Holy Cross

1
Holy Cross Lower 9th Ward

• Sustainable Restoration Workshop
• April 28-29, 2006

2
Contents of Draft Plan

• Recovery goals
• Recovery ideas
• Next steps
• Sample design topics

3
Goals

• Preserve citys past, exemplify its future
• Provide maximum possible protection from future
  disasters
• Make HC/L9 a green neighborhood
• Involve as many former residents as possible in
  recovery planning
• Serve nationally as model of sustainable
  disaster recovery
• Realize potential to become strong
  self-sufficient neighborhood a village within a
  city

4
Ideas for Unity

• Use vacant homes to provide temporary housing for
  displaced residents of HC/L9
• Use infill development on higher ground to
  provide new housing for displaced residents
• Create HC/L9 Homeowners Association

5
Ideas for Sustainability

• Use USGBCs 10 Principles as guidelines
• Preserve architectural integrity while employing
  best available energy, environmental disaster
  protection methods
• Enhance mobility for all ages
• Design for mixed incomes uses
• Preserve sense of place
• Strive for resource efficiency
• Conserve green spaces other environmental
  assets
• Optimize economic, environmental, social
  well-being

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Ideas for Energy Efficiency

• Make HC/L9 a green neighborhood
• Retrofit buildings with energy efficiency
  energy systems that use indigenous resources
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to
  homes/businesses on energy efficiency
  improvements
• Specify types of insulation other energy
  products for New Orleans climate
• Provide information on financial assistance
  programs federal/state/local tax incentives for
  purchasing green products
• Identify households eligible for Weatherization
  Assistance Program
• Provide information on upgrades or improvements
  in homes and appliances allowed by insurance
  policies
• Contact large retailers to explore discounts for
  bulk purchases of appliances, materials, etc.
• Explore geothermal heating and cooling systems
• Explore Passive Solar Engine technology
• Use available computer planning tools to identify
  strategic tree plantings to reduce cooling costs

7
Ideas for Housing

• Increase resilient diversity for example, new
  options such as co-housing.
• Review housing recommendations from past planning
  exercises re-adopt those that remain relevant
• To mitigate blight, encourage stricter building
  code enforcement by Office of Safety Permits

8
Ideas for Heritage

• Integrate Holy Cross School into public school
  system as community nexus for HC/L9
• Keep expand historic area
• Assure that new construction is compatible with
  historic architecture/streetscapes
• Make Holy Cross School an education center on
  culture history of HC/L9 as part of Jean
  Lafitte National Park
• Create a Monument and Museum for those who died
  or suffered in Hurricanes Katrina and Betsy
• Open a museum on Mississippi River boats and
  ships
• Rename streets to reflect history of neighborhood

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Ideas for Economic Development

• Beautify St. Claude corridor to attract new
  business development
• Enhance riverfront as recreational economic
  asset
• Improve connections between Holy Cross Lower
  9th with
• Neighboring communities
• Downtown
• Airport
• Attract artists musicians
• Educational programs on regional arts
• Workshops studio space in renovated building
• Brand HC/L9 as a center for preserving regions
  unique visual, musical culinary arts

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Ideas for Economic Development

• Inventory neighborhood economic development
  assets
• Rally neighborhoods organizational assets to
  create action plan
• Enforce building health/safety codes in
  re-opening businesses
• Create Better Business Bureau to enforce business
  standards
• Link local entrepreneurs to government business
  development programs
• Use energy efficiency renewable energy as
  economic development tool
• Create Neighborhood Commercial Committee to work
  with City to revitalize North Claiborne Avenue
  and St. Claude Avenue
• Publicize historic features
• Circulate PRC brochure with Walking Tour map
• Identify volunteers to provide guided tours.

