NEW ORLEANS – Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative is partnering with Marriott Hotels to bring 100 volunteers to the Faubourg Delassize neighborhood of Central City in an effort to address blight and assist low-moderate income families with home improvements.
Central City is an area of New Orleans that has historically been underserved by public and private investments, Jericho Road reps said. In post-Katrina New Orleans, however, Central City has benefited from a greater amount of investment, they said. Development has helped spur a growth in locally-owned businesses, housing developments and infrastructure improvements. Jericho Road serves those who may not be experiencing the trickle down of this explosion of investment in the area, reps said.
There are many who have lived in Central City for decades and are still faced with infinite obstacles as they attempt to address maintenance/ beautification needs on their historic homes and/ or battle the numerous blighted vacant properties that litter their neighborhoods, Jericho Road reps said.
View Central City demographic data here
Through collaboration, Jericho Road has formed a strong team to facilitate a volunteer effort on Friday, March 31, with Marriott Hotel employees that will focus on three blocks of Seventh Street to:
• Work alongside community homeowners to repair/repaint front porches and help with façade beautification through landscaping and adornment,
• Implement vacant land management strategies on specific lots to control blight and prevent problems like health hazards, criminal activity and dumping of large waste materials,
• Create and install art pieces around the perimeter of a fenced off brownfield, that encapsulates an entire block in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in an effort to beautify that space.
The Very Reverend David duPlantier, Jericho Road board chair and dean of Christ Church Cathedral, said “The very meaningful impact that we have made in the Central City community is predicated and dependent on the collaboration of so many groups and individuals. We’re very grateful to Marriott Hotels for providing the human capacity needed to assist long time Central City residents with these beautification efforts that so improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
Collaboration efforts include:
• Christ Church Cathedral is providing volunteers to man a hospitality area for all participating in the event
• Colmex Construction led a pre-event workshop for homeowners on porch maintenance and donated labor
• NOLA Tree Project is donating and planting trees
• United Saints Recovery Project is providing volunteer management and supervising the art project around the Brownfield
• Sherwin Williams, St. Charles Ave., is providing a discount on paint
• The Home Depot, Central City has provided gift cards for the purchase of materials
• The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana provided a $600 grant through Christ Church Cathedral to help fund the event
• Councilmember Latoya Cantrell and Harrah’s Casino New Orleans provided a grant to help fund the event
• Network Volunteers made the connection between Marriott Hotels and Jericho Road
Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative of New Orleans is a neighborhood-based nonprofit focused on community development and neighborhood revitalization. Jericho Road provides families with healthy and energy-efficient affordable housing opportunities, partners with neighborhood residents, organizations and businesses to create and maintain a stable and thriving community and works to address blight through thoughtful vacant land management strategies, reps said.
