New Orleans East

This house obviously hasn't been touched.

No one here either. Realize that this picture (all these pictures) were taken while drivng down a four lane road. The fact that I could stop and do that says as much as these photos
No cars, no FEMA trailers, no neighbors, just empty houses
Even the thrift shop is desolate

I've chronicled the recovery of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina at various times here. Today I drove through the area known as New Orleans East. As the name implies, it is on the eastern side of the city, but within city limits. The area was developed in the 1970's and has gone from being a white area to a mixed area and now one that is primarily African-American. There are a lot of middle class and nicer homes--it is the part of town favored by African-American professionals--and a lot of huge apartment complexes that held Section 8 tenants before the storm. New Orleans East was also home to the largest (in terms of square feet) shopping mall in the city, namely The Plaza. Unfortunately, The Plaza had fallen on hard times even before the storm. Today when I drove by it was a pile of rubble. Several of the large aparment complexes had demolition signs on them and a few have already been torn down. A couple have been renovated and reopened.

For those of you who know the city, I drown down Read Blvd. to Morrison, and took Morrison (a four lane road) to Donman (another four lane road that connects to the Interstate). From Dowman, I turned onto Gentilly Blvd. and continued on it until St. Bernard, at which time I quit playing tourist and got back on the interstate. Here are some pictures.