General

This past week, I saw for the first time the renovations to the five surviving buildings of the St. Thomas housing development in the Lower Garden District. These five had been set aside as a mitigation measure when the rest of the development was demolished and redeveloped beginning, I believe, about seven years ago. The buildings were mothballed, and talk was that they might be used for offices or some other community function -- but certainly not housing. Today, the five buildings are almost ready to go -- as housing units. It appears that there might be anywhere from 40 to 50 units of housing available in these late-1930s buildings.

This is all so remarkable because the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have insisted that none of the big four public housing developments remaining in New Orleans can be renovated for housing due to the high cost and the obsolete interior configurations of the units. If nothing changes, we are about to witness the demolition of hundreds of buildings like these in New Orleans, and will await their replacement with buildings fashioned from materials not nearly as resilient as these brick structures.

Walter Gallas is director of the New Orleans Field Office.

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I traveled to Baton Rouge to accept a Historic Preservation Partnership Award presented by Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu to Dick Moe and the National Trust for Historic Preservation as part of the Governor’s Arts Awards. Pam Breaux, Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer, was also recognized to highlight the very successful partnership between the Trust and the state to gain federal preservation funds for Louisiana and to get over $20 million into the hands of owners of historic houses. The ceremonies took place in Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, a Gothic Revival gem built in the mid-19th century.

The Lieutenant Governor has taken great pains to point out how quickly and transparently his offices have worked to make the grant awards -- drawing a sharp contrast to Governor Blanco’s lumbering Road Home program which is generally discredited and said to be the reason Blanco is not seeking a second term this fall. Elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and other statewide and local offices are Saturday, October 20.

Walter Gallas is director of the New Orleans Field Office.

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Now seems like as good a time as any to mention another blog produced by the National Trust for Historic Preservation: The President Lincoln's Cottage blog. After all, the cottage will be opening to the public in just a few months, and was the subject of a great article in yesterday's New York Times.

President Lincoln's Cottage, described as a 19th century Camp David, is undergoing a complete transformation in preparation for its February debut. Staff at the cottage are writing about the restoration, the history of the Lincoln presidency, the site's role in DC, and more. It's a fun and fascinating look at the creation of a historic site. Check it out.

Sarah Heffern is the social media strategist for the National Trust’s Public Affairs team. While she embraces all things online and pixel-centric, she’s also a hard-core building hugger, having fallen for preservation in a fifth grade “Built Environment” class.

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The Convention and Visitors Bureau of New Orleans depends heavily on the marketing appeal of crowds parading through the streets of its neighborhoods in a “second line” following a brass band. The occasion can be a happy one when, for example, one of the city’s many Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs comes out on a Sunday, just for the joy of parading. Sometimes the mood is somber, when the crowds gather to remember someone who has passed away.

Last Monday, Rebirth Brass Band snare drummer Derrick Tabb and his brother, trombonist Glen David Andrews, received citations from the New Orleans Police Department for disturbing the peace and parading without a permit. Both learned later at their arraignment that they were also charged with "disturbing the peace by tumultuous manner." The procession was prompted by the death of their friend, a tuba player, the previous week. As the two men’s attorney put it after their appearance in municipal court, the charge "speaks volumes about the disconnect between some officers and the culture of New Orleans.” The two men entered innocent pleas.

Walter Gallas is director of the New Orleans Field Office.

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It was nearly two years ago when we were first introduced to Mildred Bennett and her pink shotgun house on Dauphine Street in New Orleans’ Holy Cross neighborhood. Last Friday, Kevin Mercadel (the National Trust's field office program officer) and I met at the Bennett house for another walk-through of the house with the general contractor and Mrs. Bennett’s granddaughter, who has been steadfastly pushing this project to completion. With the construction materials removed from the rooms, the floors cleaned, and the ceiling fans operating in every room, the place began to feel like a someone’s home again. We have had many failed predictions in the past, but I am happy to report that Mrs. Bennett’s homecoming happened today.

Welcome home, Mrs. Bennett.

Walter Gallas is director of the New Orleans Field Office.

(Updated to replace photo.)

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