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Author Archives: Karen Gadbois
Karen Gadbois co-founded The Lens. She now covers New Orleans government issues and writes about land use. With television reporter Lee Zurik she exposed widespread misuse of city recovery funds and led to guilty pleas in federal court. Her work attracted some of journalism's highest honors, including a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award and a gold medal from Investigative Reporters and Editors. She can be reached at (504) 606-6013.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Lens reporter’s year in S&WB hell: collapsed pipes, collapsed billing system
And despite the fiasco, top brass ordered itself big raises.
Posted inInvestigations, Land Use
How a house built with public funds for affordable housing became a $500-a-night Airbnb
The house was moved from the site of the VA hospital, torn down at its new location and then replaced.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Blighted Make It Right home to be demolished after standing vacant, half-repaired for two years
The property was the subject of a code-enforcement hearing Tuesday.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations, Land Use
Why it took more than a decade to finally demolish derelict Claiborne Avenue apartment building
With friends in high places, the Rev. Charles Southall evaded seizure and auction of the property, which he claimed he would rehabilitate through tax breaks and government grants for affordable housing.
Posted inLand Use, Squandered Heritage
A look back at the roots of The Lens’ Squandered Heritage
Lens founder Karen Gadbois is taking a break from Squandered Heritage to focus on the business side of The Lens.
Posted inLand Use
City Council drops ordinance that would have made Newcomb Boulevard one-way
The street, recently reopened to traffic at one end, will remain two-way.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Live blog: City Council approves rezoning for Holy Cross development
Council voted 5-1 after impassioned comments from the community.
Posted inSquandered Heritage
After buying only two houses on block, Lusher seeks permission to tear them down
Space would let elementary campus move in temporary classrooms, which gives the charter school flexibility as main campus repairs get underway. The portable buildings also will allow the school to increase enrollment.
Posted inLand Use
Developer drops height of Holy Cross condos to allay neighbors’ complaints
Perez proposes 60-foot buildings rather than 75-feet, but a neighbor says that’s still too high.