was amazed by the number of people who wanted this project to happen, as many longtime residents of the city still fondly recalled Canal Street in its heyday.
Herman decided to divide this task into two parts. First, she is building a coalition of people who are interested in really doing the work on Canal Street. This includes opening more shops and cafes, as well as addressing public safety, transportation, and parking concerns. One of the additional goals is to entice more upscale, major retailers to return to the area as well. This all serves the main goal, which is to make families feel welcome on Canal Street.
The second portion of Herman’s plan involves beautifying the area. As she researched how other cities accomplished revitalizations, Herman learned that art installations were common. Inspired by the Christmastime storefront displays in Manhattan, Herman envisioned a way to dress up the historical buildings along Canal Street. She collaborated with Cat Todd and Collin Ferguson, founders of Where Y’Art, to create themed designs that celebrate the history of these buildings.