Central City Community Profile
From New Orleans Wiki
original document by Melissa Schigoda
[edit] Overview
Central City, often described as a neighborhood of shotgun houses, is known for its historic architecture. Historically it was a hub of African American businesses, particularly as a center for insurance, health care, and arts organizations. Many jazz greats grew up there. Today the area, specifically the Magnolia housing development, is known as the origin of the famous rapper Juvenile. The neighborhood also has many social aid and pleasure clubs, jazz parades, and Mardi Gras Indian tribes.
However, currently much of the area is suffering from economic blight, and the historic architecture is not all properly cared for. Post-Katrina much of the area was set aside as a planning district and about one third of the area was classified as an immediate opportunity area (light damage). Additionally, many of the community initiatives that existed pre-Katrina have returned and been joined by some new efforts.
The boundaries of Central City are roughly Toledano Street/Louisiana Avenue to the Pontchartrain Expressway, and North Broad Street to Saint Charles Avenue (Concordia LLC, Central City Renaissance Alliance Community Plan, [Concordia LLC], September 2004.)
[edit] Vital Statistics
- School Board District
- 3
- School Board Representative
- Jimmy Fahrenholtz
- Municipal District
- B
- City Councilperson
- Stacy Head
- Wards
- 1,2,3,10,11,and 12
- Cencus Tracts
- 67, 68, 79, 80, 84, 85, 86, 91, 93.91, 93.02, 92 94
- Zip Codes
- 70125, 70115, 70113 and 70130
[edit] Planning District 2 Boundaries
The wedge-shaped area extending upriver from the Pontchartrain Expressway to Napoleon Avenue, with the Mississippi River as its base and the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Toledano as its point. The district is made up of eight individual neighborhoods: Milan, Touro, Garden District, Central City/Magnolia, Irish Channel, St. Thomas Area/Lower Garden District, East Riverside, and St. Thomas Project.
[edit] Pre-Katrina Demographic Highlights
- Total Population
- 19,072
- Percentage Black
- 87.4%
- Percentage Poor
- 49.8%
- Percentage Renter
- 83.7%
- Percentage Unemployed
- 20.4%
More detailed 2000 Census data and maps are available at www.gnodc.org.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Census have initiated another round of surveying this summer in Orleans Parish and a few other impacted parishes. The results of this survey are expected to be released in August or September. See www.gnodc.org for up to date information.
[edit] Flooding and Damage
- Approximately 1/3 classified as immediate opportunity (little/no damage)
- Approximately 2/3 classified as planning district (deeply flooded/heavily damaged)
- 79.8% of the community's population suffered property damage
John R. Logan, The Impact of Katrina: Race and Class in Storm-Damaged Neighborhoods, [Brown University], 2006.
[edit] Educational Resources
[edit] Public Schools
[edit] James Singleton Charter School
- Contacts
- Delwin Davis, Melrose D. Biagas
- Phone
- (504) 568-3466 (Davis), (504) 568-3466 (Biagas), (504) 581-2388
- info@dryadesymca.com
- Address
- 1924 Philip St., New Orleans, LA 70113
- Website
- www.dryadesymca.com
- Initiatives/Programs
- grades K-9, RSD Charter, LA Comprehensive Curriculum
- Other Information
- Charter school started by Dryades YMCA; reopened Post-Katrina, November 2005; focus on technology and low student-teacher ratio
[edit] Walter Cohen Senior High School
- Phone
- (877) 453-2721
- Address
- 3520 Dryades St., New Orleans, LA 70115
- Website
- www.nolapublicschools.net
- Initiatives/Programs
- Recovery School District, LA Comprehensive Curriculum
[edit] Booker T. Washington High School
- Phone
- (877) 453-2721
- Address
- 2101 S. Roman St., New Orlean, LA 70125
- Website
- www.nolapublicschools.net
- Initiatives/Programs
- grades 9-12, Recovery School District, LA Comprehensive Curriculum
[edit] Sylvanie F. Williams Elementary School
- Phone
- (877) 453-2721
- Address
- 3127 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125
- Website
- www.nolapublicschools.net
- Initiatives/Programs
- grades K-8, Recovery School District, LA Comprehensive Curriculum
[edit] Area Head Start Centers
[edit] Martin Luther King Jr. Head Start
- Phone
- (504) 524-0391
- Address
- 1401 Simon Bolivar Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
[edit] Louise Head Start Center
- Phone
- (504) 891-2871
- Address
- 1201 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115 (not in Central City, but nearby)
- Other Information
- under Catholic Charities
[edit] Leslie Early Head Start
- Contact
- Suzy Foucher
- Phone
- (504) 522-2725
- Address
- 2126 Constance St., New Orleans, LA 70130 (not in Central City, but nearby)
- Initiatives/Programs
- ages 6 weeks to 3 years
- Other Information
- under Catholic Charities
[edit] Total Community Action Head Start Center
- Phone
- (504) 524-1281
- Address
- 1629 Simon Bolivar Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
[edit] Other Educational Resources
[edit] Dryades Street YMCA
- Phone
- (504) 587-0903, (504) 522-8811, (504) 561-0606
- info@dryadesymca.com
- Address
- PO Box 56217, New Orleans, LA 70156
- Website
- www.dryadesymca.com
- Initiatives/Programs
- James Singleton Charter School; day care center; 21st Century Learning Center; daily instruction in math, English and sciences; voters' polling location
- Other Information
- The Dryades YMCA has served New Orleanians in Central City since 1905. The mission of the Dryades YMCA is "to help people develop character, competence and commitment."
[edit] KIDsmART
- Phone
- (504) 410-1990
- echo@kidsmart.org
- Address
- 1920 Clio St., New Orleans, LA 70113
- Website
- www.kidsmart.org
- Initiatives/Programs
- working with KIPP NOW (New Orleans West) in Houston; worked in three Central City schools (as well as other NOPS schools) prior to Katrina; now working in Guste Elementary and the Woodson Learning Academy in Central City, as well as at the St. John the Baptist Community Center
- Other Information
- A 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization created to teach positive life skills to children through performing and visual arts and the powers of symbols
