Looking out the windows of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF)’s offices there is opportunity as far as the eye can see.
From our location on Westbend Parkway, we see the ruined rooftops of multifamily housing developments like Oakmont, Higgins Gate and DeGaulle Manor. At one time, these apartment complexes — and others in the immediate area — were home to more than 1,000 Algiers families. Today, they’re empty, overgrown and blighted — but we’re working to ensure a brighter, more vibrant future for this mid-Algiers corridor.
According to the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance’s 2022 Housing for All Action Plan, an estimated 23,142 new construction multifamily homes and 21,620 new construction single family homes — in tandem with other affordable housing interventions — are needed to address the city’s housing and affordability crisis. With almost 70 acres of developable multifamily property concentrated in the mid-Algiers area lying between General Meyer Avenue, General DeGaulle Drive, Shirley Drive and Westbend Parkway, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation hopes to see our community serve as a hope for safe, clean, livable future communities.
DeGaulle Demolition
At the heart of mid-Algiers’ area of opportunity sits DeGaulle Manor, a 23-acre property that once hosted 450 apartments before being abandoned 14 years ago. Following decades of decline and neglect, Algiers-native and renowned muralist Brandan “BMIKE” Odums opened ExhibitBe in 2014. This exhibit brought thousands to Algiers and highlighted what, at the time, was a plan to redevelop DeGaulle Manor. The bright murals and powerful messages of ExhibitBe told stories of home and displacement.
Unfortunately, a decade later those same murals still stood. The project never moved forward, no new homes were built, and the property continued to sit in the heart of Algiers, unchanged.
On May 22, however, thanks in part to the efforts of District C Councilman Freddie King III, demolition finally began on the former DeGaulle Manor apartment complex. Paving the way for positive investment, redevelopment and a safer community, it’s an exciting step toward immediate improvement for mid-Algiers.
Affordable Housing
Crucial to the success of this area is a smart, intentional mix of affordability including market rate, workforce and affordable housing. To highlight the opportunities here in Algiers, AEDF has hosted a multifamily opportunity tour for real estate developers, investors and experts. We’re also excited to partner with a Community Solutions Fellow through the U.S. Department of State to develop our own Algiers-specific data, pinpointing the right mix of development to support our unique community.
Awareness and information are key to attracting the responsible, community-minded developers, owners and managers who will remain invested in these properties for generations to come.
New Investment
With major public investments in a new 4th District police station, the reopening of Skelly-Rupp baseball stadium, and a new pool complex at Morris FX Jeff Park, mid-Algiers is an area ready for families to return and thrive. We see these investments as representative of the heart of the Algiers community: a safe, engaging, vibrant place to raise your family, to bump into a neighbor, and to be proud to call home. We hope that soon, we’ll be welcoming even more new Algerines to this community.
Kelsey Foster is the executive director of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. She may be reached at info@algierseconomic.com.
