Notable New Orleanians: A Tricentennial Tribute

JOSEPH C.
CANIZARO
Top: Canizaro overlooking construction
of the Crowne Plaza from his office in
the Lykes Center.
Below: Crowne Plaza New Orleans, 1984.
By any measure, the story of Joseph C.
Canizaro and his notable role in the development
of contemporary New Orleans exemplifies
the concept of strategic thinking. He has
brought this visionary approach to bear in
three significant areas: real estate, finance,
and community service. Each of which has
significantly enhanced the quality of life in his
adopted hometown.
Canizaro is perhaps best known as president
and CEO of Columbus Properties, LP,
which has helped to shape the face of the city,
through several iconic development/construction
projects. He has also played a key role in
the city’s financial sector through his leadership
of First Bank and Trust, as well as
Corporate Capital, L.L.C. Canizaro’s work on
civic initiatives and community projects is
well-documented. He has been involved in
virtually every significant effort since he
arrived in the city.
Canizaro came to New Orleans in 1964,
from Biloxi, where his father, a surgeon,
instilled in him the values of hard work and
planning ahead. With a self-professed “numbers
brain,” he founded Joseph C. Canizaro
Interests, now known as Columbus
Properties, LP, in 1966. The company, still
headquartered in New Orleans, has over
10,000,000 square feet of development completed,
including high-rise office buildings,
luxury hotels, mixed-use developments, business
and industrial centers and residential
housing across the Southeast and Southwest.
The most visible of Columbus Properties’
projects over the years are the office buildings
it has developed. Drawing on a half-century
of experience, the company has learned the
lessons of the past and combined that expertise
with its ongoing creativity and attention to
detail, in the development of office buildings
which “maximize technology, design, usage,
efficiency and comfort.” Columbus has pioneered
techniques that have streamlined the
development process, which has resulted in
the completion of high quality buildings in
significantly reduced timeframes, thus creating
the most cost-effective modern solutions
for its customers, clients and owners. This
lengthy track record of success has earned the
firm its reputation for integrity and leadership
in the real estate industry.
The New Orleans skyline is replete with
examples starting with Canal Place, the $500
million mixed-use development completed in
1979. Located on 23 acres near the French
Quarter, Canal Place consists of a 32-story
office building and 250,000 square feet of
retail shopping area, including Saks Fifth
Avenue and the 500 room Westin Hotel.
Its location speaks to Canizaro’s vision of
bridging the worlds of tourism and commerce
at a nexus within one of the world’s most scenic
locales. It also highlights one of the civic
and leadership traits for which he has become
known—consensus building. In shepherding
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