New Orleans’ Canal Street Revitalization
Can Canal Street be brought back to life equitably?
Carson W. Maxwell
January 8, 2006
I grew up in Algiers, the portion of Orleans Parish on the west bank of the Mississippi River. My childhood home was less than a mile from the river, and due to its relative proximity, I often made the journey to walk its levee. Without fail, one could look out over the channel and see ships from all corners of the world. As a child, it was awe-inspiring to view the colossal vessels and imagine all the foreign ports each had visited. I spent many hours daydreaming of the adventures faced during their innumerable, lengthy voyages. At night, as I lay in my bed, I could hear the occasional blasts of ships’ horns coming from the river. On many evenings, the sounds of distant river traffic, heard from an open bedroom window, actually lulled me to sleep. This was just one of the great aspects of growing up in New Orleans.
I often visited my grandmother, a frail little lady who lived in New Orleans all of her life. Each weekend, she enjoyed going to the public library, downtown, and window shopping at the many department stores on Canal Street. I remember many occasions that I went with her on her expeditions. We would take the bus to the Algiers ferry and then ride the ferry across the river. It was a grand passage, indeed, even though the trip lasted less than ten minutes. The ferry unloaded at the foot of Canal Street, where the next adventure would soon begin. We would walk up Canal Street, hand in hand, looking at the many storefronts along the way to the library. I vividly remember walking in front of the Woolworth Department Store and being bribed by the promise of a slice of hot apple pie later in the day, if I behaved myself in the library, of course. Sometimes I would deserve a piece, other times, I didn’t; but I can’t remember an excursion when I didn’t get one. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it seemed to be the best apple pie on earth. Actually, I have never found an apple pie, since, to match.
The best time of the year to make this trek was during Christmas time. All the stores along Canal Street were decorated with colored lights and mechanical holiday displays. Each store presented a scene of Santa’s workshop, or some other whimsical view. Back then, there was still a bustle of anxious shoppers along the corridor, thus making the panorama reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell creation. Of course, after dark, the return trip on the ferry was often blistery cold. Thank goodness there was an indoor passengers’ lobby.
The comings and goings on the Mississippi River remain the same; however, the atmosphere of Canal Street has changed significantly since these days, seemingly long ago. Today, aside from the few upscale stores at the foot of the street, near the ferry landing, the avenue sits practically barren. All of the old department stores that once graced the busiest street in New Orleans have left and the grand old buildings that housed them are now either deserted or are accommodating either hotels or tawdry tourist-related shops. With the loss of these tasteful establishments went much of the excitement of Christmas in New Orleans.
Now, there appears hope that this old thoroughfare will rise from its ashes, once again becoming the mecca of commerce in the city. At what price will this remarkable feat be accomplished? Over the last few decades, parts of Canal Street have been almost too dangerous to travel, due to the city’s endemic crime problem. Outings to see plays at the Saenger Theater seemed paramount to trudging through a war zone, where one had to be constantly vigilant as to his or her surroundings and ready to bolt at less than a moment’s notice. Hurricane Katrina seems to have become the catalyst to put into motion a plan that has been in the works for many recent years. The destruction of the Iberville Housing Development to build expensive condominiums in its space is seen as the best and only chance to revitalize this once prestigious and prosperous area.
If Canal Street is to return to its former glory, I agree that the demolition of the Iberville has to occur. At the same time, it must be done in a way that improves the lives of those it misplaces. Unlike the River Gardens debacle, where many hundreds of families were dispersed from the St. Thomas Development without any regard for their welfare, there must be some input from the residents in the targeted community. People must be given a say in what happens to them and where they are sent after being kicked out of their homes. It is only right to do so. Forced relocation does nothing for human beings, but ignoring these citizens seems to be the main goal of the city’s administration, HANO, and HUD. Right now, the residents of this development are scattered throughout the South, and, following the wishes of the before-mentioned agencies, are not allowed a voice in their own futures. After Katrina, most were shuttled to sites far away, without any apparent guarantee of a return trip. This treatment is almost reminiscent of how the Jews were treated by the Nazis in Germany. The only difference is that, right now, only dignity is being savagely slaughtered.
