NEW ORLEANS — Oretha Castle Haley not only holds memories for Deon Haywood, but it has recently made it on a list of sites vital to the city.
“I remember, my cousins and I shopping at Venus Gardens which many people know as Ashe,” said Haywood, executive director of community-based nonprofit ‘Women with a Vision.
The Louisiana Landmarks Society says to maintain the city's infrastructure there are nine endangered sites in the city of New Orleans that need immediate attention.
The O.C. Haley Corridor was named because the society says the area from downtown to Jackson Avenue holds several blighted and vacant properties that are slowing economic growth. One of which collapsed earlier this month.
“Why do we let things rot,” asked Haywood. “New Orleans is a beautiful city, but I do feel like we can do so much more.”
“Places like Café Reconcile and the Jazz Museum are all coming but there still are buildings that need to be addressed on that corridor,” said one of the society leaders in a press conference.
But, O.C. Haley is not alone, the following is the full list of sites and issues the society says need to be addressed:
- THE NEW ORLEANS TREE CANOPY
- BIG GREEN EASY PLAN: PARKS & GREEN SPACES
- NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION PROGRAM (NPP)
- PROPOSED RIVER DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT - TOPGOLF
- INNER HARBOR NAVIGATIONAL CANAL (IHNC) LOCK REPLACEMENT
- THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
- CLOSURE OF CATHOLIC CHURCHES
- LINDY C. BOGGS MEDICAL CENTER (formally known as MERCY HOSPITAL)
- ORETHA HALEY CASTLE CORRIDOR
According to the society, the city needs to address the list if it wants to protect the historic fabric of the city.
“If we don’t, the city that we know, and love and our built environment will no longer be in the form that we know it today,” said another presenter.
