TheNewOrleansIndex

Tracking the Recovery of New Orleans & the Metro Area

August
“ Though New Orleans has been
somewhat shielded from the
2009 recession due to substantial
rebuilding activity, four years
after Katrina the region still faces major challenges
due to blight, unaffordable housing, and vulnerable
flood protection. New federal leadership must
commit and sustain its partnership with state and
local leaders by delivering on key milestones in
innovation, infrastructure, human capital, and
sustainable communities to help greater New
Orleans move past “disaster recovery” and boldly
build a more prosperous future. ”

Next edition August 2010 • For the latest data, visit www.gnocdc.org
For speediest response, please direct media inquiries to www.gnocdc.org/media/
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

ABOUT THIS NEW ORLEANS INDEX

This fourth anniversary edition of the New Orleans Index examines the social and economic recovery of the New
Orleans metro area, four years after Hurricane Katrina and the related levee failures. Relying on more than fifty
indicators, we examine recovery progress to date for the city and its surrounding metro area which includes Jefferson,
Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany parishes. Key findings are highlighted
in “at-a-glance” graphic representations.

For the first time, we have added neighborhood-level indicators of population recovery for the city of New Orleans
(Orleans Parish). Readers seeking even more detail can visit the GNOCDC.org web site for interactive maps and
more detailed analysis. And we continue to publish several indicators of recovery for New Orleans’ 13 planning
districts, which were the geographic areas for which specific plans were developed when New Orleanians gathered in
late 2006 to develop the Unified New Orleans Plan.

HISTORY OF THE NEW ORLEANS INDEX

In December 2005, the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program began monitoring the social and
economic recovery of the Gulf Coast region through the publication of The Katrina Index. The Index provided
members of the media, key decision makers, nonprofit and private sector groups, and researchers with an
independent, fact-based, one-stop resource to monitor and evaluate the progress of on-the-ground recovery in
Louisiana and Mississippi.

In 2007, The Katrina Index was released as a joint collaboration between the Greater New Orleans Community
Data Center and the Brookings Institution in order to bring an even better, more tailored assessment of recovery of
the New Orleans region. Beginning with the second anniversary edition, we changed the name to “The New Orleans
Index” to shift the emphasis of recovery away from a named disaster to a great American urban center. Over time,
we’ve added new indices to provide a more comprehensive picture of the economic, social, and fiscal health of the
greater New Orleans region. And, as neighborhood-level data becomes available, we incorporate it into the Index
when it can inform relevant and current policy decisions.

Going forward, The New Orleans Index will be issued every August to provide a detailed analysis of the recovery at
the anniversary of Katrina. The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center releases data briefs throughout the
year, and the Brookings Metro program regularly includes New Orleans in its analysis of trends across metro regions.

Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the meticulous background research, data compilation, analysis support, and design
provided by Data Center staff Elaine Ortiz, Denice Ross, and Melissa Schigoda, as well as the attention to detail
and quick turnaround in producing this document by Dallas Hewitt at the Harahan DocuMart. The authors are
also grateful to Dek Terrell and Ryan Bilbo of Louisiana State University for their special compilations of small area
employment data.

Both the Data Center and Brookings would like to thank the Blue Moon Fund for its support of the New Orleans
Index as well as activities to help New Orleans organizations use the data to support recovery-related planning and
decision-making. Further, Brookings and the Data Center are grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and
the Rockefeller Foundation for their support of the New Orleans Index, and to Baptist Community Ministries and
United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area for their ongoing support of the Data Center.

Finally, both the Data Center and Brookings would like to thank the many individuals from federal, state, and local
agencies and organizations who have provided us with the most robust and up-to-date information available. Their
tireless efforts to collect and make public these data have been invaluable to the large audience of users of this Index.

Cover photo by Julie Plonk

/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: august 2009
Overview.....................................................................................................................................................................................................6

Highlights
Population............................................................................................................................................................................................8
Economy............................................................................................................................................................................................10
Housing..............................................................................................................................................................................................12
Infrastructure.....................................................................................................................................................................................14

Recovery of New Orleans by Neighborhood...............................................................................................................................17

Population Recovery.........................................................................................................................................................................18
Recent Population Shifts..................................................................................................................................................................19
Vacant/Unoccupied Residential Addresses..................................................................................................................................20
Residential Demolitions...................................................................................................................................................................21
Road Home Residential Properties Sold to the State..................................................................................................................22
Road Home Stay and Rebuild.........................................................................................................................................................23

II APPENDIX: DATA TABLES............................................................................... (download spreadsheet at www.gnocdc.org)

Population Recovery
Table 1: Total Population Estimates
Table 2: Residential Addresses Actively Receiving in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 3: Public School Enrollment Totals in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 4: Composition of Public School Students in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 5: Private School Enrollment Totals in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 6: Composition of Private School Students in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 7: College Students Enrolled in New Orleans by University

Housing Market
Table 8: Number of Single Family Home Sales in New Orleans Metro Area
Table 9: Average Sale Price of Single Family Homes in New Orleans Metro Area

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Table 10: Active Listings of Single Family Homes in New Orleans Metro Area
Table 11: Average Days on Market for Single Family Homes in New Orleans Metro Area
Table 12: Delinquency and Foreclosure Rates for Sub-prime, Prime and All Loans in Louisiana & the U.S.
Table 13: Fair Market Rents in New Orleans MSA by Unit Bedrooms
Table 14: Gross Median Rents in New Orleans MSA (in 2007 dollars)
Table 15: Affordable Monthly Rent for Select Occupations in New Orleans MSA, 2008

Rebuilding Damaged Housing Stock

Table 16: Residential Building Permits Issued by New Orleans City Hall
Table 17: Number of New Residential Housing Units Authorized by Type of Home
Table 18: Unoccupied Residential Addresses by Parish
Table 19: Status of Louisiana Road Home Applications
Table 20: Number of Road Home Closings by Option Selected by Parish
Table 21: Number of Active Travel Trailers, Mobile Homes & Park Models in Louisiana
Table 22: Total Number of Active Travel Trailers, Mobile Homes & Park Models in Louisiana by Parish

Fiscal and Economic Conditions

Table 23: Total Sales Tax Collections by Parish
Table 24: City of New Orleans Sales Tax Collections by Source
Table 25: Labor Force Size
Table 26: Unemployment Rates & Total Numbers
Table 27a: Number of Non-farm Jobs, in Thousands
Table 27b: Number of Non-farm Jobs by Source and Type of Employment, in Thousands
Table 27c: Number of Non-farm Jobs in Service-Providing Industries, in Thousands: A-L
Table 27d: Number of Non-farm Jobs in Service-Providing Industries, in Thousands: M-Z
Table 27e: Number of Non-farm Jobs in Goods-Producing Industries, in Thousands
Table 27f: Number of Non-farm Jobs in Government by Level of Government, in Thousands
Table 28: Employment in New Orleans by Industry Sectors
Table 29: Average Weekly Wage by Industry Sectors
Table 30: Net Change in Total Employers by Parish
Table 31: Job Vacancy Rates in New Orleans Regional Labor Market by Occupation
Table 32: Number of Unemployment Claims