Is revitalization worth the cost? Financially, yes; but if the process is done without proper feedback and contribution from the community that currently calls the area home, the resulting long-term damage will certainly offset any short-term benefit. There are many ideas as to how this process can be equitable to everyone involved, but why express ideas when they consistently fall on deaf ears?
http://cwmaxwell.atspace.com
http://cwmaxwell.blogspot.com
Carson W. Maxwell
January 8, 2006
I grew up in Algiers, the portion of Orleans Parish on the west bank of the Mississippi River. My childhood home was less than a mile from the river, and due to its relative proximity, I often made the journey to walk its levee. Without fail, one could look out over the channel and see ships from all corners of the world. As a child, it was awe-inspiring to view the colossal vessels and imagine all the foreign ports each had visited. I spent many hours daydreaming of the adventures faced during their innumerable, lengthy voyages. At night, as I lay in my bed, I could hear the occasional blasts of ships’ horns coming from the river. On many evenings, the sounds of distant river traffic, heard from an open bedroom window, actually lulled me to sleep. This was just one of the great aspects of growing up in New Orleans.
I often visited my grandmother, a frail little lady who lived in New Orleans all of her life. Each weekend, she enjoyed going to the public library, downtown, and window shopping at the many department stores on Canal Street. I remember many occasions that I went with her on her expeditions. We would take the bus to the Algiers ferry and then ride the ferry across the river. It was a grand passage, indeed, even though the trip lasted less than ten minutes. The ferry unloaded at the foot of Canal Street, where the next adventure would soon begin. We would walk up Canal Street, hand in hand, looking at the many storefronts along the way to the library. I vividly remember walking in front of the Woolworth Department Store and being bribed by the promise of a slice of hot apple pie later in the day, if I behaved myself in the library, of course. Sometimes I would deserve a piece, other times, I didn’t; but I can’t remember an excursion when I didn’t get one. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it seemed to be the best apple pie on earth. Actually, I have never found an apple pie, since, to match.
The best time of the year to make this trek was during Christmas time. All the stores along Canal Street were decorated with colored lights and mechanical holiday displays. Each store presented a scene of Santa’s workshop, or some other whimsical view. Back then, there was still a bustle of anxious shoppers along the corridor, thus making the panorama reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell creation. Of course, after dark, the return trip on the ferry was often blistery cold. Thank goodness there was an indoor passengers’ lobby.
The comings and goings on the Mississippi River remain the same; however, the atmosphere of Canal Street has changed significantly since these days, seemingly long ago. Today, aside from the few upscale stores at the foot of the street, near the ferry landing, the avenue sits practically barren. All of the old department stores that once graced the busiest street in New Orleans have left and the grand old buildings that housed them are now either deserted or are accommodating either hotels or tawdry tourist-related shops. With the loss of these tasteful establishments went much of the excitement of Christmas in New Orleans.
Now, there appears hope that this old thoroughfare will rise from its ashes, once again becoming the mecca of commerce in the city. At what price will this remarkable feat be accomplished? Over the last few decades, parts of Canal Street have been almost too dangerous to travel, due to the city’s endemic crime problem. Outings to see plays at the Saenger Theater seemed paramount to trudging through a war zone, where one had to be constantly vigilant as to his or her surroundings and ready to bolt at less than a moment’s notice. Hurricane Katrina seems to have become the catalyst to put into motion a plan that has been in the works for many recent years. The destruction of the Iberville Housing Development to build expensive condominiums in its space is seen as the best and only chance to revitalize this once prestigious and prosperous area.
If Canal Street is to return to its former glory, I agree that the demolition of the Iberville has to occur. At the same time, it must be done in a way that improves the lives of those it misplaces. Unlike the River Gardens debacle, where many hundreds of families were dispersed from the St. Thomas Development without any regard for their welfare, there must be some input from the residents in the targeted community. People must be given a say in what happens to them and where they are sent after being kicked out of their homes. It is only right to do so. Forced relocation does nothing for human beings, but ignoring these citizens seems to be the main goal of the city’s administration, HANO, and HUD. Right now, the residents of this development are scattered throughout the South, and, following the wishes of the before-mentioned agencies, are not allowed a voice in their own futures. After Katrina, most were shuttled to sites far away, without any apparent guarantee of a return trip. This treatment is almost reminiscent of how the Jews were treated by the Nazis in Germany. The only difference is that, right now, only dignity is being savagely slaughtered.
Is revitalization worth the cost? Financially, yes; but if the process is done without proper feedback and contribution from the community that currently calls the area home, the resulting long-term damage will certainly offset any short-term benefit. There are many ideas as to how this process can be equitable to everyone involved, but why express ideas when they consistently fall on deaf ears?
http://cwmaxwell.atspace.com
http://cwmaxwell.blogspot.com
posted by Carson W. Maxwell at 9:54 PM
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