Bulletin for March 10, 2026

Downtown District Development

Knudsen, a native New Orleanian, began his career in local government over 20 years ago and brings a strong background in urban planning and development to DDD. He most recently served as Chief of Strategy, Programs, and Projects at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), where he led the development and implementation of the agency’s first strategic plan and played a key role in securing new funding and creating cutting-edge community development partnerships with the City of New Orleans, NOLA Public Schools, and Agenda For Children.
While serving in this position, Knudsen supported the disposition of thousands of properties and oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in combined public and private investment in housing, economic development, and infrastructure projects across the city. Knudsen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Tulane University, a Master’s degree in City Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Downtown Development District of New Orleans (DDD) was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1974 as the nation’s first assessment-based business improvement district (BID) to provide enhanced services in economic development, cleaning and safety. The DDD services the area bounded by Iberville Street, the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue and the Mississippi River. The DDD is governed by an 11-member Board of Commissioners who represent a cross section of the diverse Downtown community. Appointed by local elected officials, our commissioners help guide the policies and programs of the DDD.

Their mission is to drive the development of Downtown New Orleans and be the catalyst for a prosperous, stimulating, innovative heart of the Crescent City. They cultivate economic development in such industries as bioscience, the arts, digital media and tourism, ensuring Downtown is clean and safe, serve as the voice and advocate for Downtown’s future and promote Downtown as a world-class destination for residents and visitors.