Lower Ninth Ward Community Profile

Hurricane Katrina

2009-11-29T21:21:00.000-06:00

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina flooded 80% of the City of New Orleans, and killed 1,577 people in Louisiana. One of the hardest hit areas was the Lower 9th Ward which flooded rapidly after the breach of the Industrial Canal. Multiple accounts have claimed the canal breached explosively. The flooding in the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood killed over 700 people and destroyed over 4,000 homes. Houses within the immediate vicinity of the breach were smashed and ruined instantly, while others were said to be pushed completely off their foundations. The Industrial Canal is a 5.5 mile waterway that connects the Mississippi River to the Intracoastal Waterway and when the levies broke, all areas east of it flooded about 12ft above sea level. Since the Lower 9th Ward lies below sea level, houses in that area were totally submerged leaving 100% of the homes uninhabitable.

Despite the presence of non-profit organizations in the lower 9th ward, approximately only 1/5 of the community has returned. From interviewing residents of the area, I’ve learned that many families didn’t have insurance to cover the repairs needed on their homes; therefore they haven’t been able to return. Many have been struggling ever since to find some way to finance the rebuilding of their homes, and have not found the government to be sympathetic to their needs. A common problem for families requesting government assistance is their failure to prove ownership. This is because many houses have been passed down from one generation to the next without formally changing the names on the deed. Therefore even families who have lived in the same house and paid taxes on it for generations are rejected by government assistance programs because they cannot prove the property to be theirs.

The community is still struggling to recover. Most of the neighborhoods are made up of vacant lots that are so overgrown with grass and litter it is hard to imagine the tight knit community that once existed here. Since the storm the only school to reopen has been Martin Luther King Jr. School of Science and Technology. Very few businesses have returned, leaving the residents no choice but to travel long distances for basic things like grocery shopping or going out to eat. As reports show, the Lower 9th Ward is trailing far behind the rest of the city on its road to recovery.

Economic Activity

2009-11-29T18:22:00.001-06:00

There are few economic sources of activity in the Lower Ninth Ward because Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. The hurricane destroyed the area and all of its stores and businesses. Not only were the buildings ruined, but also there are fewer people living in the area to sustain business. The Lower Ninth Ward is slowly starting to re-open some business, but it is very challenging given the economy and other issues. The only sources of economic activity currently open are gas stations with small mini marts, and a barbershop. St. Bernard’s Parish, which is the area directly next to the Lower Ninth Ward, has almost completely been restored. They have many more sources of economic activities, including Home Depot, fast food restaurants, gas stations, and other small shopping complexes. Since there are few places to work in the Lower Ninth Ward, most people tend to work outside of the area. Overall, there is very little economic activity going on in this neighborhood right now.

Susie's Field Notes

2009-11-29T17:54:00.000-06:00

The lower ninth ward is a unique neighborhood filled with culture and love. The neighborhood was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Katrina and suffered great losses, but there seems to be hope left and the people care about their beloved neighborhood.

We drove through the lower ninth ward around 9:45 in the morning, so there weren’t many people out and about. We were, however, able to drive around and look at the houses and buildings. The houses located close to the levee were destroyed the most from the storm. Entire houses were ripped to pieces and there was a lot of land that used to be full of houses, but is now simply grass. Some of the grass had grown tall and wilderness like, while others had been mowed and taken care of. It seems that if the people don’t take care of their land even if there is no house then the city will take it away from them. Some houses were being rebuilt by Brad Pitt’s organization, Make It Right. They were interesting to look at and they were all “green”, meaning environmental friendly. The remaining houses were farther apart from each other because the storm destroyed most of them, and they hadn’t rebuilt many yet. In addition to these new houses, there were tons of abandoned, destroyed houses. These houses had shattered windows, broken down doors, and broken roofs. The majority of the houses had no one living in them and was not boarded up. This seemed to be a problem in the neighborhood because anyone could go inside and do whatever they wanted. It allows for more crime and I imagine there were homeless people and such living in these abandoned houses; it does not constitute a safe environment.