/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
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the New Orleans Index

Table 33: Personal Income in New Orleans MSA, Louisiana & the U.S. (in millions of dollars)
Table 34: Number of Passengers Arriving & Departing from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Table 35: Cargo Activity at the Port of New Orleans

Quality and Availability of Basic Public Services

Table 36: Open Public Schools in New Orleans Metro Area by Parish
Table 37: Open Private Schools in New Orleans Metro Area by Parish
Table 38: Open Public Schools in New Orleans by Management Type
Table 39: Composition of Public School Students in New Orleans by Management Type and Admissions Policy
Table 40: Public School Students Passing High-Stakes LEAP Tests in New Orleans MSA by Parish
Table 41: Status of Public Transportation in New Orleans
Table 42: Open State-licensed Hospitals by Parish
Table 43: Open Child Care Centers in New Orleans Metro Area & Louisiana
Table 44: Open Public Libraries in New Orleans Metro Area by Parish
Table 45: Status of New Orleans Police Department Infrastructure
Table 46: Status of FEMA Public Assistance Grants for Louisiana by Parish

Recovery of New Orleans by Neighborhood

Table 47: Recovery Rate of Residential Addresses Actively Receiving Mail in Orleans Parish by Planning District
Table 48: Residential Addresses Actively Receiving Mail in Orleans Parish by Planning District
Table 49: Unoccupied Residential Addresses in Orleans Parish by Planning District, March 2009
Table 50: New Residential Construction in Orleans Parish by Planning District
Table 51: Residential Demolitions in Orleans Parish by Planning District
Table 52: Road Home Closings in Orleans Parish by Planning District, June 2009
Table 53: Total Employment Located in Orleans Parish by Planning District
Table 54: Total Employment Located in Orleans Parish by Planning District, by Industry
Table 55: Total Employment Located in Orleans Parish by Target Zone
Table 56: Recovery Rate of Residential Addresses Actively Receiving Mail in Orleans Parish by Neighborhood

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the New Orleans Index

Summary of Findings
By Amy Liu and Allison Plyer

New Orleans Four Years after Hurricane Katrina

The nation’s deepening economic recession has produced dissolution and despair across the country
as many communities grapple with the social and economic ramifications of massive layoffs,
prolonged unemployment, shuttered businesses, and home foreclosures. By contrast, rebuilding from
the woes caused by Hurricane Katrina has helped cushion greater New Orleans from the ravages of
the downturn.
As New Orleans ends its fourth year since the hurricane and levee failures, the region has been
buoyed by post-disaster recovery efforts and its fortunate industry mix.
Specifically, this year’s special anniversary edition of the New Orleans Index finds that:
• The New Orleans economy is weathering the recession relatively well due in part to its
industry composition. The New Orleans metro area lost 0.9 percent of its jobs since last June,
compared to the 4.1 percent lost nationally. The industries hardest hit—manufacturing and
construction—comprise relatively small shares of the New Orleans economy and since last June
have shed few jobs. The four largest sectors of the region’s economy—trade and transportation,
government, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services—either stagnated or added
jobs. The New Orleans metro area’s unemployment rate rose to 7.3 percent while it climbed to 9.5
percent for the nation.
• Ongoing rebuilding activities are attracting people, jobs, and investments, further shoring
up the greater New Orleans economy. New Orleans added more than 8,500 households (actively
receiving mail) in the past year, the biggest one-year expansion since 2007, reflecting a mix of new
and returning residents. While home rebuilding has slowed dramatically since 2007, post-disaster
infrastructure investments in the levee system, schools, police stations and other public facilities
have continued apace. Since July 2008, FEMA has paid over $800 million for infrastructure repair
projects across the five-parish area. In the city of New Orleans, 94 facilities and public works
projects were completed as of April 2009, and 113 more were under construction.1
• Yet New Orleans is not immune from the economic crisis. Like many metropolitan areas,
the housing market has stalled, with home sales down 39 percent and new construction down
48 percent. The slowdown in consumer spending has contributed to a plunge in city sales tax
revenues with 21 percent fewer receipts from general sales, motel/hotel stays, and motor vehicle
purchases in April and 6 percent fewer receipts in May compared to the previous year.
• Further, massive blight, affordable housing for low-income workers, and significant flood
risk remain the area’s major challenges. While there are fewer unoccupied residences in Orleans,
St. Bernard and Jefferson parishes this year, the scale of blight remains high—65,888, 14,372, and
11,516 residences, respectively—posing significant challenges for local governments. Steep rent
increases have abated, but at 40 percent higher than pre-Katrina, rents remain out of reach for

1 City of New Orleans: Monthly Progress Report, Recovery Projects, April 2009. Available at http://neworleans.iprojweb.
com/doc/monthlyreport_april2009.pdf

/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
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the New Orleans Index

many critical workers. Typical rent for an efficiency apartment is $733 per month, unaffordable
for food preparation, health care support, and retail sales workers. Finally, a timeline recently
released by the the Army Corps of Engineers indicates that they are behind schedule in completing
the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System by 2011. While the levee system will be
improved when finished, additional protective measures and land use provisions will be necessary
to protect the city from Katrina-strength storms.1
Residents and leaders are eager to get beyond “disaster recovery” to implement bold plans for
creating a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous city and region. Locally, key moves are creating the
foundation for transformation to meet residents’ long-term aspirations. Last November, New Orleans
voters approved two important amendments to the city charter. The first gave the city’s master plan
teeth by requiring all zoning and land use requirements to conform, providing predictability, market
confidence for development, and a more transparent and organized process for public participation.
The second measure provided a dedicated revenue source to the newly created Inspector General’s
office, giving the office steady resources necessary for accountability in the wake of pervasive public
mistrust, waste, and fraud. And recently, the City Council approved funds for a newly created,
quasi-public New Orleans Economic Development Corporation to lead the city’s economic growth
activities and provide a measure of continuity across mayoral administrations.
The Obama administration and the next mayor of New Orleans must work together with the state
to build on this current progress to help the city truly reinvent itself.2 The administration has many
opportunities to lead a robust interagency effort that applies new policy initiatives that leverage
the economic assets of New Orleans—in innovation, human capital, infrastructure, and quality
neighborhoods. For instance, to invest in people and innovation, the administration could help state
and local leaders resolve the future of Charity Hospital and facilitate the delivery of quality, affordable
health care for all residents while making a critical investment in the growth of its health care cluster.
To maximize interagency efforts, the Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding’s leadership, institutional
knowledge, and established partnerships must be retained and elevated within the White House.3 In
addition, state and local leaders could partner with Congress and the Obama Administration to take
advantage of new federal opportunities—linking school reform with neighborhood revitalization,
investing in green industries (including coastal restoration and protection), and bolstering ports,
major transportation and freight corridors.
With strong partnerships, local leadership, and leveraged assets, New Orleans could emerge as a
model of resilience for metro areas recovering from natural catastrophes or major economic shocks, as
those triggered by this recession.

