Has anybody seen the boom?

By Deon Roberts, Online Editor

“Where are the cranes?”

If I had a nickel – heck, a penny – for every time I heard somebody say that since Katrina, my pockets would be a lot heavier. In the nearly two years since Katrina, it’s become a worn, cliché statement.

I heard the comment again Wednesday, this time from New Orleans developer Angelo Farrell, who is redeveloping the old Cosmopolitan hotel property on Royal Street.

“The skyline should be filled with tower cranes after the storm,” he said.

This talk of cranes makes me think of the “boom.” You know: that period of frenzied development following Katrina.

What ever happened to the boom? Did it happen? Is it happening? If not, when will it happen?

We asked this question on our CityBusiness poll a few weeks ago. I was surprised when about 6 percent said they already see signs of the boom.

Perhaps they are right and the boom is here. But it’s a boom without cranes on the skyline, that’s for sure.