Coghill Elementary was the pride of Pontchartrain Park for generations of school children until Hurricane Katrina destroyed it 18-years ago.
It’s now a 7-acre vacant lot in the heart of one of New Orleans most historic neighborhoods.
“This was our school,” award winning actor Wendell Pierce said. “The historic Coghill Elementary School where my mother taught, and I went to school.”
Pierce still lives in Pontchartrain Park where he grew up.
He along with the neighborhood association want to build a community center on the site.
That would include recreational facilities, a pool, after-school learning space, and senior services.
The center would also be home to a lighthouse, powered by solar panels and batteries for community use when the electricity goes out during a storm or other emergency.
“We went to the school board, and they said we’re land-banking it and we’re going to wait, so we took them at their word that they were going to landbank it,” Pierce said.
According to the Orleans Parish School Board, it has no immediate plans to redevelop the land.
But it is now seeking a change to the city master plan to broaden future housing options on the site, beyond the current single family residential zoning in the surrounding neighborhood.
“They’re trying to flip the property, give it to a developer and put in a densely populated, multifamily housing,” Pierce said. “Allow the neighborhood, the residents of the neighborhood to have a seat at the table to designate what they want to be brought here.”
The city planning commission is expected to consider the school board’s zoning change request at a meeting at city hall, Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m.
The Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association is asking neighbors to attend the meeting and oppose the request.
City Councilman Eugene Green whose district includes Pontchartrain Park says he’s against the idea.
“I can’t support a zoning change that would result in anything other than single family homes or a development that could mean something very positive for the citizens, all of the citizens of the area such as proposed by the Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association,” Green said.
In the meantime, Pierce says he owes it to those who built Pontchartrain Park to do something responsible with the property. Pioneers like his father, World War Two veteran Amos Pierce, Jr who passed away this week at age 98.
Pontchartrain Park was the first middle-class African American neighborhood in New Orleans, developed during the era of racial segregation in Louisiana.
This is really personal for me, Pierce said. “This is one of the ways I’m going to honor him, to make sure Pontchartrain Park stays the historic neighborhood that it is.”
Here is the full statement from the Orleans Parish School Board:
The property in question was formerly a modular facility but now stands as vacant land. Although it has not yet been declared surplus, the Orleans Parish School Board currently has no immediate plans to redevelop it. The district's declining enrollment, due to a decline in the birth rate, makes it unlikely for the site to revert to its previous use as a school. Instead, the NOLA Public Schools’ (NOPLA-PS) goal is to contribute to the betterment of the Pontchartrain Park and Gentilly communities through a purposeful redevelopment.
The current designation of the site as a Residential Single-Family Post War poses limitations, permitting only single-family development on larger lots. This designation is notably restrictive under the Future Land Use Master Plan (FLUMP). To address this, NOLA-PS will be presenting a proposal to the City Planning Commission on Tuesday to seek an amendment to the FLUMP. Specifically, we aim to change it to Residential Low Density Post War, which would broaden the range of housing options.
The proposed change would enable a slightly larger array of housing options, including the potential inclusion of doubles that could serve as housing for teachers or the workforce. Given the challenges posed by construction costs today, providing suitable accommodation for teachers and first responders through single-family new construction has become increasingly difficult.
We recognize the historical significance of the Pontchartrain Park area as a residential post-war community and are committed to ensuring that any potential future development aligns seamlessly with the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Our intention is not to disrupt the community but to enhance it in a manner that respects its heritage.
As of now, there are no immediate development plans for the site. In addition, we prioritize community engagement and seek feedback before proceeding with any Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment. Our commitment to transparency and collaboration underscores our approach to any future initiatives involving this property and all properties owned by the district.
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