Many of the businesses, schools, and church buildings were also destroyed from the storm. There didn’t seem to be anything open; they had all been shut down because there are not many people around to have good enough business. The school we saw also seemed closed, and there may have been temporary trailers where school was being held, but it was difficult to tell. Even though some of the church buildings were damaged, church seemed to be an important aspect of people’s lives in the lower ninth ward. There were a few outdoor tents where church would be held in parking lots. There was one church that we drove by that was still working and there was a large amount of people there for Sunday morning services. Church and religion is something that those people can always rely on and will help them through the difficult times.

People from the lower ninth ward were clearly hurt by the storm and lost almost everything. The majority of the people living there that we saw were blacks ranging from all different ages. It was a neighborhood with families, but many of them left after the storm and it seems that they have not come back. All of the houses had little front porches and a common activity seemed to be sitting on the porch talking with family and friends; there were a few children playing in the yard as the parents watched. The neighborhood has been through a lot from the hurricane. Almost all of the houses are damaged and not many of them are being rebuilt at the moment. The people that used to live there have gone away and have not returned. The remaining families are trying to rebuild their lives and have made some progress. Overall the neighborhood still needs a lot of work done and people are starting to lend a hand. There seems to be a great amount of hope and love for the lower ninth ward because if people didn’t care that much then they wouldn’t be doing this.

Demographic Profile

2009-11-29T17:22:00.001-06:00

2000:

· Total population= 14,008

· Population Density= 8,594/sq mi

· Gender:

o Male = 53.7 %

o Female= 46.3%

· Age:

o 5 years old and under = 9.3%

o 6-11 years old= 10.9%

o 12-17 years old= 10.3%

o 18-34 years old= 21.6%

o 35-49 years old= 19.8%

o 50-64 years old= 13.9

o 65-74 years old= 7.6%

o 75-84 years old= 4.9%

o 85 years old and older= 1.5%

· Race:

o Black or African American= 98.3%

o White= .5%

o Asian= 0%

o American Indian= 0%

o Other= .1%

o 2 race categories= .6%

o Hispanic (any race)= .5%

· Income Distribution

· Less than $10,000= 25%

· $10,000-14,999= 14.5%

· $15,000-19,999= 10.9%

· $20,000-24,999= 9.5%

· $25,000-29,999= 9.4%

· $30,000-34,999= 5.3%

· $35,000-39,999= 5.7%

· $40,000-44,999= 4.2%

· $45,000-49,999= 3.0%

· $50,000-59,999= 6.0%

· $60,000-74,999= 3.2%

· $75,000-99,999= 1.7%

· $100,000-124,999= 0.9%

· $125,000-149,999= 0.1%

· $150,000-199,999= 0.2%

· $200,000 or more= 0.4%

· Total population for whom poverty status is determined= 13,939

o People living in poverty= 36.4%

· Poverty Status by Age

o Children 0-5 living in poverty= 55.8%

o Children 0-5 living at or above poverty= 44.2%

o Children 6-11 living in poverty= 42.5%

o Children 6-11 living at or above poverty= 57.5%

o Children 12-17 living in poverty= 46.2%

o Children 12-17 living at or above poverty= 53.8%

o Children 18-64 living in poverty= 31.5%

o Children 18-64 living at or above poverty= 68.5%

o Adults 65 and older living in poverty= 31.2%

o Adults 65 and older living at or above poverty= 68.8%

· Education- Level of Schooling

Total population 18 years and over= 9,720

o Less than 9^th grade= 11%

o 9^th to 12^th grade, no diploma= 29.1%

o High school diploma or GED= 29.7%

o Some college or Associate degree= 24.2%

o Bachelor’s degree to higher= 6.0%

· English as a second language

Total population 5 to 17 years= 3,196

o Native English speaker or speaks English as a second language “well” or “very well”= 100%

o Speaks Spanish at home and speaks English “not well” or “not at all”= 0%

o Speaks other languages at home and speaks English “not well” or not at all”= 0%