1 US Army Corps of Engineers. “Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System Contract Information.” Available
at www.mvn.usace.army.mil/hps/hps_contract_info.aspx; National Research Council. “The New Orleans Hurricane
Protection System: Assessing Pre-Katrina Vulnerability and Improving Mitigation and Preparedness” Available at www.
nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12647.
2 The primary for the 2010 mayoral race is on February 6, with a run-off election on April 22. Mayor Ray Nagin is not
eligible due to term-limits.
3 The extension of the executive order that established the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding
expires on September 30, 2009.

Summary of Findings /23

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the New Orleans Index

Population Trends
• This past year, population growth picked up pace in the city of New Orleans, reaching 76.4
percent of pre-Katrina residences actively receiving mail, a 4.3 percentage point increase from
last August. All parishes gained residences actively receiving mail from August 2008 to June 2009,
with Orleans Parish, St. Bernard and St. Tammany experiencing the largest absolute gains. New
Orleans’ rate of growth has increased over the prior year. From August 2008 to June 2009, Orleans
Parish added 8,577 active residences compared with 5,345 added from August 2007 to June 2008.
The New Orleans metro area is now home to nearly 90 percent of the pre-Katrina number of
households receiving mail.
• Although the New Orleans population continues to grow, new neighborhood-level data
available quarterly shows that twelve neighborhoods lost more than 50 active-address
households from June 2008 to June 2009. As new rental and homeownership opportunities
become available, the overall population of the city is shifting even as new households are moving
into the city. [See Recovery of New Orleans by Neighborhood on page 17 for more details.]
• While growth in households has increased since August 2008, growth in school enrollment
across the metro area has slowed, suggesting that recent arrivals to the metro area are likely
singles and childless couples. The metro area gained 12,400 residences actively receiving mail
from August 2008 to June 2009 up from a 7,896 increase in the third year after Katrina. Although
total school enrollment reached 78 percent of pre-Katrina levels by spring 2009, growth in school
enrollment has slowed—increasing only by 3,800 compared with 7,513 in the previous year
—indicating that many new households may be without children.
• Hispanic children represent a growing share of the student population, increasing to 5.6
percent of total metro-wide school enrollment by spring 2009; while black students reached
42.8 percent by spring 2009. Before Katrina, black children accounted for 49.1 percent of all
public and private school enrollment in the metro but fell to 39.1 percent by spring 2007. The
share of black students has continued to rise since 2007 reaching 42.8 percent by spring 2009.
In contrast, immediately following Katrina, Hispanic students grew as a share of all public and
private school students, from 3.6 percent pre-Katrina to 5 percent by spring 2007, and to 5.6
percent by spring 2009.
• Total enrollment at New Orleans’ colleges and universities grew 5 percent since spring
2008, including 1,502 more students at Delgado Community College. The graduation of
the “Katrina class” in May 2009 marked the four-year anniversary of Katrina at local colleges
and universities, and while some schools are struggling with post-Katrina recruiting, others are
exceeding expectations. Total spring enrollment levels at SUNO, Delgado Community College,
and Tulane University have grown three consecutive years, even as larger classes of students that
started pre-Katrina have graduated.

/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
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the New Orleans Index

Population At-a-Glance
The population of the city and metro area grew at a faster While growth in metro area households has increased
rate in the fourth year after Katrina than in the previous year. since August 2008, the increase in school enrollment
slowed in the 2008-09 school year, suggesting that recent
arrivals are predominantly singles and childless couples.

Percent of pre-Katrina households receiving mail Increase in active residential addresses and combined
public/private school enrollment, New Orleans Metro
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 New Orleans
100% Metro
89.6% Active
80% 85.8% 87.3% Orleans 7,896 addresses
76.4%
75.9% (Ĺ 4.3%) Aug '07 - Aug ‘08
69.2% 72.1% School
60% (Ĺ 2.9%) 7,513 enrollment

40% 49.5%

20% 12,400
Aug '08 - Jun ‘09
0%Aug Nov Feb May Aug Nov Feb May Aug Nov Feb Jun
3,800
2006 2007 2008 2009

0 5,000 10,000 15,000

Total public and private school enrollment continued to Black children continue to make up a growing share of
grow reaching 78 percent of pre-Katrina levels by the total public and private school students, reaching 42.8
spring of 2009. percent of total students by the end of the 2008-2009
school year, while the share of Hispanic children climbed
to 5.6 percent.

Combined public and private school enrollment, Combined public and private school student ethnicity,
120% New Orleans Metro New Orleans Metro
60% 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
100% 2004-05

78% 50% 48.3% 49.1%

80% 73% 76%
44.3%
42.8%
60% 40%

40% 30%

20% 20%

0
2006 -07 2007 -08 2008 -09 10%
5.6%
3.6% 2.6% 3.0%
0.4% 0.4%
0%
% White % Black % Hispanic % Asian % American Indian

Top graph source: GNOCDC analysis of USPS Delivery Statistics Product. Top graph sources: GNOCDC analysis of USPS Delivery Statistics Product,
Bottom graph source: Louisiana Department of Education and Trinity Episcopal Louisiana Department of Education and Trinity Episcopal School. Bottom graph
School. Note: 2005-2006 data is not presented due to uncertainty of school source: Louisiana Department of Education. Note: 2005-2006 data is not
enrollment in first year after Katrina. presented due to uncertainty of school enrollment in first year after Katrina.

Summary of Findings /23

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the New Orleans Index

Economy Trends
• The New Orleans metro area continues to weather the national recession relatively well,
only losing 0.9 percent of total jobs since last June compared to a 4.1 percent loss for
the nation. Industry sectors with the largest declines nationally since June 2008—including
construction and manufacturing—shed relatively few jobs in the New Orleans metro and
represented a relatively small portion of the region’s overall economy. Of those sectors with
more than 50,000 jobs in the region, only professional and business services suffered severe job
losses (down 3.5 percent). Leisure and hospitality lost only 0.9 percent of all jobs, and the trade,
transportation and utilities sector is down only 1.2 percent. Education and health services and
government added jobs, at 3 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.
• The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the New Orleans metro area surged to
7.3 percent in June 2009, up from 5.9 percent one month ago, and 4.6 percent last June.
Meanwhile the seasonally adjusted U.S. rate reached 9.5 percent, up from 9.4 percent one
month ago, and 5.6 percent last June. The one-month spike in the unemployment rate for the
New Orleans metro was caused primarily by a sharp rise in the number of people seeking work,
rather than by job losses. Compared to the 100 largest metros, New Orleans had the sixth lowest
unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2009.1
• The non-seasonally adjusted New Orleans metro area labor force increased to 534,000 in
June 2009, a nearly two percent increase from one month ago, and 1 percent lower than last
June. Meanwhile the seasonally adjusted U.S. labor force fell slightly since last month, and is
up 0.3 percent since June 2008. In the New Orleans metro area, 8,964 people entered the labor
force in search of summer work between May and June 2009, accounting for nearly all of the
surge in the area’s unemployment rate.
• New Orleans sales tax revenue declined in April and May 2009 for the first time since 2006,
reflecting the national decline in consumer spending. General sales tax revenues for the city of
New Orleans were down from a year ago by 22 percent in April and 2 percent in May. Other tax
revenues seemed to be even more deeply affected by the recession: Motor vehicle tax collections
were down 18 percent in April, and 28 percent in May, and hotel/motel tax revenues were down
12 percent in April and 24 percent in May.
• General cargo handled at the Port of New Orleans was down 19 percent in 2008, signaling
the effects of not only a national, but a global recession. In 2007, 7.4 million short tons of
general cargo passed through the port, compared to only 5.9 million in 2008. A 32 percent drop
in the volume of imported iron and steel products handled at the Port was the largest reason for
the decline. Iron and steel imports, which typically account for 50 to 70 percent of general cargo
tonnage handled at the port, accounted for less than 41 percent of general cargo in 2008.2

