New Faubourg Lafitte
Rebuilding public housing in the Traditions of New Orleans
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, the outdated Lafitte Public Housing Complex needed to be rebuilt. UDA was tapped to orchestrate a public process, resulting in the goal of rebuilding Lafitte in the tradition of New Orleans – thereby removing the stigma of living in a “project” and creating something that adds to the character of the neighborhood. The resulting architecture, based on typologies and styles prevalent in the surrounding neighborhoods, respects the history and culture of the community. With a newly-restored historical street grid that was erased when Lafitte was first developed, the new mixed-income community features 1,500 homes and apartments, representing one-for-one replacement of all 900 subsidized apartments, and the development of an additional 600 homes for sale to working families and first-time homeowners. Furthermore, the development has been designed to Enterprise Green Communities standards, incorporating healthy and energy-efficient building practices, materials, and systems.