Life at NENA and Landmarking Adventures

Having been working in the Lower Ninth Ward for almost a month now I am left with a somewhat clearer idea of what it is I exactly do here.

I am (cue fanfare) an ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN INTERN. I like how official it sounds even though I gave it to myself. So...yeah...I'm doing architectural design work.

The Design Studio here at NENA is by no means your traditional architectural firm. We like to say that we are in the business of "architectural triage." One moment we may be designing the support-piles for a new residence and the next we may be helping a client prepare necessary documents in order to apply for a zoning variance. Just the other day I was assigned to research the historical landmarking process in order to help a resident apply to have their home designated. The story goes as follows:

The homeowner lives in a two-story house, somewhat uncommon in the Lower Ninth where the majority of housing stock has only one level. The home appears to have been built in the twenties. The first floor is a garage and apartment with a whole other residence on the second floor at roughly 12 feet above ground-level: making it ideally immune from flooding. In 1973 Hurricane Betsy--the last major hurricane before Katrina-- flooded the low-lying Ninth Ward. Following the storm, the current resident's grandfather sheltered many people from the rising waters as NOLA flooded. As a sign of their gratitude, the community named a senior center after the Grandfather.

Many residents in the Lower Ninth are justifiably concerned that the forces of gentrification are forcing them out of their communities. Thus, they attempt to "hold on" in any way possible. Initially I thought that this was another case where the resident wanted to protect their property from change by having it landmarked. (It should be noted that landmarking a structure causes several protective restrictions to come into effect which prohibit major unapproved changes to the building or land use on the property.) The more I think about the potential landmark, however, the more I think it's a good idea. Although the circumstances may not satisfy the requirements of a national landmark, there is potential for a city one.

The residents of the Lower Ninth Ward need to feel a connection with their past and its events. Hurricane Betsy did less damage than the levee breach after Katrina; however, this home has survived both dramatic events and still defiantly stands amid acres of empty lots. A landmark designation and seal would serve as recognition that despite these traumatic events, the community and its residents endure in the Lower Ninth Ward.

I’ll keep y’all posted on how our application goes!