Total population 18 to 64 years= 7,754

o Native English speaker or speaks English as a second language “well” or “very well”= 99.6%

o Speaks Spanish at home and speaks English “not well” or “not at all”= 0.2%

o Speaks other languages at home and speaks English “not well” or not at all”= 0.2%

Total population 65 years and older= 1,966

o Native English speaker or speaks English as a second language “well” or “very well”= 100%

o Speaks Spanish at home and speaks English “not well” or “not at all”= 0 %

o Speaks other languages at home and speaks English “not well” or not at all”= 0%

· Immigration status

Total foreign-born population= 75

o Recent immigrant (between 1995-2000)= 9.3%

o Not recent immigrant (prior to 1995)= 90.7%

Hurricane Katrina hit the lower ninth ward the hardest and it lost a large proportion of its residents and buildings. The numbers are not exact as to how many people of currently living there because many people left during the storm and have not come back yet. The pop

Problems Within The Community

2009-11-18T19:27:00.005-06:00

The problems of the Lower Ninth Ward become pretty apparent once you have spent some time studying the area. Poverty is eminent - those houses which are not part of newer "recovery" projects are boarded up, destroyed, or non-existent. Remnants of community centers and schools are peppered throughout the area, giving the area a "ghost town" feel. There is a sense of abandonment throughout, due in part to the lack of infrastructure. Rarely did I ever encounter police, firefighters, or any kind of obvious authority. The schools that I passed by looked closed or or disarray, and even the "playgrounds" looked more like abandoned lots than welcoming centers for children.

I would imagine that this lack of fundamental aspects of a safe community would add to the crime that the area is notorious for. In my research, I found countless new articles about theft and murder in the area, especially post-Katrina. Perhaps this is all rooted in the feeling of helplessness and abandonment that is given off from the neglected buildings and common spaces. In this way, though there are no "dark alleys" and other typical aspects of an unsafe community, the Broken Window Theory may play at least a small role in the crime rate of the Lower Ninth Ward.

Race-based spacial segregation is certainly an issue in the Lower Ninth and its surrounding areas. Bordering the Lower Ninth is Chalmette - a predominantly white community that is very much the opposite of the Lower Ninth. Chalmette has a solid infrastructure, retail establishments, and much nicer houses. The two areas don't seem to mix at all, and I would imagine that, given the presentations that have been given so far in class, the people of Chalmette would not want to be associated with their neighbors over the railroad tracks. Chalmette prides itself on the high level of care it takes on its property, while the Lower Ninth Ward suffers from neglect and abandonment by not only its only people but also the local government.

Meg's Field Notes from 9/27/2009

2009-11-09T15:16:00.000-06:00

We started the trip in the neighborhood that falls between the levee, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and Claiborne Ave. This is where the levee broke and flooded the Lower Ninth Ward during Hurricane Katrina. Few houses have been rebuilt in this neighborhood and those that have returned may not have neighbors for blocks and blocks. Instead of neighbors these houses are surrounded by vacant lots overgrown with tall grass, and covered in rubble and trash. This used to be a very populated area, but now it appears to be run down and abandoned. There are about eight or nine houses at the very beginning of the neighborhood that stand out from all the rest. These are houses built by Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation. Each house is architecturally unique with solar panels, modern decor, and manicured lawns. Each of the houses has signs in the yard that read "Private Residence". I imagine this is to remind tourists that come through this neighborhood site seeing that these are people’s homes and not some attraction. Once you get through the two blocks of Brad Pitt houses there is just an empty street lined with trees where rows of houses once stood. Only bare concrete steps remain on the vacant lots. Many of the streets in this neighborhood are so cluttered with debris and overgrown, they are no longer usable. Most of the street signs are missing and have homemade signs declaring the street's name. Most properties whether occupied or vacant seem to be completely unmaintained. There are many signs posted around the neighborhood advertising security surveillance and alarm systems. This leads me to believe the neighborhood has a lot of crime and therefore a need for security systems. Almost all of the businesses are closed and rundown covered with graffiti. There are no grocery stores, no restaurants, no shops. The only open businesses are a gas station, a barber shop, and a convenience store. Some buildings are completely dilapidated and seem to be forgoten. Many structures that are on the verge of falling down are right next to occupied homes. It seems just a matter of time before one might fall onto the neighboring home.

