I drove through the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans (see map here) for the first time back in February. I was saddened and horrified at the destroyed homes, hundreds of them, thousands of them, left rotting, vacant or washed away since the levees failed during Hurricane Katrina. I blogged about it here.
Since my first visit to the Crescent City, I decided to move to New Orleans with my husband and be part of the rebuild. He is a construction consultant who helps homeowners get back into their homes, while I write about renovation. One of the first women he helped is named Miss Sheila. And that became Bill's oft-repeated motto: "I want to help Miss Sheila get back into her home."
I've gone many times with Bill to the Lower Ninth Ward to visit the homeowners he helps. I've gone to the Lower Ninth Ward Village, where Americorp volunteers live and get trained. I've attended weekly meetings of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association as dozens of neighbors gather to give each other strength. I've visited the bunk-style housing of lowernine.org, a volunteer organization started by a boat builder from Maine. I've visited the homes built by Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation. I've visited the demonstration home built by Global Green. And I've visited Ariane Wiltse as she works to restore an 1870s home near Jackson Barracks.
All this has changed me. I first noticed my changes last week as Bill and I were driving once again through the Lower Ninth Ward to drop off some insulation a company had donated and to give some young volunteers advice on how to install it in yet another woman's house who wants to come home.
As we were driving, I commented to Bill that it seemed like a lot of work was getting done, that a lot of houses were restored. I thought, did anything much really change since February? Yes and no. Mostly, the change is in me. I no longer focus only on the homes that are damaged, vacant and broken.
Instead, my eyes dance from one fixed-up house to the next. I am in awe of every painted board, every restored window, every potted plant and shiny doorknob. I know that each of these elements is a miracle, is a testament to someone's unyielding and irrational belief that this neighborhood can come back. Two or three years ago, nobody knew. But today, with the beauty you see in these photos, it's happening. The Lower Ninth Ward is coming back, better than ever. And I have learned how to see the miracles that I once missed.
Photos: Above you see two colorful houses on Jourdan Street, with the grassy hill of the levee behind them.
Here you see the same cottages as seen from atop the levee. Notice all the other colorful cottages? In this area, the Lower Ninth Ward feels like being out in the country.
From "the Nine," as it's called, you can see across a bend in the Mississippi River to the downtown skylight. At night, this is a magical view.
Here's a beautifully restored double shotgun cottage, converted into a single family home, on Dauphine Street in the Holy Cross neighborhood. It's for sale through Latter & Blum for $250,000. This is a gorgeous home. See more photos of it here.
An iconic Lower Nine home that makes it through every hurricane with style and grace.
A darling cottage with what looks like solar water heating on the roof. There's a big push to rebuild New Orleans green.
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