In late 2007, amid furious protest from residents, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved a federal plan to demolish four of the city's oldest and largest public housing complexes, Lafitte, B.W. Cooper, C.J. Peete and St. Bernard. These four 1940's complexes, which contained 4,500 of the city's 5,100 public housing units prior to Katrina, were condemned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a strategy to relieve concentrations of poverty in the city's slums. In the three years following the controversial decision all four complexes have been torn down (a few buildings remain at each site, and presumably will be left standing). The new developments that will replace the old projects are influenced by New Urbanist communities such as Seaside, Florida; they are comprised of closely built single-family homes adorned with "elegant architectural styles," are inspired by "traditional" housing types, and stress pedestrian-accessibility and centrality. Construction is well underway at Harmony Oaks, a development that sits on the former site of C.J. Peete. Houses from the first phase of construction have hit the market with first preference given to former residents of the projects, though many of the initial candidates could not qualify to buy.
Supporters of the new developments have argued that the pastel-colored communities will improve living conditions in New Orleans by breaking up concentrated pockets of poverty and increasing diversity. Many local residents, architects, and planners have expressed doubts, however, pointing out that the new developments will house many fewer residents than the old complexes and that many of the new units will be sold at market value rather than rented. Other critics have argued that the new developments look and feel "artificial" or that they will simply "replace one vision of social isolation with another." Debate will likely continue for many more years, as it remains unclear when construction at the four sites is expected to be finished.
Above: Satellite images of C.J. Peete and Harmony Oaks, 2003, 2009, and 2010.
Above: Man sitting outside of his new home in Harmony Oaks.
