Collaboration to Redevelop Abandoned Schools in New Orleans

Redevelopment efforts revitalizing New Orleans with community-focused educational and housing facilities.

News Summary

The Orleans Parish School Board and New Orleans Redevelopment Authority are partnering to transform vacant properties, including Israel Augustine Middle School and Valena C. Jones Elementary, into affordable housing and community services. This initiative addresses a $50 million budget shortfall and fulfills community demand for better resource utilization. NORA’s expertise will ensure redevelopment aligns with local needs, potentially enhancing access to education and essential services. The project highlights the importance of community involvement and aims to revitalize neglected neighborhoods while addressing blight issues.

New Orleans – The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) are collaborating to redevelop district-owned properties that have remained vacant for several years. This partnership is particularly focused on the abandoned Israel Augustine Middle School and Valena C. Jones Elementary School, with plans to transform these sites into affordable housing, early childhood education services, or other projects that will benefit the local community.

The initiative stems from recent identification by OPSB of approximately 25 properties that are either to be sold or repurposed. This move comes as the school board faces a projected $50 million budget shortfall resulting from inflated tax revenue estimates. By repurposing these unused buildings, OPSB aims not only to address its financial challenges but also to respond to the expressed desire from the community for better resource utilization and development.

NORA will play a key role in the redevelopment process, assisting OPSB with community input, developer selection, and the oversight of construction. This holistic approach is intended to ensure that the redevelopment projects align with community needs and desires, enhancing local services and improving overall quality of life for residents.

The decision to focus on Augustine and Jones schools was driven primarily by the level of community interest demonstrated over the years—signals that the local population is eager for development that brings tangible benefits. OPSB currently owns around a dozen empty school buildings and nearly 20 vacant lots, many of which are classified as blighted. Addressing these long-standing issues aligns with city efforts, including a $10 million budget allocation from the City Council aimed specifically at blight reduction.

To facilitate these efforts, OPSB has established new standards for retaining building ownership, mandating that any facility must have a minimum student capacity of 350-500 and be free from issues such as recurrent flooding or environmental hazards. Previously proposed redevelopment ideas for surplus sites have included career training centers and housing complexes, illustrating a diverse range of potential uses.

The partnership’s plans will also feature various possibilities for engaging with community stakeholders. For any properties put up for sale, OPSB intends to first offer them to charter school management organizations, ensuring educational entities have the first opportunity to acquire these resources before they are made available to the general public.

Potential community benefits from the redevelopment may include not only affordable housing but also access to support agencies, recreational spaces, and projects that enhance food and healthcare access, effectively revitalizing these neighborhoods and supporting their inhabitants.

NORA’s involvement is bolstered by extensive experience in managing similar redevelopment projects throughout New Orleans, which suggests a robust capacity to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Experts note that making many of the vacant and dilapidated properties usable again will require significant investment, reflecting the scale of transformation needed to revitalize these areas.

Moreover, OPSB officials have reported a consistent stream of inquiries from organizations seeking space for various activities, highlighting the demand for functional community resources. However, they also recognize that many of these properties have faced neglect for over two decades, complicating their potential rehabilitation.

There are discussions surrounding the leasing of some properties for films or other events, which could serve as an additional revenue source for the school district. Such measures would not only aid in financial recovery but also encourage community engagement through diverse event offerings.

In summary, the partnership between OPSB and NORA presents a significant opportunity to rejuvenate long-vacant properties in New Orleans, transforming them into valuable assets for the community. As the planning and redevelopment efforts progress, collective community voices will be essential to shaping the future of these sites.