Housing Rehabilitation in the Inner City: A Comparison of Two Neighborhoods in New Orleans

Rehabilitation of old homes is proceeding at a rapid pace in two neighborhoods, Algiers Point and Lower Marigny, close to downtown and the Vieux Carre in New Orleans. Although both neighborhoods are similar in size and socioeconomic composition, the scale of rehabilitation is greater in Lower Marigny because of its proximity to areas previously renovated. Respondents pointed to two major sets of forces, the attraction of historic buildings and proximity to urban services, as reasons for their housing rehabilitation decision. Property sales have increased dramatically since the onset of rehabilitation. The pattern of sales is contagious in Lower Marigny, reflecting the greater degree of renovation in that area, but, as yet, does not display any predictable pattern in Algiers Point. Both neighborhoods are moving toward a composition similar to other inner-city rehabilitated areas occupied by white, middle-class professionals with displacement of indigenous groups.