Once you cross over into the other end of the Lower Ninth Ward there are more standing structures but many of them are vacant. The majority of blocks that have occupied houses are separated by a number of vacant houses that are scattered among them. The vacant houses are very run down and almost none of them are boarded up. The doors are open as if they are still used. Possibly used by squatters or for drug use. Many of the houses have tall fences running all the way around them. Some have video surveillance cameras posted outside. People may use these tall fences to separate themselves from the crime that seems to flourish in this area.

Urban Form and Social Relationships

2009-11-08T11:37:00.004-06:00

The Lower Ninth Ward is set up on a grid system, with St. Claude Avenue being the main thoroughfare. Though this form is characteristic of many cities and urban communities, the area still has somewhat of a suburban feel because of the grassy areas and proximity to the water. I have a feeling that this grid set up spurred a deep sense of community pre-Katrina, since the houses are small and close together - there are no long winding roads separating any parts of the community.

Post-Katrina, however, the landscape of the community has changed significantly. You can tell that the houses were once close together because patches of them are still lined up in perfect rows. Now, though, there are patches of empty space filled only with tall grass where houses once stood. This must severely damage the deep sense of community that the Lower Ninth was so famous for. Anytime houses are farther apart from each other, people are less likely to simply "stop by" next door , as a sense of distance is established. It seems that, in the wake of Katrina, the new community landscape discourages the kinds of friendly, neighborly relationships that the old landscape once fostered.

The main centers for community activity seem to be the churches, which we found packed full of well dressed men and women on a Sunday morning. Outside of the churches, there does not seem to be much in the way of a community gathering place. The library/community center burned down recently. The building now is half in tact and half melted to a core. Even still, the community center was not in the heart of the community like the churches are, which makes me wonder if it was ever even a true "meeting place" before it was destroyed.

Despite this, it is clear that there is a deep sense of community in the area. Residents can be seen sitting on porches, often talking to people passing by. It appears as though neighbors do congregate by certain houses, so it is important to understand that the change in social atmosphere has not completely ruined the sense of community. That being said, for every gathering of people in front of a house there is an abandoned area of tall grass that discourages any kind of social relationship in the area.

