Iberville Projects
Encyclopedia
Iberville Projects is a neighborhood
of the city of New Orleans
and one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans
. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St. Louis Street to the north, Basin Street
to the east, Iberville Street to the south and North Claiborne Avenue
to the west. It is located in the 4th Ward
of downtown New Orleans
on the former site of the famous Storyville
district.
, the district has a total area of 0.06 mi2. 0.06 mi2 of which is land and 0 mi2 (0.0%) of which is water.
of 2000, there were 2,540 people, 830 households, and 689 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
was 42,333 /mi² (12,700 /km²).
During segregation, the Iberville was occupied by whites, while the nearby Lafitte Projects
served the black tenants.
While the Iberville was closed following Hurricane Katrina
, the project was one of the first to reopen. There was no significant damage.
expressed a desire to redevelop the Iberville Projects as early as 2003. In May 2009, Nagin announced a HANO
proposal to raze part of it for redevelopment into mixed income housing.
New Orleans neighborhoods
In 1980 the New Orleans City Planning Commission divided the city into 13 planning districts and 72 distinct neighborhoods.While most of these assigned boundaries match with traditional local designations, some others differ from common traditional use...
of the city of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans
Housing Projects of New Orleans
The Housing Authority of New Orleans is a housing authority in New Orleans, Louisiana tasked with providing housing to low-income residents....
. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St. Louis Street to the north, Basin Street
Basin Street
Basin Street or Rue Basin in French, is a street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It parallels Rampart Street one block lakeside, or inland, from the boundary of the French Quarter, running from Canal Street down 5 blocks past Saint Louis Cemetery...
to the east, Iberville Street to the south and North Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. It runs the length of the city, about , beginning at the Jefferson Parish line and ending at the St. Bernard Parish line; the street continues in each of these locations under different names. It is called South Claiborne Avenue...
to the west. It is located in the 4th Ward
4th Ward of New Orleans
The 4th Ward or Fourth Ward is a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.-Boundaries:...
of downtown New Orleans
Downtown New Orleans
In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, "downtown" has historically referred to neighborhoods along the Mississippi River down-river from Canal Street, including the French Quarter, Treme, Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, the 9th Ward, and other neighborhoods...
on the former site of the famous Storyville
Storyville
Storyville was the red-light district of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1897 through 1917. Locals usually simply referred to the area as The District.-History:...
district.
Geography
Iberville Projects is located at 29°57′34"N 90°04′25"W and has an elevation of 0 foot (0 m). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the district has a total area of 0.06 mi2. 0.06 mi2 of which is land and 0 mi2 (0.0%) of which is water.
Adjacent Neighborhoods
- TreméTremeTremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
(north) - French QuarterFrench QuarterThe French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
(east) - Central Business DistrictNew Orleans Central Business DistrictThe Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the French Quarter/CBD Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Iberville, Decatur and Canal Streets to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, the New Orleans Morial...
(south) - Tulane/GravierTulane/Gravier, New OrleansTulane/Gravier is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St...
(west)
Boundaries
The City Planning Commission defines the boundaries of Iberville Projects as these streets: St. Louis Street, Basin Street, Iberville Street and North Claiborne Avenue.Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,540 people, 830 households, and 689 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 42,333 /mi² (12,700 /km²).
History
The Iberville was built on a ten block site in the early 1940s as part of the Wagner Bill. In 1940, the city declared 95% of the structures substandard, clearing the way for construction of the project. There are 858 units in the Iberville.During segregation, the Iberville was occupied by whites, while the nearby Lafitte Projects
Lafitte Projects
The Lafitte Projects are one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans and are located in the 6th Ward of New Orleans Treme neighborhood. It is one of Downtown New Orleans' oldest housing developments and had many associated problems before being severely flooded and damaged during Hurricane Katrina...
served the black tenants.
While the Iberville was closed following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, the project was one of the first to reopen. There was no significant damage.
Controversy
Mentioning of the Iberville, or even public housing more generally, on nola.com, consistently generates criticism that the Iberville exists. Critics single out the Iberville over other developments because they believe that "[t]he downtown area can never be safe or healthy as long as" the Iberville exists. Others feel that "free and subsidized housing doesn't belong on prime real estate," beside the French Quarter and the Central Business District. Some critics advocate "[r]ebuild[ing] these projects somewhere else." More creative suggestions have included selling "the Iberville to a private developer and donat[ing] the proceeds to create scholarships at Tulane for low-income applicants."Redevelopment plans
New Orleans mayor Ray NaginRay Nagin
Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. is a former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Nagin gained international note in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area....
expressed a desire to redevelop the Iberville Projects as early as 2003. In May 2009, Nagin announced a HANO
Hanö
Hanö is an island off Listerlandet peninsula, western Blekinge, Sweden.Between 1810 and 1812 the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom used the island as its base during its operations in the Baltic Sea. The "English Seamans Graveyard" is situated on the island, and still today British warships visit...
proposal to raze part of it for redevelopment into mixed income housing.