Homes: destruction and rebuilding

We have followed the recovery of four face blocks in very distinct New Orleans neighborhoods. We selected blocks that were roughly representative of the class and racial composition of the larger surrounding area, based on census data from 2000. To increase comparability we selected blocks that were entirely single family homes or duplexes rather than apartment buildings. Consequently a large share of pre-Katrina residents were homeowners.

• Lakeview was a predominantly white and upper middle class area of the city with higher priced single family homes.
• Holy Cross was a mostly working class neighborhood with a predominantly black population.
• Gentilly and New Orleans East were middle class, mostly black neighborhoods in different locations - Gentilly to the north of the Latin Quarter and Holy Cross adjacent to the Lower Ninth Ward on the other side of the Industrial Canal.

To preserve confidentiality we do not name the streets that these houses are located on and we have obscured house numbers. We ask that viewers not attempt to identify them.

Photos were taken in May and October 2006, January, May and November 2007, April 2008 and March 2009. They are arranged as a time series.

Click below to select a neighborhood, then select a house by ID number.

• Lakeview
• Holy Cross
• Gentilly Woods
• New Orleans East