Gentilly Terrace
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[edit] Gentilly Terrace
[edit] Data and map
Population:
Gentilly Terrace, Pre- Katrina: The pre- Katrina population was 10,588.
Post- Katrina: According to Greater New Orleans Community Center Data, Planning District 6, which includes Gentilly Terrace, has currently a population of 11,300 (estimated), with 9,100 overnight and 14,600 during daytime. Overnight occupancy is 13%, daytime occupancy 18% to pre- Katrina. These rates are among the lowest of the New Orleans Metro region, only undercut by Planning districts 9, 10, 11 (New Orleans East) with 3% overnight occupancy.
Boundaries:
- Gentilly Boulevard- Spain Street- Mirabeau Avenue- Eastern Street (Gentilly Terrace)
[edit] History
Pre- Katrina home styles:
258 buildings in bungalow style (the states largest collection of such structure), 76 colonial revivals, 51 English cottages, 20 Spanish revival/ Mediterranean houses and 51 mixed- style houses .
What Ann Duffy told me about Gentilly Terrace:
GT was one of the first automobile neighborhoods after WW2, when automobiles became more available to the public. Driveways contained strips of grass and were not merely made of concrete to prevent flooding. GT was advertised as being a suburb that is only 7 miles away from downtown. GT was throughout its existence a family neighborhood. The developers tried to import California- style bungalows, but New Orleans carpenters added their own design. Except for one elementary school, GT was solely a residential neighborhood. However, there are businesses bordering the neighborhood, like on Elysian Fields. GT was intended to be a catholic and white neighborhood. That didn’t change until the mid- sixties. Police and Fire were located on Franklin Ave, which is not part of GT, although they provide service to GT. There are no playgrounds in GT. Historic landmarks include the school and several houses, like 4615 St. Roch, that was built in 1911 and was one of the very first California- style bungalows.
Terrace beginnings:
Mathurin Dreux was granted a large tract of land in recognition of his services as a militia officer in the New Orleans province. He chose a tract along Bayou St. John that extended across the rear of the city, which included the present day Gentilly district. This was the highest spot in the city and virtually free from flooding. Mathurin with his brother, Pierre, built their homes in the area and operated the land as a plantation. After their death, the estate stayed in the Dreux family for over two generations. The rural character of the area remained for almost two centuries.
High ground key to development:
The high ground and natural drainage with easy access to the city made this a prime section for development shortly before World War I. It was made possible by Bayou Sauvage. Because it drained the Mississippi River the Bayou overflowed every year until it was damned, drained and filled in the mid 1800’s. The river sediment formed high ground and rich soil which was suitable for development because it was naturally high and dry and had natural drainage.
The Pontchartrain Railroad, built in 1830, provided transportation through the Gentilly district. It ran along Elysian Fields to Lake Pontchartrain. Michael Baccich, Edward E. Lafaye and R. E. Edgar de Montluzin laid out the neighborhood in the early 20th century. During that ime, they formed the Gentilly Terrace Company. In 1909, Dennis Sheen purchased Edgewood Park, which extended from Gentilly Boulevard to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. After 1935, the neighborhood population grew rapidly.
Greater New Orleans Community Center Data, Louisiana parishes population estimates. http://www.gnocdc.org/reports/NOLAPopEstimate.pdf. Friday, September 29, 2006. The Times- Picayune. Sunday, February 6, 2000. pp.B1. Greater New Orleans Community Center Data. http://www.gnocdc.org/orleans/6/28/snapshot.html. Friday, September 29, 2006. Duffy, Ann. “Social History of Gentilly Terraceâ€. 6/10/2002. Greater New Orleans Community Center Data. http://www.gnocdc.org/orleans/6/28/snapshot.html. Friday, September 29, 2006.
