User:X.Kyrstenn.x/Desire Area, New Orleans

X.Kyrstenn.x/Desire Area, New Orleans

Desire Area
Former name(s)	Desire Projects
Maintained by	City of New Orleans Department of Public Works
Construction
Construction start	1997
Completion	1999

Geography

The Desire Area of New Orleans is a neighborhood that is apart of the Ninth Ward. Surrounding places include St. Claude to the South and Gentilly in the Northeast proximity. In addition to the surroundings, bordering the Desire Area is an Industrial Canal. Desire is located at 29°59′21″N 90°01′55″W.

From an Industrial Area to Homes

Originally a low-lying swamp, Desire in the 19th century developed a railroad. The railroad went through New Orleans own Almonaster Street, leading to Mobile, and ending in Texas. Eventually by 1909 Desire Area became an industrial waste area not meant for residency. In the 1940s that area was destroyed to create the largest housing development in New Orleans. Officially granted in the Housing Act of 1949 they began reconstruction of the Desire Area. Once built these homes were cheaply with wood in a sinking landfill swamp, they were only marketed to African American World War || Veterans. After the 1960s these 1,860 units were available to not just veterans, but any low-income large African American families as well. Unfortunately in 1965 Hurricane Betsy destroyed New Orleans and they used the Desire Area to place all the cities debris. Families were forced to move out of the Desire Area or live under the debris . Once the Hurricane occurred as the rest of the city was able to quickly clean up, the Desire Area received the connotation of dangerous. This area was avoided by other locals due to the run-down appearance Desire was negatively perceived.

Desire Crime

Desire received several names, such as being one of the poorest housing developments in New Orleans, and a no mans land. Historically Desire is written down as one of the most deadliest communities in the country. Most of the gang violence and other connotations were due to drugs like heroin that were around since the late 1960s. Eventually the drug usage and danger increased in the 1980s as cocaine was introduced to the community. Families were forced to leave the apartments that were used for drug deals and no longer family friendly. Murder rates also increased as gang violence was taking over the community more frequently. In 1994, 421 murders happened in New Orleans and 40 of those alone were in Desire.

The Black Panthers Take Initiative in Desire

Ruled as the largest housing project one man with the help of many more knew something needed to be done. Over populated and underserved the Black Panther Chapter of New Orleans focused in on the Desire Area. Formed by Malik Rahim first studied the community than got to work. Rahim and other locals began to demand decent housing for the families left in this swamp. They helped decrease the murder rate and ran gang members out the area. They also started political education classes, breakfast programs to bring the people located in the Desire Area and the surrounding areas to come together to fight for change. Law enforcers criticized and did not like the Black Panthers way of attempting to fix this issue so they stepped in. September 15^th, 1970 was known as one of the largest standoffs. Over 100 law enforcers surrounded the Black Panther Headquarters of New Orleans located on Piety Street and opened fire continuously starting a standoff amongst law enforcers and the Black Panthers. This left sixteen members of the Black Panthers arrested and 12 incurring attempted murder charges. The Desire Leaders were not happy and continued fighting for their city and how this matter was incorrectly handled. The rest of the Black Panthers relocated to an apartment on Desire Parkway. A second standoff was beginning to boil. November 19^th, 1970; officers walked into the Desire Area causing a large altercation among themselves and the locals of the Desire Area. The community came together to protect the Black Panthers. Making headlines and bringing attention to the Desire Area other activists, for example Jane Fonda came to the Desire neighborhood to aid in the difficult battles facing the locals and Black Panthers. Towards the end of the 1970s their was an end put to the Black Panthers in New Orleans. An attention that should have been interpreted as a change was shamed and confused for a rebellion towards the law.

1996 Hope VI Grant

Remains of a building in Desire after Katrina

Desire Area was chosen by the HANO( Housing Authority of New Orleans) to be revitalized. The reconstruction would make Desire a better community for the families. As well as to have a better appearance that was more pleasant in better conditions.Unfortunately August 29th, 2005 the Desire neighborhood was flooded with 10ft of water from Hurricane Katrina that poured over into the neighborhood from the industrial canal. Despite the devastating storm that ruined the neighborhood, HANO and the community came together to rebuild once again.

The Next Steps

Good things are soon to come to Desire. Since the Hurricane and once again rebuilding the neighborhood has been headed in a better direction. Delgado Community College opened a technical campus across from the Desire Area. Desire has also been renamed from Projects to, The Estates of New Desire. They also have more an early education center for the children in the community. The locals living in Desire have also had access to The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation, which has given scholarships to locals in the community. Desire is still on a track to improvement but there are more signs of progress that will benefit this community.