Tremé: A Cultural Beacon Under Pressure
Tremé, one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in America and a birthplace of jazz, has long stood as a pillar of New Orleans culture. But post-Katrina redevelopment, skyrocketing property values, and short-term rentals have turned Tremé into a battleground for housing justice. Whole-home Airbnbs now make up over 10% of available housing in the area, drastically shrinking long-term options. Locals are pushing back—organizing against the relocation of City Hall to Armstrong Park and calling for stronger regulations on vacation rentals.
Lower Ninth Ward: Disaster, Disinvestment, and Development
The Lower Ninth Ward, once home to the highest Black homeownership rate in the city, was devastated by Katrina and has faced a slow, uneven recovery. Developers eyeing low land costs have introduced luxury condos and speculative projects, most notably the controversial Holy Cross School redevelopment. But residents didn’t stay silent—they formed the Lower 9 Vision Coalition, filed lawsuits, and fought successfully to halt the original high-rise plans. Today, they continue to resist top-down development that excludes longtime residents.
Holy Cross: A Community That Fought Back
Holy Cross, a distinct enclave within the Lower 9, has become a textbook case in resisting gentrification. Developers initially proposed a 180-unit riverfront condo complex that would have towered over the neighborhood’s modest homes. Residents mobilized, submitted alternative plans, and ultimately won a significant victory: the original plan was scrapped, and historic restoration of the old school site moved forward instead. Holy Cross shows that organized, grassroots action can influence city policy and development trajectories.
Bywater: From Bohemian to Boutique
Once a working-class and artist-filled neighborhood, Bywater has rapidly transformed into a trendy, high-demand area. Between 2000 and 2010, the Black population dropped by 64% while property values soared. Airbnb saturation has turned residential blocks into pseudo-hotel corridors, accelerating displacement. But recent projects like the 4100 Royal Street mixed-income development aim to reintroduce affordable housing. Community groups like Neighbors First for Bywater continue to challenge development that doesn’t match the neighborhood’s character or serve its legacy residents.
Central City: Revitalization or Replacement?
Central City, rich in civil rights history, is navigating a complex path of renewal. Anchored by the revitalized Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, the area has seen community-led development—such as the Myrtle Banks Building and Harmony Oaks mixed-income housing. Still, public housing redevelopment and creeping market pressures have raised concerns. Community leaders are working to ensure revitalization includes cultural preservation, not just physical restoration. Inclusionary zoning policies and property tax relief for legacy homeowners are central to their demands.
Gentilly: The Quiet Shift and Climate Justice Crossroads
Gentilly, a quiet, middle-class, majority-Black neighborhood, was hard-hit by Katrina flooding. Today, it’s being reimagined as a model of sustainable urban resilience, thanks to HUD-funded green infrastructure projects like the Gentilly Resilience District. While residents welcome reduced flooding and improved parks, advocates warn of “green gentrification”—rising home values spurred by environmental upgrades. Community leaders are pushing for tax relief, affordable housing tools like land trusts, and equity in development planning.
Across New Orleans, gentrification takes many forms—from speculative real estate to industrial incursions. Yet in every neighborhood, residents are standing up, pushing back, and demanding development that doesn’t displace culture or community. The question facing city leadership is simple: will growth serve the people who built these neighborhoods, or replace them?
Note: For further information on New Orleans neighborhoods and planning, you can refer to the City Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
I guess now the so called “cultured” residents feel 1percent of what people feel when crime infested project housing is dumped in their backyard.
You can’t stop your racism and you can’t stop “gentrification” (racist word that was made up by racist)
It was a crime infested dump before Katrina and it’s still a crime infested dump.
The people “gentrifying” your dump pay the taxes that feed, house, and clothe you.
Growth should serve the people who built these neighborhoods not replace them with higher cost of living.
I from dat Upper 9th Ward… sad to see tha City in this condition…
I lived in New Orleans all my life until Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Some of those neighborhoods they want to gentrify, I used to live in. New Orleans has a rich culture that I would love to see maintained. But now that I don’t live there anymore, would that be a good decision for those who live there now? Gentrification means different things to different people. What I do know is that many of our ancestors got tired of fighting for rights and our generation took a back seat for a while. I’m just hoping that the culture I lived in New Orleans can be reserved so when I come to visit, I can feel at home again but with a better appeal to it.
Now we are seeing the Gentry making Mardi Gras Indian regalia, taken to the streets..then have the nerve to look at you funny when the originators pop-up and show out lol