This blog post includes updates to planned activities that will start at the children's hospital site at Jefferson Highway and Deckbar Avenue next week, October 13, 2025 as well as an update on the Levee Run apartments at Deckbar Avenue and River Road.
Additionally, Ochsner snail mailed two letters to neighbors with updates, but to date none of the OJCA board members have received these letters. We are sharing them with you at Ochsner's request. You can read them below as well as download them (see links at bottom of page).
EVENT
The Old Jefferson Community Association board and Ochsner Health executives met on the afternoon of October 9, 2025.
This is a new type of meeting with the neighborhood and Ochsner to re-establish communications and gather information including answers to all the questions that were submitted to us by OJCA members in advance of the meeting.
In attendance from Ochsner: Emily Arata (VP Systems - Public Affairs), Jay Britsch (VP Facilities), Tiffany Goitia (VP System Real Estate and Partnership, Todd Ragusa (Communications Consultant).
LETTERS FROM OCHSNER AND LANDSCAPING PLAN
Below are two letters that Ochsner shared with us today RE: Levee Run Apartment Demolition and RE: one of the oak trees near the intersection of Jefferson Highway and Deckbar Avenue that will be removed -- it's dead. The letter re: the oak includes an updated landscaping plan.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SITE ACTIVITIES THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 13, 2025
Jay Britsch informed us that they are planning to remove the dead oak tree on Monday, October 13 or Tuesday, October 14, 2025. See the second letter below for a full update.
The contractor is ready to start pile driving and the tree needs to be removed first.
The pile driving may start as early as Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Seismic engineers will monitor vibrations to protect nearby properties from ill effects.
FOR FULL DETAILS
Attend the next neighborhood association quarterly meeting on Thursday, October 16 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM for a full recap of OJCA board's meeting with Ochsner. Join us at the Jefferson Senior Center, 4518 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson (the pink building). Please join or renew your membership in October! It's important that this organization has the resources to keep doing the work. Thank you!
See you in the neighborhood