1 The Brookings Institution. “MetroMonitor.” Available at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/MetroMonitor/unemployment_

rate.aspx
2 Personal communication: H. Wilbert, Marketing Department of the Port of New Orleans. July 20, 2009.

10/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
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the New Orleans Index

Economy At-a-Glance
The New Orleans metro economy is weathering the recession with job gains or relatively few job losses in most key sectors.

Percent change in jobs by sector, Total jobs by sector,

June 2008 to June 2009 New Orleans Metro, June 2009
-4.5% Trade, transportation, 107,800 jobs
-1.2% & utilities
US
0.1% 82,800 jobs
Government
New Orleans Metro 4.8%
-2.4% Leisure & 68,700 jobs
-0.9% hospitality
2.2% Education & 68,000 jobs
3.0% health services
-6.8% Professional & 66,200 jobs
-3.5% business services

-12.2% 35,800 jobs

Manufacturing
-3.0%
-13.7% Construction 31,900 jobs
-2.4%
-15.0% -10.0% -5.0% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0%

Although unemployment in the New Orleans metro has Based on its relatively low unemployment rate, of the
risen in the fourth year after Katrina, it remains lower than largest 100 metros, New Orleans ranks among the
the national level. strongest.
Monthly unemployment rate Unemployment rates in the largest 100 metros, first quarter 2009
18.0

16.0
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
14.0

12.0

10.0 US
9.5
8.0
7.3
6.0 New
Orleans
4.0 5.0 Metro
Strongest 20 metros
4.1
3.7 Second-strongest 20 metros New Orleans
2.0
Middle 20 metros
0.0 Second-weakest 20 metros
Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun (p)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Weakest 20 metros

Top graph source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

Bottom graph source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bottom graph source: Brookings, “MetroMonitor.” Available at http://www.
brookings.edu/metro/MetroMonitor/unemployment_rate.aspx

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Housing Trends
• The market for single family homes across the metro area cooled in 2009, with sales volumes
and average prices down markedly from one year earlier. The total number of homes sold in
the metro area fell to 686 in May 2009, down 23 percent from one year earlier and nearly half the
number sold in May 2006 and May 2007. Comparing first quarter 2008 to first quarter 2009,
housing prices across the New Orleans metro fell 0.3 percent—although not as steeply as the
national decrease of 6.3 percent, or the 6.9 percent average decrease for the 100 largest metros
across the same time frame.1
• In its fourth year of disaster recovery, the pace of home reconstruction and new construction
has slowed in New Orleans. From September 2008 to May 2009, the monthly average number of
residential permits issued in the city was 420, down from 676 in September 2007 through August
2008, and from 912 in the prior year. Similarly, the monthly average of new residential housing
units authorized for construction fell to 197 since September 2008, down from 218 in the third
year and from 211 in the second year of recovery.
• As of June 2009, the Road Home program has disbursed $7.95 billion in grants to
124,219 underinsured homeowners, the vast majority of whom will rebuild. As the Road
Home transitions to a new contractor, only 8,635 applicants remain—half of whom are still
demonstrating their eligibility. In Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, where housing damage was
often minor in severity, 2 ninety-nine percent of Road Home recipients will rebuild their homes.
The largest number of grants has been distributed to homeowners in Orleans Parish, where 90
percent are rebuilding. In St. Bernard, only 64 percent of grant recipients are rebuilding. Through
this program the state has acquired 9,418 properties in the five-parish area from homeowners
choosing not to rebuild.
• Orleans and St. Bernard parishes continue to have very high numbers of vacant and blighted
residences, though these numbers have declined in the fourth year of recovery. Since last
September, Orleans and St. Bernard parishes reduced their inventory of vacant and blighted
residences by 3,839 and 816 respectively. However, as of March 2009, the share of unoccupied
residential addresses in Orleans and St. Bernard, at 31 and 53 percent respectively, exceeds other
cities also grappling with excess land and buildings. In absolute numbers, New Orleans has 65,888
unoccupied residential addresses—nearly as many as Detroit.3 In St. Bernard, 14,372 residences are
unoccupied. [See Recovery of New Orleans by Neighborhood on page 17 for more details.]
• Many essential service workers in the New Orleans area cannot afford the fair market rents
of an apartment in the region. According to analysis of 2008 data, there are many workers
in occupations with high labor shortages, such as food preparation, health care support, and
retail sales, who spent more than 30 percent of their monthly income to rent even an efficiency
apartment in the area.
1 The Brookings Institution. “MetroMonitor.” Available at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/MetroMonitor/~/media/Files/
Programs/Metro/metro_monitor/metro_profiles/new_orleans_la_metro_profile.pdf
2 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Current Housing Unit Damage Estimates, Hurricane Katrina,
Rita and Wilma, February 12, 2006.” Available at http://gnocdc.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/Katrina_Rita_Wilma_
Damage_2_12_06___revised.pdf
3 Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. “National Benchmarks for Blight.” Available at http://www.gnocdc.org/
BenchmarksforBlight/

12/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
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the New Orleans Index

Housing At-a-Glance
Metro area home sales volumes were 23 percent lower in The largest number of Road Home recipients is in Orleans
May 2009 than the previous year. Parish where the vast majority will stay and rebuild.

Monthly housing sales volumes, New Orleans Metro Total Road Home closings and “Stay and Rebuild” grant closings
1,600 50,000 “Stay and Rebuild” “Sell to State”
1,400 45,000
2005
1,200 40,000

1,000 35,000
2006
30,000
800
2009 25,000
600 2007
2008 20,000 39,919
400
15,000
200 23,972
10,000
0 5,000 10,614
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 7,334
0 2,721
Orleans Jefferson Plaquemines St. Bernard St. Tammany

New Orleans area parishes, like many cities around the country, Few workers in key service sector jobs with high
are grappling with large numbers of unoccupied residential vacancies can afford an apartment in New Orleans metro
addresses. with 30 percent (or less) of their monthly wages.

