U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA-1603/1607-DR-LA Algiers Transitional Recovery Office 1 Seine Court, 6th floor Environmental Algiers, Louisiana 70114

November 21, 2007 Pam Breaux State Historic Preservation Officer Office of Culture Recreation and Tourism Post Office Box 44247 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 RE: Section 106 Review Consultation, Hurricane Katrina Determination of Eligibility for the buildings at Camp Nicholls, 1700 Moss St., New Orleans,

Louisiana Applicant: Louisiana Army National Guard Dear Ms. Breaux: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be providing funds authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended, in response to the following major Disaster Declarations;

1) FEMA-DR-1603-LA, dated August 29, 2005, as amended 2) FEMA-DR-1607-LA, dated September 23, 2005.

FEMA is initiating Section 106 review for the above referenced properties in accordance with the Programmatic Agreement among FEMA, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LOHSEP) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation dated December 3, 2004. Due to wind and water damage, it is proposed that federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program be provided to the Louisiana Army National Guard (Applicant) to repair and/or replace the buildings at Camp Nicholls (Undertaking). FEMA has determined that the buildings on the site of Camp Nicholls are not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nor are they located within a listed or eligible NRHP district. The buildings are located just outside the northwest boundary of the Esplanade Ridge National Register Historic District. A description of the buildings, eligibility determinations, photographs, and a location map are attached.

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Eligibility Detennination

Camp Nicholls, Orleans Parish

The SHPO reviewer for standing structures concurs with the determination of the buildings at CampNicholls as Ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Michael Vamado, SHPO Reviewer for Standing Structures

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National Register Eligibility Evaluation Section 106 Review Consultation, Hurricane Katrina Undertaking: Repair/replace of buildings at Camp Nicholls, 1700 Moss St., Orleans

Parish Applicant: Louisiana Army National Guard Buildings History Camp Nicholls was dedicated in 1884 as a home for indigent Confederate veterans and was named in honor of Governor Francis T. Nicholls. It is located on Moss Street between Bayou St. John and the northwestern edge of St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, just outside the northwestern boundary of the Esplanade Ridge Historic District. Through the early part of the 20th century, Camp Nicholls was used as a base for several different units of the Louisiana Army National Guard (LAARNG). After 1942, the LAARNG used the site as an armory. It was during this time that the buildings currently located on the site were constructed. At the time of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) leased Camp Nicholls for use for its Third District headquarters, as well as for its Crisis Transportation Unit and Special Operations Division. Some NOPD offices currently are operating out of temporary trailers at the site. Buildings Description The Camp Nicholls site contains three buildings that were constructed between 1947 and 1956 (any previous buildings on the site were demolished for this construction). The first building, located on south end of the site, is an armory constructed c. 1951 in the French (Louisiana) Colonial Style that mimics the style of antebellum buildings at Jackson Barracks. The two-story structure is constructed of masonry walls on an L-shaped, concrete slab-on-grade foundation. A hipped, asphalt-shingle roof covers the enclosed portions of the building and a two-story gallery spanning the armory’s north and northwest elevations. The gallery is supported on the first floor by square masonry columns with concrete capitals; wooden Doric order columns support the roof on the second floor and are separated by metal railings. Many of the divided-light, louvered metal windows have been altered to accommodate window air conditioning units. Some of the six-panel wooden doors have been replaced by hollow metal doors. Metal staircases lead to the second floor gallery at opposite ends of the building. In the center of the site is a one-story armory building constructed in 1950 but altered at an unknown date. The building is constructed of solid masonry walls on an irregular footprint. It sits on a concrete slab-on-grade foundation and has a slightly pitched standing seam metal roof. The northwest elevation features a covered walkway supported by square masonry columns topped with concrete capitals. The building’s northwest, south and north elevations contain louvered aluminum windows. Small plate glass windows are located intermittently on the east elevation. Plate glass entry doors are located at the west, east and south elevations.

A motor vehicle storage building located on the north end of the site was constructed in 1947. The two-story building sits on a rectilinear concrete slab-on-grade foundation and is constructed of concrete masonry units with a gable, standing-seam metal roof. The front façade, which faces west on Moss Street, features large concrete panels separated by masonry pilasters topped with concrete capitals. The front façade also features a small round attic window and large bay opening with a rolling door. A brick-clad, one-story structure was added to the south elevation at an unknown date. The addition’s front façade features a covered portico supported by square masonry columns with concrete capitals. Other than a front entry of double metal doors, the addition has no window or door openings. Eligibility Determination The buildings on the site of Camp Nicholls are not eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C as they do not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, the work of a master, possess high artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. It is unlikely that the buildings are eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria A or B, as there is no evidence that they are associated with an individual or event significant at the local, state, or national level. Eligibility under Criterion D has not been assessed. In addition, the buildings’ loss of integrity due to the changes over time and the damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina make these structures ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP. Prepared by: Sarah Bonnette FEMA Historic Preservation Specialist Date: 11/01/2007

Camp Nicholls 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish

Northwest elevation of c. 1951 armory, taken facing southeast

North elevation of c. 1951 armory, taken facing south

Camp Nicholls 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish

West elevation of c. 1951 armory, taken facing southeast

Northwest elevation of c. 1950 armory, taken facing northeast

Camp Nicholls 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish

South elevation of c. 1950 armory, taken facing north

Perspective view of east elevation of c. 1950 armory, taken facing northwest

Camp Nicholls 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish

North elevation of c. 1950 armory, taken facing west

Perspective view of west elevation of c. 1947 motor vehicle storage building, taken facing southeast

Camp Nicholls 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish

North elevation of c. 1947 motor vehicle storage building, taken from Moss Street facing east

South and west elevations of addition at south elevation of motor vehicle storage building, taken from Moss Street facing east

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

Section 106 Review: Aerial View Location Map Resource Name: Camp Nicholls Resource Address: 1700 Moss St., New Orleans, LA 70119 Resource Coordinates: 29.985945 N; -90.087751 W

Camp Nicholls

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

Section 106 Review: USGS Quad Location Map Map Name: USGS New Orleans East Quad Resource Name: Camp Nicholls Resource Address: 1700 Moss St., New Orleans, LA 70119 Resource Coordinates: 29.985945 N; -90.087751 W

Camp Nicholls

UTM 15 781028E 3320691N (NAD27)

Camp Nicholls, USGS New Orleans East (LA) Quadrangle Projection is UTM Zone 15 NAD83 Datum