Melissa's Field Notes

2009-11-04T20:04:00.000-06:00

Melissa Cotignola
Field Notes: 9/27/09 beginning @ 9:28 AM: Lower Ninth Ward

Upon arrival in the Lower Ninth Ward I notice immediately that the area seemed sleepy. Within a period of ten minutes I observe only two individuals – both of which are African American females in their twenties or thirties. One is walking down a quiet street in a tight-fitting t-shirt. The other is similarly dressed and getting into the drivers’ seat of a large SUV. The real action is taking place at the New Street Baptist Church where the parking lot is full of well-dressed African American men and women. The men are wearing sharp looking suits and ties. One of them is carrying a garment bag with a suit in it. The attire strikes me as very formal, even for Sunday services. Sites like this were common, which makes me believe religion plays a very strong and important role in this community. Tent churches are also a common sight. I notice several open-air churches that hold their services under large tends. The reason for this being, I guess, many churches were destroyed in Katrina. These churches symbolize the rebirth of the religious community and the importance of continuing worship in hard times. My belief that religion plays a central role in this community is confirmed once again as I notice the Villa St. Maurice – a former religiously-affiliated retirement home. The home is now boarded up with windows blown in, but religious statues still stand eerily in the gardens. Across the street, St. Margaret’s Daughters’ Home also appears to be abandoned.
Religious centers are just a small fraction of the many abandoned buildings in the area. The area is primarily residential, and there are vast areas of tall grass close to the levy where houses once stood and have yet to be rebuilt. The new, modern looking post-Katrina houses strike me immediately, for they are completely out of place. All of the houses that surround them fit a common description; the windows are either shattered or non existent, the doors are poorly boarded up with rotting wood and the property is very obviously neglected. Near these neglected houses is a cluster of occupied trailers. An African American man stands outside of a trailer. He is wearing blue jeans, a striped, button down shirt and athletic shoes. He throws the red Solo cup he is sipping from into a large, exposed pile of trash located just outside of his trailer. Upon considering this, as well as observing the many abandoned houses and other exposed trash heaps, I wonder if there is a lack of respect for the appearance of the community. Perhaps this lack of respect is rooted in the fact that little has been done in this area to restore it to its pre-Katrina state.
It takes us nearly an hour before we discover a functioning school. I notice many former schools that are now boarded up, including Martin Luther King Middle School. There are trailers in the back of the property, but I cannot tell if the school is functioning currently out of these trailers. Far away from any of the schools I spotted is a paved area with trees in the middle marked “Play Spot”. This area is comprised of a few benches, six swings, and a jungle gym. There are no children playing in this area. Because this play area is not very inviting looking, I suspect that the kids in the community hardly use it. This relates back to the common trend that low-income children are forced to engage in more imaginative and self-constructed free time activities because of the lack of the facilities. Any children I notice who are of “playground age” are instead congregated on street corners or in front of abandoned houses. One group of young children are all dressed in similar attire: long oversized white t-shirts, and long, wide black or blue jeans.

History

2009-11-04T20:03:00.000-06:00

The history of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward dates as far back as the colonial times, at which time the area consisted mostly of plantations. It was known as a place where poor African American immigrants from countries like Italy and Germany could come to find work. Slowly, the area grew more residential in the 1800's, but still consisted mostly of farmlands and swamps. In the 1920's, the Industrial Canal was built, separating the Ward into it's "upper" and "lower" sections. The building of this canal was extremely important for the development of the Lower Ninth because it increased the amount of shipping done in the area and thus created more jobs. St. Claude Avenue began to develop retail shops which brought life to the developing community. Today, however, the area is known for its poverty. A total of 36% of Lower Ninth Ward residents live below the poverty line. Unfortunately, because of its location and demographics, the Lower Ninth Ward is consistently neglected by the local government.

The Lower Ninth has seen its fair share of tragedies throughout the years. In 1965, Hurricane Betsy broke the canal which lead to severe flooding. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Lower Ninth with flooding so devastating that the water literally uprooted many of the homes and carried them down the streets. Because of the unbelievable images that were pouring out of the area, the Lower Ninth ward quickly became the "face" of Hurricane Katrina in the media.

What also attracted the media to the Lower Ninth was the less than timely relief that the area so desperately needed. In fact, the area was in such poor shape that the area-wide curfew extended more than 6 months after the storm. Since then, organizations like Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation have dedicated themselves to rebuilding the area, but progress has been slow. Brad Pitt's houses are easy to identify because they are raised substantially off the ground and, because of their modern architecture, look almost nothing like the surrounding houses, (most of which are abandoned and still missing windows or doors).

Despite the area's lingering abandoned feel, there are still, several central locations where people in the community gather. The Lower Ninth is filled with churches where whole families congregate on Sundays for worship followed by hours of socializing and a usually meal. There are also numerous benches by the levy where people congregate, often with barbeque grills and outdoor games. Today, the Andrew P. Sanchez Sr. Service Center serves as a hub for many outreach organizations in the community such as the Head Start Program and various senior citizens programs. Also, though it is not a gathering place, the Jackson Barracks should also be mentioned. These majestic buildings serve as the home to Louisiana's National Guard.

It should also be noted that many famous musicians were raised in the Lower Ninth Ward. Fats Domino and Kermit Ruffins both called the Lower Ninth Ward home.

Lower Ninth Ward in Relation to Orleans Parish

2009-09-30T15:17:00.000-05:00