NOLA inches closer to historic freeway redevelopment

In February, the City of Niagara, NY announced it would be tearing down much of the Robert Moses Parkway and at last giving residents a sterling view of the Niagara Gorge.

As CNU applauds this victory, we continue to advocate for urban freeway removal.

This month in New Orleans, more than 130 gathered to hear teardown advocate Peter Park speak on tools and opportunities for New Orleans citizens as the City continues to execute its Livable Claiborne Communities study. Park stressed the importance of community vision and showed examples of redevelopment projects across the nation that harnessed community input to enact transformative change.

CNU members, Tulane University students and historic preservation professor John Stubbs and members of the Claiborne Corridor Improvement Coalition toured Claiborne Avenue. Dwayne Boudreaux, owner of the iconic and historic Circle Foods, gave the group an inside look at the store, which has remained closed since Hurricane Katrina. Boudreaux recalled the important role the store played in not only providing grocery and dry goods to the Tremé neighborhood, but also serving as a social focal point along Claiborne.

Between the historic community assets and more recent efforts to claim the land under the freeway, the Livable Claiborne Communities study is a tremendous opportunity to revitalize the corridor and showcase the rich cultural identity of the neighborhood.