Fischer Projects

William j.Fischer Housing Development
New Orleans Neighborhood
Country United States
State Louisiana
City New Orleans
Algiers, New Orleans District 4, Westbank/Algiers
Coordinates 29°55′34″N 90°04′21″W / 29.92611°N 90.07250°W / 29.92611; -90.07250Coordinates: 29°55′34″N 90°04′21″W / 29.92611°N 90.07250°W / 29.92611; -90.07250
Area 0.27 sq mi (0.7 km2)
 - land 0.23 sq mi (1 km2)
 - water 0.04 sq mi (0 km2), 14.81%
Population 1,030 (2010)
Density 3,815/sq mi (1,473/km2)
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code 504

The William J. Fischer Housing Development, better known as the Fischer Projects, was a project housing development in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. It was the last conventional public housing development constructed in New Orleans and originally consisted of a 13-floor high-rise and fourteen 3-floor units.[1] The area has been undergoing redevelopment since about 2004 and currently none of the original low-rise buildings remain.[2] The development is located along Whitney Avenue in the Algiers area of the city's west bank, which is part of the 15th Ward and is named for William J. Fischer who served as chairman of HANO in the 1950s. The property is now converted to a small low-income housing development.

History

The Fischer Projects opened in 1965 on 48 acres (190,000 m2) of land adjacent to the Mississippi River Bridge and its approach roads. The development was isolated from other West Bank communities by the bridge, the Donner Canal and a Southern Pacific Railroad line. The 14 low-rise buildings were built in long parallel lines and positioned using the scattered site method resulting in large park areas covering approximately 60% of the 48-acre (190,000 m2) site.[3] A 13-story high-rise building was constructed in 1966 and served as housing for the elderly.[4] Upon completion of the high-rise, the development had a total of 1002 units. The development also included Murray Henderson Elementary School, constructed in 1965 and William J. Fischer Elementary School which opened in 1967. Over the years, the development became rundown and saw a rise in violent crime similar to other public housing developments in New Orleans and around the country.

Crime Problems

The Fischer Housing Projects became notorious for violence since the 1970s. The corner of Semmes Street and Leboeuf Ct, was known to be the "Center of Violence," with rapes and robberies occurring frequently during the night time. By the 1980’s crime and drugs had ravished the Fisher Projects leading to popularized murders and waves of crime. There was plenty of murders and robberies that took place in this forgotten wasteland and innocent people lost their lives to gangsters and drug dealers. The residents living in Fischer Project would often keep silent about crimes, distrusting NOPD, and fearing retribution from crime leaders. Eventually, the Fischer Projects became an uninhabitable place for people to live in. The most famous murders of the Fischer Projects were the murders of nursing student Jo Ellen Smith, Claudette McGowan and her eight year old child, and the murder of Officer Gregory. [5] [6]

Redeveloped into low-income housing

Starting in the early 2000s, HANO began planning a redevelopment of the complex. These plans included expanding the site to 73 acres (300,000 m2) by acquiring adjacent properties, phased demolition of the high-rise and low-rise housing units, and construction of at least 640 new housing units. Additionally, the plans included a new community for elderly residents, a community center and playgrounds.[7]

The Fischer high-rise was imploded on January 25, 2004, drawing large crowds as New Orleans' first demolition by implosion.[8] Replacing the highrise were numerous low-income houses.

Demolition of the last three low-rise buildings began in January 2008 as part of a $1.2 million project to remove the vacant buildings and construct the infrastructure necessary for redeveloping the area. Plans for this stage of redevelopment call for construction of approximately 70 homes and 26 rental units, most of which are intended for public housing and Section 8 residents.[2]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,034 people, 506 households, and 425 families residing in the neighborhood.[9]

As of the census of 2010, there were 849 people, 269 households, and 171 families residing in the neighborhood.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Community Improvements Planning Areas, District 12: Algiers". New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on January 24, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Allen Powell II (January 9, 2008). "Last Fischer buildings fall". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Fischer Development Neighborhood Snapshot". Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. October 10, 2002. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Fischer Highrise". Emporis. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  5. ↑ Neupert.https://fischerprojects.wordpress.com/crime-and-poverty/
  6. ↑ http://nolaanarcha.blogspot.com/2011/07/local-history-algiers-fischer-projects.html
  7. ↑ "SRF Group Portfolio". SRF Group Consulting. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Dykon Implodes New Orleans' High-Rise For D.H. Griffin Of Texas". Implosionworld.com. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  9. 1 2 "Fischer Development Neighborhood". Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved January 5, 2012.

External links

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