Number and percent of residential addresses Affordable monthly rent by occupation group and
vacant or unoccupied, March 2009 fair market rent, New Orleans Metro, 2008
St.Bernard Parish, LA 14,372 53% Efficiency 1 bd 2 bd
$764 $846 $990
Orleans Parish, LA 65,888 31% Food prep. workers
Home health aides
Flint, MI 10,990 20%
Child care workers
Detroit, MI 68,253 19% Cooks
Youngstown, OH 6,235 18% Receptionists
Nursing aides
Cleveland, OH 36,091 16%
Laborers
Buffalo, NY 15,800 13% Retail salespersons
Baltimore, MD 37,736 13% Bookkeepers
Maintenance workers
Pittsburgh, PA 20,017 12% Mechanics
Toledo, OH 12,779 9% All Occupations
Welders
Washington DC 24,008 8%
Registered nurses
Jefferson Parish, LA 11,516 6% Lawyers
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% $0 $1000 $2000 $3000

Top graph source: New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors. Bottom Top graph source: The Road Home Program. Bottom graph source:
graph source: GNOCDC analysis of HUD Aggregated USPS Administrative BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and U.S. Department of
Data on Address Vacancies. Housing and Urban Development. Note: Lawyers are provided for contrast, but
did not have large vacancies.

Summary of Findings 13/23

 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Infrastructure Trends
• FEMA has obligated an additional $900 million for infrastructure repairs in Louisiana since
last July, bringing the total to nearly $7.8 billion, of which 58 percent has been paid to
localities. Nearly four years after Katrina, total funding approved for disaster recovery is still on
the rise—particularly in hard hit parishes where damage is so extensive that local governments are
overwhelmed trying to document it all. Over the past year, FEMA obligated an additional $510
million for Orleans Parish and an additional $201 million for St. Bernard Parish. Slightly less
than half of the total $2.5 billion obligated to private and governmental entities in Orleans Parish
for debris removal and infrastructure repairs remains to be paid.
• In the fourth year after Katrina, sixteen additional schools opened in the New Orleans area.
In hard hit St. Bernard Parish, three public schools opened and in Orleans Parish, eight public
and two private schools opened in the last year. In St. Tammany Parish one additional school and
in Jefferson Parish two additional schools have opened since the third anniversary of Katrina.
• A flurry of child care center openings in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes has boosted their
shares of centers to half the pre-Katrina number for the first time since the storm. Since
August 2008, 22 child care centers have opened in Orleans Parish bringing the total to 141 or
51 percent of pre-Katrina, up from 43 percent. In St. Bernard, five child care centers opened,
bringing the total there to 50 percent of pre-Katrina. In St. Tammany one child care center
opened, while in Jefferson Parish the total number of licensed child care centers fell by two over
the last year.
• Between May 2008 and 2009, average daily ridership on public transportation rose 10
percent, but remained well below pre-Katrina levels. In the fourth year of recovery, ridership
on public buses and street cars increased and the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority began
offering new “Lil Easy” service in Lower Ninth Ward, Gentilly and Lakeview neighborhoods.
(This service runs small 15-seat buses on custom routes with passengers reserving seats in
advance.) But by May 2009, ridership remained at only 43 percent of pre-Katrina levels.
• New Orleans remains vulnerable to storm-related flooding–but how vulnerable is currently
unknown. The Army Corps of Engineers continues work on the Hurricane and Storm Damage
Risk Reduction System that is intended to provide protection from a storm surge that has a 1
percent chance of occurring any given year. However, Katrina was a 0.25 percent storm, stronger
than the level of protection for which the system currently under construction is designed.
Because no regularly-updated indicators exist on land loss, coastal restoration, and mitigation of
flood risk due to human engineering, tracking recovery in this realm is challenging.

14/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Infrastructure At-a-Glance
By June 2008, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes By May 2009, average daily ridership on regional public
had received less than 50 percent of the FEMA Public buses and street cars had grown 10 percent over the
Assistance funds obligated to them. previous year, but ridership remains at only 43 percent of
pre-Katrina.

Status of FEMA obligated funds, as of Jun 26, 2009, Ridership for public buses and street cars, New Orleans
in billions of dollars ($) 80,000
$2.5 B Jul ‘05
FEMA obligated funds, unpaid to localities 70,000 71,543
FEMA obligated funds, paid to localities
$2.0 B 60,000
52%

50,000
$1.5 B
40,000
37% 30,868
$1.0 B 28,127
30,000
21,450
48% 18,545
20,000
$0.5 B
63% 68%
25% 37% 10,000
32% 75% 63%
$0
Orleans* St. Bernard Plaquemines St. Tammany Jefferson 0
May ‘06 May ‘07 May ‘08 May ‘09
*Includes City of New Orleans, Recovery School District, Charity Hospital,
NO Airport and the NO Convention Center

In the fourth year after Katrina, sixteen additional schools Since August 2008, there continued to be a steady pace
opened in the New Orleans area. of child care center openings in Orleans and St. Bernard
parishes.
Number of open public and private schools Number of open child care centers
250 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Aug ‘05 Aug ‘06 Aug ‘07 Aug ‘08 Jun ‘09
300
222 275

200 250

154 197
150 144 144 144146 200
174 172

150 141
100
119
71 73 74
100
50
22 50
10 9 9 8 11 26
0
Orleans Jefferson Plaquemines St. Bernard St. Tammany 8 13
0
Orleans Jefferson St. Bernard

Top graph source: FEMA. Bottom graph source: Louisiana Department of Top graph source: New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Bottom source:
Education. Agenda for Children and Louisiana Department of Social Services Bureau of
Licensing.

Summary of Findings 15/23

 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

This page intentionally left blank.

16/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Recovery of New Orleans by Neighborhood

When the levees protecting New Orleans failed in August 2005, approximately 80 percent of the city was flooded.
The business district and main tourist centers were relatively undamaged, but vast expanses of many New Orleans
neighborhoods were inundated, making this the largest residential disaster in U.S. history.
The extent of damage varied greatly from one part of town to another. Some areas received one foot of flooding
while others were submerged by 10 feet of water. The rate of recovery has also varied across the city.
In this section, we examine recovery indicators across the 73 neighborhoods and 13 planning districts of New
Orleans to reveal trends across smaller areas that may be masked by citywide figures. New Orleans has 73 official
neighborhoods that form 13 planning districts. (See reference map below for planning district boundaries and names
of neighborhoods within each.)

