Community Revitalization

Pontchartrain Hotel

NTCIC is helping bring historic and New Markets Tax Credit equity to rehab properties like the historic Pontchartrain Hotel Learn More

Pontchartrain

Outside on Oak Street

Patrons sit outdoors under pink umbrellas at a local spot around Oak Street in New Orleans. Learn More

Outside

Krauss and Values Sign in North Rampart

This Krauss and Values sign conjoin two buildings in the North Rampart District. Learn More

Krauss

Cafe Reconcile in the O.C. Haley Neighborhood

A front view of Cafe Reconcile in New Orleans in the O.C. Haley district. Learn More

Cafe

A vibrant Oak Street

This bright blue building is a friendly gathering place in the Oak Street district. Learn More

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation has been empowering local citizens and community stakeholders in the Gulf Coast region to rebuild and protect their heritage following the destruction of the 2005 hurricanes.

To facilitate on-the-ground technical assistance, the National Trust assigned a community development specialist to the New Orleans Field Office to work closely with property owners, developers, and lenders to facilitate brick-and-mortar rehabilitation. The Program Officer also works with key partners such as the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, the Finance Authority of New Orleans, and the Office of Recovery Management to ensure the city's rebuilding agenda includes historic preservation.

The National Trust has worked with funding partners, the Fannie Mae Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Louisiana Main Street and the Rockefeller Foundation to support local revitalization initiatives in four New Orleans Main Street commercial districts — Oak Street, St. Claude Avenue, North Rampart Street, O.C. Haley Street, Broad Street and Old Algiers. The National Trust has been working with statewide partner Louisiana Main Street to help these local organizations identify economic opportunities and build capacity.

As a complement to the Main Street initiative, the National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC), a for-profit subsidiary of the Trust, is investing its $60 million New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation in projects in the Gulf Coast. One project includes a $13 million NMTC investment in the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans' Garden District for the conversion of the hotel into senior housing and commercial space.

NTCIC staff are also working with city leaders in the New Orleans Office of Recovery and Development Administration to determine how federal historic and New Markets Tax Credits can support the city's economic development plan. Responding to the Trust's suggestion, the Office of Recovery and the National Trust meet monthly with city preservation organizations to discuss preservation-based economic development strategies in the city's 17 recovery target areas.

National Trust staff members have organized various training opportunities including Main Street Basic Training on how to use the National Trust's patented commercial district revitalization methodology as well as workshops on local, state, and federal tax incentives and other financing programs that can assist New Orleans property owners, developers, and non-profit organizations in successfully developing real estate. Main Street Basic Training will be March 31-April 1 in Baton Rouge.

Main Street News, the monthly journal published by the National Trust Main Street Center, has chronicled the devastation and the successful rebuilding initiatives in the historic and traditional commercial districts throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. See the links below to learn more about how local Main Street programs, which are community-led revitalization organizations, have been key players in the Gulf Coast recovery and in strengthening their business districts.

  • Main Street News - Feb 2008 Updates on how several Louisiana Main Street districts have recovered two years after the hurricanes and new exciting projects community members have initiated. Read highlights of the four urban neighborhood programs.
  • Main Street News - October 2007 An account of how Mississippi Main Street districts have journeyed from the path of recovery to rebuilding. Several exciting projects are bringing new life back to these hard-hit towns thanks to many people from Emeril Lagasse to local volunteers.
  • Main Streeet News - August 2006 A photo essay illustrates the National Main Streets Conference, held in New Orleans in June 2006, which was one of the first major conferences to take place after the storms. Includes recognition for Main Street organizations and individuals who responded for the call for help from their Mississippi and Louisiana friends.
  • Main Street News - July 2006 A case study that shows how Main Street Oakland County staff and volunteers helped Hattiesburg, Miss., save a treasured landmark through technical assistance and a work trip.
  • Main Street News - April 2006 A photo essay takes you on a tour of the New Orleans to illustrate how it is rebounding from Hurricane Katrina and also looks at the city's preservation struggles and successes. Also includes an account from Main Street staff after a visit to New Orleans after the storms.
  • Main Street News - Network Notes - November 2005 A short Network Note that tells how Bastrop, La., worked hard, even during the recovery, to meet a Main Street HOPE VI HUD grant deadline in order to secure $500,000 in funds.
  • Main Street News - October 2005 Soon after the hurricanes of 2005, the National Trust and the Main Street Network members were quick to mobilize in order to help the affected areas in the Gulf Coast Region. Main Street communities throughout the nation organized fund raisers, participated in an Adopt-a-Main Street effort, and opened their doors to displaced hurricane victims.

Preservation Magazine has faithfully followed all the work The National Trust for Historic Preservation has completed in regards to the recovery efforts in the gulf coast since the hurricanes hit the region in 2005. Click on the links to read the articles in full and to learn more about New Orleans and the gulf coast.

 

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