Press conference: Historic Preservation in Post-Katrina New Orleans: Where Do We Stand?

News Advisory:

National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans to hold PRESS CONFERENCE to present an update on preservation efforts in historic New Orleans neighborhoods since Katrina, and will also make available a GUIDED ON-THE-GROUND TOUR of affected neighborhoods

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE

In the face of what National Trust President Richard Moe has called "perhaps the greatest cultural disaster in American history," the tragic stories of loss and devastation are plentiful. However, there are many success stories in post- Katrina New Orleans.

In the past year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRC) have been actively engaged in a wide range of projects to assist neighborhood recovery and help New Orleans residents return home. To document the progress that has been made in preserving the historic neighborhoods of New Orleans in the past year, the National Trust and PRC will update progress in the neighborhoods with a report: "One Year Later: Life in New Orleans' Historic Neighborhoods."

Experts from the National Trust and PRC, along with New Orleans homeowners, will be on hand to discuss the positive impact the Trust and PRC have had on preserving their neighborhoods after the devastation inflicted by Katrina, as well as the obstacles these historic communities still face.

WHAT: NEIGHBORHOOD BUS TOUR

Get a first-hand look at the progress that has been made in preserving homes, as well as the challenges that still lie ahead for storm-ravaged neighborhoods.

Trust and PRC staff will make available to the media a tour of several historic neighborhoods, including Holy Cross, New Marigny and Mid-City. Media will be invited to meet homeowners, tour homes-in-progress, and will be updated on other issues, including the effort to remove homes from the demolition lists, the theft of architectural treasures from homes, and how the influx of federal "Road Home" dollars will aid the recovery effort.

WHEN: PRESS CONFERENCE: Thursday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m.

BUS TOUR: Media interested in scheduling a tour should contact National Trust Communications Office at 202-588-6141

WHERE: PRESS CONFERENCE: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel Media Center, located at 500 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. (The Media Center is in the Gallery meeting room on the lobby level.) Featuring:

-- Walter Gallas and Kevin Mercadel, National Trust for Historic Preservation
-- Patty Gay, director, Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
-- LaToya Cantrell, president, Broadmoor Improvement Association
-- Jamar Alexander, HOME AGAIN! Homeowner from New Marigny

BUS TOUR: Tour will commence at the National Trust and PRC Offices, located at 923 Tchoupitoulas Street.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington, DC headquarters staff, six regional offices and 28 historic sites work with the Trust's 270,000 members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.
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I am a member of both the Trust and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (in Solidarity). Also, check out the new Squandered Heritage blog-website which tracks New Orleans' demolition applications.

Index Keywords: historic-preservation; urban-revitalization