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Community Outreach & Neighborhood Planning
A skilled
communicator, Sylvain is regularly called upon by governmental
officials to serve as moderator of community forums and town
meetings on areas involving budget priorities, commercial
development projects, and other urban planning issues. Having led
public meetings on Mayor Landrieu’s Annual Community Budget
Meetings, the development of the Walmart in Gentilly, and the
redevelopment of Six Flags New Orleans are a few examples of where
his expertise has been utilized by governmental entities.
An Urban Planner
by profession, Sylvain most recently oversaw the $8 million
redevelopment of the historic
Carver Theater
which during the 1950’s was hailed as “America’s finest theater
exclusively for colored patrons.” The state-of-the-arts live
performance entertainment venue is located in the heart of Faubourg
Tremé; the nation’s first neighborhood for “free people of color.”
Its rebirth fills this historic neighborhood once again with life
and energy, and is playing a vital role in spurring economic
activity in that community.
 Sylvain
served as the Executive Assistant to Marc H. Morial, Mayor, City of
New Orleans, for the Mayor’s Division of Housing and Neighborhood
Development from May 1994 to May 2002; overseeing an annual budget
of approximately $45 million with one of the highest economic
inclusion rate for minorities in the country. Under Sylvain’s
charge was the accomplishment of federal, state, and local mandates
concerning housing and community development. He readily accepted
the challenge to provide leadership for unifying the City’s efforts
in developing a comprehensive neighborhood housing recovery plan.
Under his
leadership, the City’s housing programs served as a national model
for transformation. The U.S. Conference of Mayor’s recognized his
efforts in the development of Fannie Mae’s “House New Orleans” a $1
billion Fannie Mae affordable housing initiative which provided
affordable home loans for more than 10,000 families. Sylvain
received the
USCM’s “Excellence
in Community Development”
award for his leadership effort in the revitalization of the
historic neighborhood of Tremé. The creation of the New Orleans
African American Museum of Art, Culture, & History served as the
signature project for that award. Bob Vila, host of HGTV’s Restore
America devoted a nationally aired segment on the Treme’
revitalization initiatives developed under Sylvain’s tenure.
Sylvain’s
recognized expertise led to his appointment to the National Advisory
Council on the Housing Authority of New Orleans by the United States
Congress. HUD presented his office with several of its
“Best Practice”
awards. Under his tenure, the City recorded more than 21,000 home
sales, provided repairs to the homes of more than 6,000 citizens,
and removed more than 11,000 vacant houses from the City’s
landscape. Sylvain’s creation of the City’s Soft Second program is
still used today as the premier means of providing affordable
housing to New Orleans citizens. Sylvain diligently worked with
others to help bring major economic development projects such as
Saulet Apartments, Venus Gardens’ Apartments, Rivers Frederick
Square, Congress Square, the American Can Company’s mixed-use
residential facilities, Albertson’s Supermarket, Jazzland theme park
and others to fruition. His efforts led to more than $1.7 billion
of housing recovery activities into New Orleans’ economy.
In 2006 Sylvain
was honored by the Urban League of Greater New Orleans as a
“Golden Gala”
recipient for the linkage he provided hurricane survivors as well as
recognized by New Orleans Data News Weekly with its
presentation of the
“Beacon in the
Darkness” award. He
also received the
“Spirit of
Democracy” award
from the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation and its
80-plus member organizations for his role in assuring access to the
ballot by displaced voters who had been stranded across the
country. Rainbow PUSH Coalition honored Sylvain at its 2007 Gulf
Coast Economic Summit with its
“Unity Globe
Communication” award
for the leadership and attention he brought to issues centered on
the need for an equitable recovery of the Gulf Coast. He was also
recognized as a
“Damu Smith Power
of One” award
recipient by Deep South Center
for Environmental Justice at Dillard University for his work in the
area of environmental justice. In 2012 Sylvain received the
“Scribe
Award” from the
Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, and has been recognized by Harmony
Neighborhood Development for his many years of service in engaging
the community in neighborhood revitalization efforts. Last year
Paris Soul Café presented Sylvain with its
“Men of Honor”
award for his many achievements.
Those experiences have prepared Sylvain with the
knowledge and contacts to build a team of highly skilled
professionals with sensitivity to community concerns. Our philosophy
in the area of neighborhood planning encourages joint venture
partnerships between private sector investors and community or
faith-based organization within targeted neighborhoods. We
understand the challenges which exist in creating livable
communities, particularly in established neighborhoods with existing
cultural traditions.
Our team understands that community buy-in is the
most important ingredient in the neighborhood revitalization
process. As a New Orleans-based entity, local concerns are paramount
in project development.
From project oversight to
completion, give your project the advantage of Sylvain Solutions!
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