Extent of flooding from Katrina

District Neighborhood Names
1 Central Business District, French Quarter
2 Central City, East Riverside, Garden District, Irish Channel, Lower
Garden District, Milan, St. Thomas, Touro
3 Audubon, Black Pearl, Broadmoor, Dixon, East Carrollton, Fontaineb-
leau, Freret, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Uptown, West Riverside
11 4 Bayou St. John, BW Cooper, Fairgrounds, Gert Town, Iberville, Mid-
10 City, St. Bernard Area, Seventh Ward, Tremé/Lafitte, Tulane/Gravier
5 City Park, Lakeshore/Lake Vista, Lakeview, Lakewood, Navarre, West
End

9 6 Dillard, Filmore, Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Lake Terrace & Lake

6
Oaks, Milneburg, Pontchartrain Park, St. Anthony

5 7 Bywater, Desire Area, Desire Development, Florida Area, Florida Devel-

opment, Marigny, St. Claude, St. Roch

4 7 8 Holy Cross, Lower 9th Ward

8
9 Little Woods, Pines Village, Plum Orchard, Read Boulevard East, Read
Boulevard West, West Lake Forest

3 1 10 Village de L’Est

2 12
11
12
Lake Catherine, Viavant/Venetian Isles
Algiers Point, Behrman, Fischer, McDonogh, Old Aurora, US Naval
Support Area, Tall Timbers/ Brechtel, Whitney
13 0 2 Miles 13 English Turn

Sources: Brakenridge, G.R., E. Anderson (2005) Flood Inundation Vector derived from SPOT satellite image from Sept. 2, 2005. Dartmouth Floods Observa-
tory, Hanover, NH, USA (flood extent); New Orleans City Planning (planning districts and neighborhoods).

In the following pages, we examine population trends across the 73 neighborhoods and housing trends across the
13 planning districts. This information can help residents, neighborhood groups, and decisionmakers act more
strategically and effectively for their community.

Summary of Findings 17/23

 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Population Recovery
Redevelopment is now a major influence in the repopulation of New Orleans neighborhoods. As of June 2009,
nine neighborhoods still have less than half of the active residential addresses they did before Katrina. But three of
these—BW Cooper, Florida, and St. Bernard—are home to public housing sites that have been demolished and are
in the process of being redeveloped. Five neighborhoods with new developments‚ including single family homes‚
apartments and condo buildings—McDonogh, Algiers Point, Central Business District, Gert Town, and St. Thomas
(or “River Gardens”)—have more active addresses than they did in June 2005.

Percent of June 2005 addresses actively receiving mail as of June 2009, by neighborhood

0 - 49%
LakeCatherine
50 - 59%
60 - 69%
70 - 79%
80 - 89%
90 - 99%
100% +
Villagedel'est
- 50 or more
- 1 - 49
+ 0 - 99
+ 100 - 199 Little Woods
+ 200 - 299
+ 300 or more Read Blvd East
LakeTerrace& Oaks
West LakeForest
Location ofLakeshore/Lake
residential Vista demolition permits
Pontchartrain Pines Village Read Blvd West
Milneburg Park
St. Plum Orchard Viavant/Venetian Isles
Anthony
% of addresses
West that are unoccupied
End Filmore Gentilly Woods
0% - Lakeview
14%
Gentilly
15% - 29% CityPark
St.Bernard Dillard
Terrace
DesireArea
Area
30% - 49% Desire
Navarre Dev
50% - 100% Fairgrounds St.Roch
Florida
Dev
Florida
Lakewood Seventh Area
Bayou
St. John Ward
0 - Dixon
49 Mid-City St.Claude
Hollygrove Lower NinthWard
Tremé/Lafitte
50 - 299 Marigny
Gert Town Tulane/ Iberville French Bywater
300 - 749
Marlyville/
Leonidas Fountainebleau
Gravier Dev Quarter Holy Cross
BW Central Algiers
750 + Cooper Business Point
District U.S.Naval
East Mc- Support Area
Carrollton Broadmoor Donogh Whitney
Black CentralCity
Pearl 0 - 999Freret Lower Garden Fischer Behrman
Audubon Milan District Project
1,000Uptown
- 1,999 Garden
District
Touro Irish Old Aurora
2,000 - 3,999 East Riverside
Channel St.ThomasDev
West Riverside
4,000 + 0 2 Miles
TallTimbers/Brechtel New Aurora/English Turn

Source: GNOCDC analysis of Valassis Residential and Business Database.

Note: For a larger version of map, see http://gnocdc.org/RecoveryByNeighborhood/

18/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Recent Population Shifts

From June 2008 to June 2009, twelve neighborhoods lost more than 50 active residential addresses, suggesting that
new rental and homeownership opportunities are not only drawing additional population to New Orleans but may
also be sparking moves from one neighborhood to another.
0 - 49%
50 - 59%
60 - 69%
70 - 79%
80 - 89%
90 - 99%
Change in number of active addresses, June 2008-June 2009, by neighborhood
100% +

- 50 or more LakeCatherine

- 1 - 49
+ 0 - 99
+ 100 - 199
+ 200 - 299
+ 300 or more

Location of residential demolition permits Villagedel'est

% of addresses that are unoccupied

0% - 14%
15% - 29% Little Woods

30% - 49%
Read Blvd East
50% - 100%
LakeTerrace& Oaks
West LakeForest
Lakeshore/Lake Vista
Pontchartrain Pines Village Read Blvd West
0 - 49 St.
Milneburg Park
Plum Orchard Viavant/Venetian Isles
Anthony
50
West- 299
Filmore Gentilly Woods
End
Lakeview
300 - 749 Gentilly
CityPark Terrace
Dillard DesireArea
750 + St.Bernard
Area
Desire
Navarre Dev
Fairgrounds Florida
St.Roch
0 - 999 Florida
Dev
Lakewood Seventh Area
Bayou
1,000 - 1,999 St. John Ward
Dixon Mid-City St.Claude
2,000
Hollygrove - 3,999 Tremé/Lafitte
Lower NinthWard
Marigny
Iberville
4,000Gert+Town Tulane/ Dev French
Bywater
Gravier Holy Cross
Marlyville/ Quarter
Leonidas Fountainebleau BW Central Algiers
Cooper Business Point
District U.S.Naval
East Support Area
Carrollton Broadmoor Mc- Whitney
Donogh
Black CentralCity
Pearl Freret Fischer
Lower Garden Project Behrman
Audubon Milan District
Garden
Uptown District
Touro Irish Old Aurora
Channel St.ThomasDev
East Riverside
West Riverside 0 2 Miles
TallTimbers/Brechtel New Aurora/English Turn

Source: GNOCDC analysis of Valassis Residential and Business Database.

Note: For a larger version of map, see http://gnocdc.org/RecoveryByNeighborhood/

Summary of Findings 19/23

 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Vacant/Unoccupied Residential Addresses

0 - 49%
The levee failures associated with Katrina left New Orleans with an unprecedented level of residential blight. However,
50 - 59%
since September
60 - 69% 2008, the number of unoccupied residential addresses in New Orleans has declined from 69,727 to
70 - 79%
65,888 in March 2009 as repopulation and redevelopment continue. A relatively small number of these (7,083) are
80 - 89%
“vacant” according to the post office, suggesting that they are likely habitable residences that have not been purchased
90 - 99%
or rented.
100%Post+ office data suggests that the remainder—nearly 59,000 residential addresses—are blighted or empty
lots. Planning District 4 has the largest number of unoccupied addresses with 11,509. Some of these may be accounted
for by-three
50 or more
public housing projects that are being redeveloped in that planning district, but a large number are likely
- 1 - 49
associated with
+ 0 - 99 blighted residences that were flooded by Katrina. Planning Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 experienced extensive
flooding
+ 100and- 199
each has more than 6,000 unoccupied residential addresses. Even planning districts that experienced
limited+ 200
flooding
- 299 have a large number of unoccupied addresses. For example, Planning Districts 2 and 3 have 6,255 and
4,941 +unoccupied
300 or more residential addresses respectively, likely due in part to significant levels of pre-Katrina blight.

