Downtown Development District presents awards for 'exceptional accomplishments'

The awards covered projects and activities in the area bounded by the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue, Iberville Street and the river.

The Palace Cafe, Rubensteins menswear store, the Lafayette Square Conservancy, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Joy Theater and Idea Village were among the winners this week when the Downtown Development District presented its inaugural Downtown NOLA Awards.

John McCusker / The Times-PicayuneThe Joy Theater reopened in December after a $5 million restoration, becoming the first Canal Street theater to reopen on a permanent basis since Hurricane Katrina. .

The awards covered projects and activities in the area bounded by the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue, Iberville Street and the river.

The agency said the awards, to be presented annually, will "recognize exceptional accomplishments" of property owners, businesses, residents, workers and organizations. "We want to honor the people and places that inspire, innovate and integrate the Downtown NOLA brand into their Downtown neighborhoods," it said.

The winners were:

Downtown Inspiration Award: Aaron Miscenich

Downtown Leadership Award: Marcel Wisznia

Best Downtown Neighborhood Watch: businesses and residents in the 600 block of Julia Street

Best Downtown Clean Team Member: Courtney Latiker

Cleanest Downtown Block: the 600 block of Andrew Higgins Boulevard/ (the National World War II Museum)

Cleanest Downtown Business Front: Palace Cafe

Best Downtown Window Display: Rubensteins

Downtown's Best-Kept Secret: Stage to Stage Inc. Crescent City Lights Youth Theater

Best Downtown Third Space: PJ's Coffee Canal Street

Best Downtown Recycling or Green Project: Lafayette Square Conservancy

Best Downtown Adaptive Reuse Project: Rouses Market Downtown and 826 Baronne St.

Best Downtown Façade Improvement Project: Fischer's Jewelry, 1036 Canal St.

Best Downtown Public Works Project: Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Best Downtown Development Project: the Joy Theater and the Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Downtown Brand Ambassador of the Year: Chris Schultz

Downtown iMinder of the Year: Nic Perkin

Downtown Innovator of the Year: Idea Village: New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and the Big Idea

Best DDD Public Safety Ranger: Danielle Wheeler

Best Downtown NOPD Officer: Omar Garcia

The winners were announced at a luncheon Tuesday at the Sugar Mill.