Reconstruction of New Orleans and Katrina Aftermath Message Board

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Pastimes : Reconstruction of New Orleans and Katrina Aftermath

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From: Road Walker	1/25/2006 12:58:30 PM
	of 249

New Orleans Wants to Destroy Historic Homes By CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer Wed Jan 25, 9:13 AM ET Preservationists say the city would tear down structurally sound, historic buildings under a much-criticized plan to cull the city of homes in danger of falling over in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The city wants to tear down about 2,000 homes that inspectors deemed in such bad shape that they needed to be demolished soon. But preservationists say that at least 71 of those homes — all of them in historic districts — should not be demolished. "They can and should be saved," said Kevin Mercadel, the program officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in New Orleans. The protests by preservationists are just the latest attack on the city's demolition plans, which have triggered strong emotions among many blacks who fear that the city wants to bulldoze their neighborhoods. A lawsuit forced the city to halt demolition plans and agree to notify homeowners if their homes are to be razed, something the city had at first said it did not need to do if a home was a public risk. City officials said the notices could begin going out this week. The inspections were done by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New Orleans-based Preservation Resource Center and volunteers. The city plans to first demolish 123 buildings that are immediate hazards because they were pushed into streets or onto public land by flood waters. Mercadel said those buildings were not surveyed because they were considered beyond repair. Next, the city hopes to demolish about 1,900 other buildings because they are deemed in danger of collapsing. The preservationists have looked at 199 of those buildings in the city's historic districts — many of them Creole cottages and cypress shotgun homes, trademark New Orleans structures based on French Caribbean and West African designs. The preservationists believe 71 are structurally sound and another 29 may be salvageable. Mercadel said the survey results will be presented to the city this week in the hope that the city reconsiders demolishing the buildings. Greg Meffert, a city official who oversees permits and safety, said opponents to demolitions would have about three months to prove buildings should be removed from the demolition list. He said buildings that are found to be structurally sound could be saved.

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