Lafitte Projects
The Lafitte Projects were one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans and were located in the 6th Ward of New Orleans Treme neighborhood. It was one of Downtown New Orleans' oldest housing developments and had many associated problems before being severely flooded and damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The project made national headlines after the gruesome murder of Thomas May who burned to death in the project in 1994. By a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) decree, the projects were demolished and redeveloped as affordable, mixed-income housing. The redevelopment effort was charged with replacing every demolished unit. The large housing project was left mostly vacant following evacuations after the extensive flooding from Hurricane Katrina. Heated arguments have surrounded the demolition of the project, as some longtime residents wanted them renovated.
Faubourg Lafitte Housing Development
Lafitte Projects | |
|---|---|
New Orleans Neighborhood | |
| Coordinates: 29°56′19″N 90°05′38″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| City | New Orleans |
| Planning District | District 1, Treme |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.30 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Land | 0.30 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 379 |
| • Density | 1,300/sq mi (490/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 504 |