I think that the Make it Right Foundation, as a whole, has well intentions, but somehow it falls short. I realize it has the backing of star power Brad Pitt, but the stars just don't insist on holding the foundation accountable to make things to the standard of how things are done here in New Orleans. The Make it Right organization http://makeitright.org/ has a great concept and has done this outside of New Orleans. But, the homes just don't match the neighborhood here (the drapes don't match the curtains), and they stand out like a sore thumb. Right down the street is the Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum (http://l9livingmuseum.org/ and https://www.yelp.com/biz/lower-ninth-ward-living-museum-new-orleans) is truly working from within the community to help rebuild. Make it Right seems to have come in like some white knight and just given the community the same thing that has supposedly worked in other communities. These homes are not the typical New Orleans homes, and they seem to have pulled down all other houses typical of the area, leaving wide vacant lots and some homes that are eco-friendly and are more wholesome to the environment, but just lack something.
I think something could have been done to design a house that looks to be more of the flavor here, while still making them hurricane proof and environmentally friendly. It could have been pieced together better. Outside of these few blocks are homes that were just left to rot after Hurricane Katrina, and lots that are overgrown tangles of weed and trees. If something isn't done to help the rest of the community, then this little bit of help will have failed. Maybe something like Preservation Resource Center (https://prcno.org/ or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preservation_Resource_Center) could be of more help. Maybe a collaboration of the two could have more of an impact. Something is missing. It is kind of sad and lonely in this section. There were many more homes in this area prior to Hurricane Katrina, most were condemned, some were torn down, others left to rot. These homes are helpful, but there is just so much potential.
But what do I know? I have no education in urban planning, maybe the powers that be have more knowledge than I do, and I am missing some key piece that is obvious to someone smarter than I am. Also, the roads in this neighborhood are just bad. Pot hole ridden, cracks with the pavement shifting, grass growing in the cracks. Maybe it is by design, to slow the traffic, but there are easier methods, like speed bumps and traffic circles. Too bad, it leads to the unkempt look of the area. read more