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Very sad... this tends to happen to low-end historic houses, just not this fast. The working-class structures are typically in neighborhoods where residents don't have money to do extensive rehab to keep them nice (or standing).

In cities where population grows faster than housing stock (like NYC), these neighborhoods eventually gentrify, preserving the structures but driving out the less prosperous residents. More often, people who want "nice" homes move to the 'burbs for more space and nicer amenities because the city center isn't offering what the middle-class wants.

I read this in NY times that the owners of europa cafe had paid up to remove the tenants from the building by force because they wanted to buy the space renew it and have it all for themselves. The ultra rich do have a way of forcing everything in and making their own. And the prices go through the roof.

Thanks to Apartment Therapy for posting this. I call these houses the Quotidian Houses. Just daily life, nothing fancy, but made with materials that are worth their weight in gold.

Was there heritage/preservation interest (and funding support) for these homes/this area before Katrina?

As someone who grew up in New Orleans I think the responses on this board are ridiculous. New Orleans is and has been super protective of its historical buildings across all income levels. Although losing any buildings is a tragedy putting up a blog called "squandered housing" seems absurd. These damaged houses coming down is an important step in rebuilding these neighborhoods.

Rachel,
As another New Orleanian, I have to agree. At times it seems like the rest of the country looks at the problems in New Orleans as simple to fix, yet they don't understand the political and lifestyle problems there.

But Rachel, isn't there any merit in at least documenting what will be lost in the process? That's the value I see in that site/effort, even if poorly named.

Thank you J. I couldn't agree more. I think that there is a group of people who want to continue the "Katrina Funeral" forever. But it is important to remind people of the resilience of New Orleans. People are rebuilding their lives, having fun, and celebrating life. Everyday I see a story about how awful it is down there. Certainly there are struggles but people are working hard to put their lives back together. This "funeral" in the press is destroying what is left of the tourism industry down there. Unfortunately a lot of beautiful homes were destroyed by the water but they have to come down for progress to be made.

Patrick, I think that documenting the past is a good thing but getting stuck in it is a problem.

It's a fine line, though.

Some say lack of exposure to the continuing struggles there means the country has turned its back on New Orleans, or, with its typically short memory, has simply forgotten the magnitude of what happened there.

Then there are others saying the continued publicity is worsening the situation, and we just need to move on.

It's hard to know exactly how much is enough.

But is tearing down historic property the only way to make progress?
Perhaps some of these homes (and their historic value) could be saved.
I don't think the purpose of this woman's blog was to have a "funeral." I think it was more about calling attention to the fact that history is scheduled to be destroyed - and maybe to give it a chance for another solution to be found.

Holly, I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that you haven't seen the devestation first hand. Some of the houses are on a different side of the street than they used to be. The title of the blog is "squandered heritage." Thats pretty inflamatory. Its not like the city is just tearing down buildings for the hell of it. Don't you think someone took the time to evalute the structures first?

Rachel, I live on the Gulf Coast and been up and down it a number of times since Katrina, so know the amount of destruction that still exists. But, I would not go so far as to say that the process of deciding what will be destroyed has been or will be done with the best interest of the city and its people in mind.

The corruption of LA was legendary and it didn't get better with the hurricane. Not to mention the federal boondoggle that has resulted. I remember when FEMA told thousands of evacuees that they weren't getting any more assistance because their homes were livable. But, Houston Mayor Bill White set up a team to check a portion of those homes and found 2/3 were absolutely not liveable. FEMA relented.

It's a mess down there - in a lot of ways - and I am very glad there are people keeping an eye on things.

I wanted to address a couple of comments about my blog.

Squandered Heritage is a name that came from Blair Kamens series about Architecture in Chicago.

The City is not "tearing houses down for the Hell of it" as another commenter said, but there are many many people in unflooded areas and minimally flooded areas taking this oppertunity for a free demolition thru FEMA. The problem? Some of these homes have little to no damage. And a vacant lot in a struggling Neighborhood is not an asset.

As to the comment about the Katrina Funeral. If you are paying attention you will see that bodies are still be discovered.

When I returned home an entire City block had burned to the ground, I wish everyday as I drive by that I had photos of what was there.

That is what I am doing now.

Karen- what I found strange about the blog is that some of these houses look as if they were built in the 50's or 60's. Some definitely are the historical shotgun houses, but some of the others seem to have no historical significance. Is there any information on these houses as to whether they were empty before the storm? I think an important thing to note was that a lot of the areas hit badly in New Orleans had major problems with people living in houses way below livable standards as well as tons of abondonded houses. The city for the last couple of years has really been trying to set aside a good bit of money so people in areas such as Center City, Mid City, the Treme, and Bywater could purchase these houses and fix them up. Of course Katrina changed that completely.

I like the idea of the blog though. The website has already allowed people not aware of these neighborhoods to see what has happend and put some kind of perspective on what's going on. It might be helpful to people from outside of New Orleans to have some kind of historical foreward about the neighborhoods, politics and culture regards these houses.

As someone who also grew up in New Orleans and is very well aware of the magnatiude of the devastation, I don't think the posts here are so ridiculous.

I know many folks who's homes have been or still are set to be bulldozed. I also know of a few folks whose homes really were salvagable.

I so know the resiliance of the people of New Orleans. It kills me that so much of it's culture and people have left not to return. New Orleans always has been a place unique in this country.

I understand the political/social issues at stake in the area, and I understand the need to move forward, but I think it's important to not just bring in the bulldozers and then just build what you'd find in the burbs or any other part of the country.

I think ANYTHING that helps draw attention to the uniqueness that was/is New Orleans is important to keep in folks consciousness

When we started the site we thought we would be dealing with 2 types of demolitions. FEMA and those approved by the HCDRC, Housing Conservation Design Review Commitee. The HCDRC was and has functioned to review and permit demolitions in the larger Historic foot print of the City.


What became clear was that certain entities,including Private Schools and Churches, were taking advantage of the overloaded City Process, and the fact that the Neighborhoods were under occupied and applying to demolish UNFLOODED buildings.

So now a simple blog has been tasked with a multidue of uses.

For Neighborhood Associations, you can see what is under threat in your Neighborhood and offer resources to homeowners

Historical Research. Many readers become interested in a paticular property and spend hours doing research.

Monitor and WatchDog Due Diligence.

And lastly as the Road Home Program,{ a program which will buy out home owners}, begins there is no clear answer as to what happens to the property. We have been told it will be bulldozed.
Not an acceptable answer in a City that has a shortage of Affordable Housing Options.

We are hoping to create Programs to get homeowners into renovated and revitalized properties.

What most folks outside this City do no know, is that New Orleanians have taken on the task of rebuilding this City, with no Federal or State nor municiple help.

From Mowing the lawns in the Park, to taking in displaced families. We are Rebuilding Our City.

Thanks to those of you who "get it"