June 5, 2006 | Filed under: big easy, misadventures
“The challenge of rebuilding New Orleans and providing housing for its residents is immense, with tens of thousands of families displaced, their former homes destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Across the metropolitan area, nearly 228,000 homes and apartments were flooded, including 39 percent of all owner-occupied units and 56 percent of all rental units (Brookings 2005). Residents have returned to some relatively unscathed areas, such as the French Quarter and Algiers, but the devastation in more hard-hit areas is overwhelming and it is not yet clear whether or how these areas will be rebuilt.”
Barely 30 minutes outside New Orleans on our way to Jean Lafitte National Park there is a massive housing boom. One giant brand new cookie-cutter home after another, only several yards apart, some in gated communities, some freestanding, few lived in. They’re going up so fast I was pretty sure there were new ones finished by the time we drove back home.
You know what’s being built/rebuilt in New Orleans? Seemingly nothing. Where are regular working folks supposed to live?
June 5, 2006
@ 1:33 pm
Those “McMansions” are something, aren’t they? Too bad they don’t have any contracters working directly in New Orleans where it is needed. Do you know of any reason behind that? Just curious.
My apologizes for not commenting as much. I’ve been in American Samoa the past week with very little Internet access. I posted something new on my site now that I am back, so feel free to check it out.
AND, I saw that you’re coming to vloggercon!!!! Yah, I can’t wait to see you! Maybe we can have lunch or something if you’re free.
Are you bringing your b/f? I can’t wait to meet Josh Leo too. I think I’ll have died and gone to heaven after that 
See you there!
http://beccavlog.blogspot.com
June 5, 2006
@ 8:55 pm
People I work with in NYC either live in expensive small apartments or commute from 2 counties over. A lot cramped living in NYC itself. Maybe it’s cheaper for banks to hold these kinds of properties than invest in affordable housing.
June 6, 2006
@ 4:34 pm
New to your blog, and can only say wow. I’ll continue reading and get back to you with my thoughts. Stay strong!
June 6, 2006
@ 5:09 pm
wow……that is very interesting. it looks like they are not to worried about the working class folks.
June 6, 2006
@ 5:56 pm
I guess they figure if they build really nice exspensive houses outside N.O. people will come down and then…….yeah, “then what”…..that’s just weird….it’s probably goverment money too……weird, just weird….
June 7, 2006
@ 8:07 am
wow, there is so so so much land! I can’t remember that aspect of the american life…my goodness, I need to get back soon…
June 7, 2006
@ 9:35 pm
Jeez.
That’s pretty incredible when you think about it.
I wonder how safe those homes are?
June 8, 2006
@ 8:25 am
it’s all about economics. they’re building where the money is. it’s sad because it’s basically telling people that they don’t deserve housing unless they fork over the big bucks. Uggghh.
June 9, 2006
@ 8:05 am
It is a shame, as I remember fondly my many trips to N’awlins and the people and culture truly made it an American city. Sigh!
June 9, 2006
@ 9:28 am
Am loving catching up with your videos of your journey….
June 13, 2006
@ 11:55 am
Are you really suprised that they aren’t rebuilding affordable housing for poor people? I’m not. I think the new New Orleans will be a very “Disney Land-esque” version of its former self. They will eventually build a little housing for low-income people because they will need those people work in the new hotels, spas, restraunts, etc. But I do not think the goverment is in any hurry to bring poor people back to the city. Sad. Very, very sad.
June 13, 2006
@ 1:16 pm
It’s a horrible trend. People have to live further and further from their places of work. I think it is a mess, truly. And while folks are commuting hours to work via public transport, who’s watching the kids?
June 14, 2006
@ 8:52 am
Don’t you just love “cookie cutter houses”? They all look the same….
June 19, 2006
@ 2:30 pm
Sadly enough, MOST of the Housing Projects recieved little or no damage and could have easily been inhabited months ago. However, offlicials have recently admitted that they intend to destroy all but a couple thousand units.
Currently there in a survivors tent village set up at the St. Bernard Housing Projects in an attempt to force the cit to let them go home.
there are several videos on the “affordable housing” problem in New Orleans on my site.
http://www.fluxview.com/v/Fluxview-News-Video-2006.htm
July 4, 2006
@ 1:34 pm
They want to replace the poor folk with the rich. That’s all. Great vlog.