Work crews move a historic home from the site of the new Veterans Affairs Hospital in New Orleans. One hundred historic homes will be moved from the site using $3.2 million in reprogrammed Disaster - Community Development Block Grant (D-CDBG) funding.
New Orleans, LA – Members of the City Council and Mayor Landrieu today marked the first move of historic homes from the footprint of the future Veterans Affairs Hospital.
“Saving these historic homes from demolition is a win for our city,” said Mayor Landrieu. “We are a city that prides itself on its culture, architecture, and historic neighborhoods, and we are committed to preserving those elements which make our city a national treasure while improving healthcare access and outcomes for our residents. We are committed to moving these homes expeditiously and keeping the VA hospital project on track.”
In June, Mayor Landrieu demanded that the State halt demolitions of historic properties in the VA footprint and the City partnered with Builders of Hope, a nationally-recognized property relocation contractor, to move residential properties in VA footprint. To pay for this program, the City has reprogrammed $3.2 million of the $79 million in D-CDBG federal recovery funds provided to the state for site acquisition. It is expected that up to 100 residential properties in the Mid-City National Register Historic District can be saved and moved by the end of October with these funds.
“We as a City have worked diligently to find a way to save these historic properties from demolition,” said Council Vice President Clarkson. “Our historic fabric makes us unique. We must continue to find ways to preserve our past while forging ahead with projects like the new Veterans Affairs Hospital and a downtown biosciences district.”
Builders of Hope is leading the house moving effort on behalf of the City. Its mission is to increase the availability of high-quality, safe, affordable housing by saving and rebuilding homes that would otherwise be demolished.
“Builders of Hope is providing its revolutionary model for mass recycling of existing housing inventory slated for demolition due to large scale urban redevelopment,” said Builders of Hope Founder and CEO Nancy Murray. “Not only are we saving an estimated 4 million pounds of debris from the landfill, through the rescue and “green” rehabilitation of these historic homes, we are providing safe, energy-efficient and affordable workforce housing to New Orleans. The invaluable resource hidden within these historic structures is of vital importance both economically and environmentally. Mayor Landrieu’s commitment to save these homes is a precedent setting redevelopment model that other cities around the country should be inspired to follow.”
Once moved, the homes are relocated to vacant lots provided by local non-profit organizations, rehabbed by the non-profits, and then will be sold at affordable prices.
Local and non-profit partners that will be providing lots, rehabbing, and bringing these homes back into commerce throughout the city include Habitat for Humanity, Providence Community Housing, St. Bernard Project, Louisiana Land Trust, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, Jericho Road, Preservation Resource Center’s Rebuilding Together, Neighborhood Housing Services, New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative, and Neighborhood Development Foundation. The non-profit organizations have agreed to rehab the properties within 9 months of the relocation.
Builders of Hope is also coordinating with the utility companies and various city agencies on site preparations.
The houses selected for moving are chosen in consultation with state contractors Durr and Jacobs, Builders of Hope, and must be able to withstand the move structurally. The properties must be residential and contribute to the Mid-City National Register Historic District. Additionally, many of the houses slated for moving were identified as the most significant historic properties by the State Historic Preservation Office.
