James Russell Amdal

James Russell Amdal, loving husband, father, grandfather, and dedicated urban planner and professor, died at the age of 75 on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The only child of Russell and Mary Margaret Amdal, "Jimmy" grew up in Decatur, Illinois and from a very young age learned to appreciate architecture and design beside his father at the drawing table. Raised in an always impeccable and stylish home, he was taught to be well mannered and well dressed. Around the age of 12, he took a part-time job on a farm where he learned to wear jeans, smoke cigarettes, shovel manure, and curse! He would eventually grow out his hair and beard, and gain the nickname, "Cussin' Jim." He met his wife, Nancy Lou Martin, in high school. They both gravitated towards the arts, and dated during their respective studies at the University of Illinois Urbana. Jim earned a B.A. in architecture in 1972, married Nancy in 1973, and went on to earn a masters in Architecture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1977. In the early years of their marriage, Jim & Nancy tested the waters in several cities before eventually settling in New Orleans in 1981 where Jim took a job working on the World's Fair. In 1982, Jim managed and co-authored the "New Orleans Historic Warehouse District Study" for the PRC, an award winning publication that would be used as a guide by developers for years to come. He went on to form his own urban planning consultant firm on Julia Street, and was instrumental in the formation of the Riverfront Civic Association in 1985. In addition to serving on the RCA board until 2005, he served on the Board of Directors of the Historic Faubourg St. Mary Corporation, which worked to revitalize the Central Business District. In 1997, Jim joined the University of New Orleans as a research professor, and over the span of 23 years there, he made significant contributions to the Dept. of Planning & Urban Studies, the Transportation Institute, and the broader planning community. Jim also served annually on the awards committee for the Louisiana Landmarks Society, and on the boards of the Louisiana Steam Train Association and the Old Algiers Main Street Corporation. Post Katrina, he acted as Advisor to the Recovery Steering Committees for Lakeview and the CBD. For 20 years, he served as Chairman of the CBD Historic Districts Landmarks Commission. While his list of master plans, transportation studies and publications is extensive, Jim's most tangible professional legacy is the bright red and yellow Riverfront Streetcar, for which he served as the project's President and Chief Operating Officer, and it has been in operation since 1988. Throughout his years of professional service, Jim was a reliable and hilarious friend and colleague, and devoted father and husband. Jim and Nancy were pioneers in raising their children in downtown New Orleans, and in doing so instilled in them a love of historic preservation, art, positive urban spaces, and the vibrant culture of New Orleans. They celebrated 50 years of marriage just 6 months before Nancy's passing in 2023. Jim is also preceded in death by his parents Russell & Mary Margaret Amdal. He is survived by his two children, Alvar Russell Amdal (Rosaleen), Jamie Amdal Hughes (Ryan), his four grandchildren, Mae Elise Amdal, Evelyn Louisa Amdal, Frances Meaux Amdal, and Jude Russell Hughes, his aunt Marilyn Madden, cousins Ann Nicholson, Bill Nicholson (Colleen), Debbie Williams, brother-in-law John Kimball Martin (Mary), sister-in-law Susan Martin, and nieces and nephews Eric Martin, Lindsay Anderson, and Adam Martin. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jim's honor to the Preservation Resource Center prcno.org or the LASPCA www.louisianaspca.org.