Squandered Heritage

Block party! Artists imagine colorful renovation of houses relocated to Hoffman Triangle

Boarded up doors and windows are re-imagined, right down to the window boxes.

Volunteers envision their work as “an opportunity for children to participate in the process of improving their own communities and receive art instruction in the process.”

By Karen Gadbois April 18, 2013

Treme neighbor of collapsed doubles sees pattern in housing nonprofit’s mismanagement

So much for heritage. The doubles fell down Wednesday, injuring four workers.

Vandals broke in repeatedly and a fire broke out last July. A few weeks ago, brick was removed from the structures that collapsed on Wednesday.

By Karen Gadbois April 11, 2013 1 comment

Slow-mo house-moving saga: a status report on a what seemed a dandy idea

The houses remain uninhabited, but itinerant New Jersey artist Henry Hechavarria has found a use for them.

Jacking up a hundred houses, placing them on trucks and rolling them across town was never going to happen at the speed of light.

By Karen Gadbois April 4, 2013

Billboard house collapses while city debates its demolition

City inspectors have cited the house for 12 code violations. Picky, picky, picky!!

Neighbors say squatters have pulled planks from the collapsing house and built themselves a shack in the rear. City officials are negotiating a hold-harmless agreement to allow demolition of the house.

By Karen Gadbois March 27, 2013 4 comments

You don’t like my concrete front yard? How about I Astroturf it?

4117 Orleans Avenue: City rules forbid totally paved front yards. photo: Karen Gadbois

Unsightliness is one problem. The other is that a flood-prone city like New Orleans needs to be able to absorb as much rainwater as possible, something concrete is not good at.

By Karen Gadbois February 20, 2013 10 comments

Holy Cross community looks askance at proposed riverfront towers

Architect renderings of the proposed development show towers clustered at the riverfront edge of the property. credit: Perez

A developer has proposed two 13-story, 135-foot high apartment buildings, significantly higher than the 75-foot maximum desired by the neighborhood association.

By Karen Gadbois February 18, 2013 9 comments

Elevating houses crowds sidewalks in historic neighborhoods

What goes up must go out. Front steps extend out over the sidewalk as a Treme cottage undergoes elevation. photo: Karen Gadbois

Elevating your home in a dense historic neighborhood is a tricky proposition because what goes up must also go out.

By Karen Gadbois February 7, 2013

Lots of paving, no permit: Board of Zoning Adjustment to review more concrete lawns

The side and front lawns of the two-family house at Orleans and Bungalow Court have been paved. photo: Karen Gadbois

Pave first, ask permission later: That seems to be the philosophy in three cases before the city.

By Karen Gadbois January 23, 2013 11 comments

Wrecking ball for Booker T, but auditorium to be spared

“Selective demolition” lies ahead for a school with a storied past. photo: Karen Gadbois

Demolition of Booker T. Washington High School, on Earhart Boulevard near the B.W.

By Karen Gadbois December 14, 2012

Concrete lawn gets grass, but illegal driveway remains

One step forward, another step back. Back in September, The Lens wrote about the unpermitted paving at this house on Burdette Street in Carrollton after reader Kurt Buchert submitted a photo.

By Karen Gadbois October 31, 2012 1 comment