Location of residential demolition permits

Number of unoccupied residential addresses by planning district and percent by census tract, March 2009
% of addresses that are unoccupied
Source: GNOCDC analysis of HUD Aggregated USPS
0% - 14% Administrative Data on Address Vacancies.
15% - 29%
Notes: “Addresses” are distinguished from “properties” in
30% - 49% that multiple addresses can be located on a single property
50% - 100% (e.g. shotgun double). Unoccupied addresses include
915 vacant and no-stat addresses. Vacant addresses have not
had mail collected for 90 days or longer. No-Stat addresses
0 - 49 1,526 include addresses identified by the letter carrier as not likely
50 - 299 to receive mail for some time, buildings under construction
and not yet occupied, and rural route addresses vacant for
300 - 749
90 days or longer. In the parishes affected by Hurricanes
750 + 10,754 Katrina and Rita, no-stat addresses include heavily
7,418 damaged homes that have not been re-occupied. Due to
5,092
HUD’s aggregation process, about 1 percent of records are
0 - 999 not included. The district boundaries for planning districts
1,000 - 1,999 7,679 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11 are slightly modified in order to coincide
11,509
2,000 - 3,999
6,458 with census tracts because data was only available at the
tract level. Planning District 2 includes the area bounded by
4,000 +
622
Magazine, Julia, I-10, and the river, which is usually included
4,941 in Planning District 1. Planning District 11 includes the area
6,255 2,670 between Chef Menteur Hwy and the Intracoastal Waterway,
which is usually included in planning districts 9 and 10.
49
0 2 Miles

Extent of flooding on Sep 2, 2005 1 Central Business District, French Quarter

2 Central City, East Riverside, Garden District, Irish Channel, Lower Garden District, Milan, St. Thomas, Touro
3 Audubon, Black Pearl, Broadmoor, Dixon, East Carrollton, Fontainebleau, Freret, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Uptown, West
Riverside

10 11 4 Bayou St. John, BW Cooper, Fairgrounds, Gert Town, Iberville, Mid-City, St. Bernard Area, Seventh Ward, Tremé/Lafitte,
Tulane/Gravier
5 City Park, Lakeshore/Lake Vista, Lakeview, Lakewood, Navarre, West End
9 6 Dillard, Filmore, Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Lake Terrace & Lake Oaks, Milneburg, Pontchartrain Park, St. Anthony
5 6 7 Bywater, Desire Area, Desire Development, Florida Area, Florida Development, Marigny, St. Claude, St. Roch

4 7 8 Holy Cross, Lower 9th Ward

8 9 Little Woods, Pines Village, Plum Orchard, Read Boulevard East, Read Boulevard West, West Lake Forest

3 21 10 Village de L’Est
12 11 Lake Catherine, Viavant/Venetian Isles

13 0 2 12 Algiers Point, Behrman, Fischer, McDonogh, Old Aurora, US Naval Support Area, Tall Timbers/ Brechtel, Whitney
Mi 13 English Turn

20/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans Index

Residential Demolitions
0 - 49%
The largest number of residential 50 demolition
- 59% permits (2,107) has been issued for Planning District 8, which
encompasses the Lower Ninth Ward 60 - 69%where water funneled by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet breached the levee
with such force that homes were70knocked
- 79% off their foundations. In those cases where homes were reduced to splinters
80 - 89%
and cleared as debris, demolition90permits
- 99%
were not issued, indicating that Planning District 8 likely has more than
2,107 empty lots. The next largest100% number
+ of demolition permits (1,969) has been issued for Planning District 5,
which encompasses the higher income Lakeview neighborhood. Here returning homeowners are purchasing and
- 50 or lawns
clearing adjacent lots to create larger more or home expansions. In Planning District 6, which encompasses the
- 1 - 49
middle-income Gentilly neighborhood,
+ 0 - 99 1,739 demolition permits have been issued. All other planning districts had
fewer than 1,050 demolition permits, suggesting thousands of blighted structures remain.
+ 100 - 199
+ 200 - 299
Number of residential
+ 300 or moredemolition permits by planning district, May 2009

Location of residential demolition permits

% of addresses that are unoccupied

0% - 14%
15% - 29% 48
30% - 49%
34
50% - 100%

0 - 49 707
1,739
50 - 299
1,969
300 - 749
1,041
750 +
776
2,107
5
4080 - 999
417
1,000 - 1,999 140
2,000 - 3,999
2
4,000 + 0 2 Miles

Source: GNOCDC analysis of May 2009 City of New Orleans permit data.

Notes: Data reflects demolition permits issued since October 1, 2005. Demolition permits issued to addresses that were also issued a new construction
permit are not included in this dataset in an attempt to capture data on empty lots, rather than houses being rebuilt. Duplicate demolition permits issued to
the same address are also excluded.

Extent of flooding on Sep 2, 2005 1 Central Business District, French Quarter

2 Central City, East Riverside, Garden District, Irish Channel, Lower Garden District, Milan, St. Thomas, Touro
3 Audubon, Black Pearl, Broadmoor, Dixon, East Carrollton, Fontainebleau, Freret, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Uptown, West
Riverside

10 11 4 Bayou St. John, BW Cooper, Fairgrounds, Gert Town, Iberville, Mid-City, St. Bernard Area, Seventh Ward, Tremé/Lafitte,
Tulane/Gravier
5 City Park, Lakeshore/Lake Vista, Lakeview, Lakewood, Navarre, West End
9 6 Dillard, Filmore, Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Lake Terrace & Lake Oaks, Milneburg, Pontchartrain Park, St. Anthony
5 6 7 Bywater, Desire Area, Desire Development, Florida Area, Florida Development, Marigny, St. Claude, St. Roch

4 7 8 Holy Cross, Lower 9th Ward

8 9 Little Woods, Pines Village, Plum Orchard, Read Boulevard East, Read Boulevard West, West Lake Forest

3 21 10 Village de L’Est
12 11 Lake Catherine, Viavant/Venetian Isles

13 0 2 12 Algiers Point, Behrman, Fischer, McDonogh, Old Aurora, US Naval Support Area, Tall Timbers/ Brechtel, Whitney
Mi 13 English Turn

Summary of Findings 21/23

 0 - 49% Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New Orleans
50 - 59% Index
60 - 69%
70 - 79%
80 - 89%
90 - 99%

Road Home Residential Properties Sold to the State

100% +

- 50 or more
Through the Road Home -program
1 - 49 the state has acquired more than more than 4,600 residential properties in
+ 0 - 99
New Orleans as of June 2009. These properties will be turned over to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority
+ 100 - 199
(NORA) in phases. The largest
+ 200 -number
299 of these is in Planning District 6 (1,228) followed by Planning District 9
(995), and Planning District+ 3008 or
(776).
more The maintenance and disposition of these properties presents new challenges
and opportunities for New Orleans. In neighborhoods with strong markets, these properties can be sold at market
Location of residential demolition permits
rates, but in neighborhoods with weaker markets, long-term land banking and other large-scale land disposition and
redevelopment policies may
% of be necessary.
addresses that areCompared
unoccupiedwith most of the blighted properties in New Orleans, these
properties will be easier to 0% - 14% because titles have already been cleared and the properties acquired. Unfortunately,
process
15% - portion
they represent a relatively small 29% of the tens of thousands of unoccupied residences across the city.
30% - 49%
Number of residential
50% - 100% properties sold to the state by planning district, June 2009

0 - 49
50 - 299
300 - 749
750 +
26
0 - 999
1,000 - 1,999 61
2,000 - 3,999
4,000 +
995
1,228
588

472
286 776
0
167
29
22
1
0 2 Miles

Source: Louisiana Recovery Authority. Note: Data reflects option selected at closing.