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Ideas for Infrastructure

• Upgrade infrastructure for communications/transpor
  tation/public services/energy services/storm
  water control
• Resurface streets
• Enhance levee protection at GIWW and Industrial
  Canal
• Enhance but dont widen IHNC
• Fix sub-surface drainage throughout HC/L9
• Work with city to evaluate fix ineffective
  storm sewers
• Create cisterns, green spaces, pervious surfaces
  other water collection retention systems to
  minimize runoff
• Work with waste removal company to establish
  hotline for citizen complaints
• Upgrade maintain locks
• Preserve St. Claude Ave. Bridge
• Launch 5-10 year program of infrastructure
  improvement
• No more dredging of Industrial Canal

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Ideas for Urban Design

• Achieve appropriate mix of density open space
• Use Smart Growth principles (compact development,
  transit-oriented, mixed use/income)
• Develop master plan for overall neighborhood
  development, with alternatives for
  decision-makers
• Create design review district for St. Claude
  Claiborne Avenues
• Create master plan for use of vacant lots open
  spaces
• Seek zoning variances when needed to implement
  these recommendations
• When vacant lots become blighted, allow adjacent
  property owners to purchase them

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Ideas for Mobility

• Reinstate Dauphine St./St. Bernard corridor
• Provide smaller buses/vans extend routes
  schedules
• Provide daily military water transport from
  Algiers
• Extend levee walkway from Jackson Barracks to
  Florida Ave.
• Develop formal river walk with signage, benches,
  streetcar route, bike path, etc.
• Change bus routes schedules to avoid delays at
  train tracks drawbridge
• In future street work, provide bicycle/walking
  lanes
• Extend light rail to Holy Cross/Lower 9th
• Create hiking/biking corridors that link to key
  neighbors sites
• Improve handicap accessibility at curbs
• Evaluate/improve access between Holy Cross, Lower
  9th, Bywater, Faubourg Marigny Chalmette
  Battlefield

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Ideas for Public Health

• Identify programs that recruit medical personnel
  to cities
• Explore local incentives for health professionals
  to locate here
• Determine whether access is adequate to
  hospitals, clinics, etc.
• Place high priority on pharmacies in business
  recruitment
• Improve ambulance response times, if needed

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Ideas for Education

• Create community center
• Open public library
• Create vocational school
• Teach green building/renovation skills
• Host think tank for sustainable redevelopment of
  historic areas
• Create landscape design center
• Create Mississippi River Research Center with
  artist-in-residence programs for painters,
  musicians, writers, historians
• Create biological research center for planning
  restoration of citys wetlands other natural
  flood-control features
• Create school that teaches music, visual arts,
  culinary arts unique to New Orleans

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Ideas for Public Safety

• Install adequate lighting in streets, playground,
  open spaces, using fixtures compatible with
  traditional architecture
• As trees are replaced, practice accepted
  crime-prevention measures such as adequate
  pruning lighting
• Continue Neighborhood Watch program
• Keep local police informed of active problem
  areas increase neighborhood patrols in those
  areas
• Improve police protection without creating
  overwhelming police presence
• Discourage or prohibit panhandling

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Ideas for Recreation

• Identify open spaces vacant lots that are prime
  locations for playground equipment
• Create state-of-the-art playground facilities,
  including fountains designed for kids in hot
  weather
• Open Holy Cross School recreational facilities to
  all neighborhood residents
• Build community center with recreation facilities
  on site of old Lawless Elementary School
• If Holy Cross School is sold, try to obtain its
  recreation facilities for neighborhood access

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Ideas for Government

• Establish Federal/State/City Hall/Utility
  substation in HC/L9
• Create a Center for Civil Engagement for adults
  children at regional or national level
• Establish Town Hall in neighborhood
• Conduct open planning processes within city
  neighborhoods

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Next steps

• Track apply for upcoming Federal funds
• Shape HOA standards to address blight, parking
  issues, etc.
• Get active on future of Holy Cross School
• Meet with school officials on schools future
• Propose that school become part of public school
  system
• Meet with city/state officials on pilot nexus
  site
• Explore funding to purchase school if city wont

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Sample Design Exercises

• St. Claude corridor beautification
• Community park/playground with water features
• Extended improved river walk
• Increased mobility access to public transit
• Open space vs. infill development sites