Extent of flooding on Sep 2, 2005 1 Central Business District, French Quarter

2 Central City, East Riverside, Garden District, Irish Channel, Lower Garden District, Milan, St. Thomas, Touro
3 Audubon, Black Pearl, Broadmoor, Dixon, East Carrollton, Fontainebleau, Freret, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Uptown, West
Riverside

10 11 4 Bayou St. John, BW Cooper, Fairgrounds, Gert Town, Iberville, Mid-City, St. Bernard Area, Seventh Ward, Tremé/Lafitte,
Tulane/Gravier
5 City Park, Lakeshore/Lake Vista, Lakeview, Lakewood, Navarre, West End
9 6 Dillard, Filmore, Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Lake Terrace & Lake Oaks, Milneburg, Pontchartrain Park, St. Anthony
5 6 7 Bywater, Desire Area, Desire Development, Florida Area, Florida Development, Marigny, St. Claude, St. Roch

4 7 8 Holy Cross, Lower 9th Ward

8 9 Little Woods, Pines Village, Plum Orchard, Read Boulevard East, Read Boulevard West, West Lake Forest

3 21 10 Village de L’Est
12 11 Lake Catherine, Viavant/Venetian Isles

13 0 2 12 Algiers Point, Behrman, Fischer, McDonogh, Old Aurora, US Naval Support Area, Tall Timbers/ Brechtel, Whitney
Mi 13 English Turn

22/23 The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program & Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
 - 50 or more
- 1 - 49
+ 0 - 99 Next update August 2010 at www.gnocdc.org
the New
+ 100 -Orleans
199 Index
+ 200 - 299
+ 300 or more

Location of residential demolition permits

Road Home Stay and Rebuild

% of addresses that are unoccupied
0% - 14%

A very large number15% - 29%

of homeowners are determined to rebuild their homes, even in heavily damaged parts of the
30% - 49%
city, as indicated by the number of Road Home recipients electing the “stay and rebuild” option. The largest number
50% - 100%
(9,903) of homeowners expected to rebuild their homes is in Planning District 9, which covers much of New Orleans
East. In Planning District
0 - 49
6 and in Planning District 4, 6,800 and 4,203 Road Home recipients respectively have
chosen to use their grants
50 - 299
to rebuild, suggesting that many vacant properties in these areas may still become rehabbed.
300 - 749
Number of residential
750 + properties being rebuilt with Road Home grants by planning district, June 2009

0 - 999
1,000 - 1,999
2,000 - 3,999
4,000 +

278
1,454

9,903
6,800
3,121

3,360
4,203 1,936
13
3,548
1,277
1,868
470
0 2 Miles

Source: Louisiana Recovery Authority. Note: Data reflects option selected at closing.

Extent of flooding on Sep 2, 2005 1 Central Business District, French Quarter

2 Central City, East Riverside, Garden District, Irish Channel, Lower Garden District, Milan, St. Thomas, Touro
3 Audubon, Black Pearl, Broadmoor, Dixon, East Carrollton, Fontainebleau, Freret, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Uptown, West
Riverside

10 11 4 Bayou St. John, BW Cooper, Fairgrounds, Gert Town, Iberville, Mid-City, St. Bernard Area, Seventh Ward, Tremé/Lafitte,
Tulane/Gravier
5 City Park, Lakeshore/Lake Vista, Lakeview, Lakewood, Navarre, West End
9 6 Dillard, Filmore, Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Lake Terrace & Lake Oaks, Milneburg, Pontchartrain Park, St. Anthony
5 6 7 Bywater, Desire Area, Desire Development, Florida Area, Florida Development, Marigny, St. Claude, St. Roch

4 7 8 Holy Cross, Lower 9th Ward

8 9 Little Woods, Pines Village, Plum Orchard, Read Boulevard East, Read Boulevard West, West Lake Forest

3 21 10 Village de L’Est
12 11 Lake Catherine, Viavant/Venetian Isles

13 0 2 12 Algiers Point, Behrman, Fischer, McDonogh, Old Aurora, US Naval Support Area, Tall Timbers/ Brechtel, Whitney
Mi 13 English Turn

Summary of Findings 23/23

www.brookings.edu/metro
The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program
provides decision makers with cutting-edge research
and policy ideas for improving the health and prosperity
of cities and metropolitan areas. Created in 1996, the
program is based on a simple premise: The United
States is a metropolitan nation. These regions are the
hubs of research and innovation, the centers of human
capital, and the gateways of trade and immigration.
They are, in short, the drivers of the U.S. economy, and
American competitiveness depends on their ability to
prosper in innovative, inclusive, and sustainable ways.

Amy Liu
Deputy Director and co-founder
[email protected]
Liu’s areas of expertise are in the role
of federal, state, and local policies in
advancing metropolitan prosperity.
She is also a frequent author and
commentator on such topics as
economic competitiveness, urban
reinvestment, metropolitan growth and development,
and pathways to the middle class. Prior to Brookings,
Liu worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (1993-1996) and the U.S. Senate
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

A product of Nonprofit Knowledge Works

www.gnocdc.org
The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
gathers, analyzes and disseminates data to help
nonprofit and civic leaders work smarter and more
strategically. By publishing the most reliable data in a
highly usable format, www.gnocdc.org has become the
definitive source for information about New Orleans and
its neighborhoods. The Data Center was founded in
1997 and is used by federal agencies, national media,
elected officials, neighborhood organizations, and local
nonprofits. The Community Data Center is a product of
Nonprofit Knowledge Works, partially funded by Baptist
Community Ministries, United Way for the Greater New
Orleans Area, and the Community Revitalization Fund.

Allison Plyer
Deputy Director
[email protected]
Plyer’s areas of expertise are market
research and analysis, post-Katrina
demographics and population
estimates and New Orleans recovery
indicators. Plyer received her Doctor
of Science from Tulane University’s School of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine with a dissertation entitled
“An Analysis of Administrative Data for Measuring
Population Displacement and Resettlement Following a
Catastrophic U.S. Event.”