la 7006 . saint maurice wharf, warehouse district

Saint Maurice Wharf, Warehouse District

a collection of urban regeneration proposals for the Holy Cross Neighborhood in New Orleans, LA

may, 2012

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prof. austin allen . introduction

kyle jacobson . saint maurice waterfront park

devon boutte . lower ninth ward waterfront project

stephen luna . saint maurice wharf warehouse

lucas frey . lower9 center

peter summerlin . saint maurice district

michael petty . infrastructure conflict

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The StudioAn Overview of Current Conditions and an Introduction to the Saint Maurice Wharf District Studio

AUSTIN ALLEN

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The Studio was founded on the belief that disaster recovery research and design is most successful when neighborhood forces and institutions assume leadership roles in the planning, designing and redevelopment of the impacted built environment. The social engagement of a ground/up approach to the St Maurice Wharf District allows for new ideas and new leadership to firmly take hold in an economically viable manner. The networking fabric created by the 5,500 people who now inhabit the Lower Ninth Ward breaks the silencing in the neighborhood of the close to 10,000 displaced residents who have not returned, developing a resilient, inclusive and more just approach to reshaping devastated cities.

The Studio was a continuation of the urban regeneration effort in the City of New Orleans, at the Waterfront Warehouse District along the Mississippi River ---The St. Maurice Wharf in the Lower Ninth Ward. Rethinking and reusing infrastructure and place, once altered by catastrophic events was a driving component of this exploration of community, offering innovation to existing urban form in a unique and historic part of the Lower Ninth Ward, The Holy Cross Neighborhood. Added to this was the necessity to work in multiple scales, presenting multiple levels of design details on actual projects planned for construction within a finite period of time. In addition, a critical component of the studio was an examination of the cultural identity of place in the recovery of the City of New Orleans. One of the main goals of the studio was to thoroughly establish an intertwining of the human social and cultural fabric and condition into the physical possibilities and limitations of landscape and urban design.

studio narrative

This perspective of the Warehouse Site was produced as part of the Lambert Plan, prepared for the City of New Orleans. (Planning District 8, page 17)

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This work was prepared as part of a previous design studio by Morgan State University students (fall, 2011) for the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED)

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The Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED) is currently working with the Louisiana State University Coastal Sustainability Studio on an initiative along the waterfront --- a culmination of plans and strategies, particularly those developed since the fall of 2005, tied to the Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands, Inner Harbor Canal and Mississippi River adjacencies within the Lower Ninth Ward. This studio was an opportunity to work with CSED in the further development of community-initiated ideas on the recovery of neighborhood. Specifically the Studio compliments and expands upon the analysis and design work accomplished by the Morgan State University Graduate Landscape Architecture Program contribution in the Fall 2011, and before that David Lee, FAIA and the Lambert Plan’s initiation of the mixed-use planning and design concepts for the same site.

The St. Maurice Wharf District includes the 25-acre, 301 Alabo Street site, which encompasses the refurbished Delery Street Neighborhood Playground; a river front wharf; various historic buildings, a portion of the Mississippi River Levee; a significant batture area; adjacency to the active Alabo Street Wharf; a detention pond; acres of paved surface; active rail lines; the historic St. Maurice Church area; and closed, dilapidated warehouses owned by the Port of the City of New Orleans. In the New Orleans Neighborhoods Rebuilding Plan, September 23, 2006, architect and planner, M. David Lee of Stull and Lee, Inc. focuses on this area, as a critical part of the recovery effort for the Lower Ninth Ward. As early as August 2008 discussions began with CSED on the possibility of tying food security to the economic development of the warehouse district of the Holy Cross Neighborhood and the Lower Ninth Ward,

a site considered one of the greatest economic assets of the community. The Fall 2011 findings have made it necessary to include the St. Maurice Church combined properties and to focus on the Alabo Wharf of the Port of New Orleans. This studio suggests that the St. Maurice Wharf District offers greater economic and cultural opportunity as an active residential, industrial and destination site within the greater New Orleans community, in tandem with the development of other areas in the Lower Ninth Ward. The CSED engaged this studio and the graduate studio from Morgan State University led by Diane Jones, ASLA, ultimately weighing the feasibility of short term and long-term strategies for the development of this space as it relates to the future development of the Lower Ninth Ward for livability and commerce.

The expectation of the studio was to interact with the Lambert Plan, Morgan State University Plan, The LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio ideas, and the Lower Ninth Ward community through focus groups of homeowners and residents and individual interviews on a continuous basis, city officials and others instrumental in the economic development and urban design of the District. The studio intent was to further the analysis, master planning and design concepts, participating in CSED and Studio based research. The visioning, analysis and planning is meant to lead the neighborhood into an internal and external dialogue on turning the District into a catalytic site for the recovery of the whole.

st. maurice wharf district

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Saint Maurice Waterfront ParkRe-imagining the Saint Maurice Wharf and Riverfront Greenway.

KYLE JACOBSON

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Saint Maurice Waterfront Park

project narrative

park site. The park proposal ties into the proposed warehouse site designs through the St. Maurice corridor connection. The three warehouse site proposals will highlight this connection from the neighborhood to the levee. The pier park design proposal provides a public recreation space for the city of New Orleans. The reimagined pier provides a promenade for viewing of boats on the Mississippi River, watching activity at the port, and views to downtown New Orleans. The pier also provides seating and shade as well as boardwalks for interaction with the unique batture habitat. The new pier park will be the only space in New Orleans that people can come to and interact with the Mississippi River. The design proposal ultimately serves the people of the New Orleans while carefully integrating with the active industry of Alabo Street Wharf.

The existing Saint Maurice Wharf is situated along the Mississippi River in the Holy Cross neighborhood of New Orleans. Its location provides an intriguing opportunity for a unique waterfront park not only for the Holy Cross and Ninth Ward neighborhoods but all of New Orleans. The Wharf site sits adjacent to the very active Alabo Street Wharf and Port. The Port is operated by Pacorini USA moving non-ferrous metals of the London Metal Exchange. This proposal creates an integrated riverfront greenway and pier park within the existing port infrastructure while creating critical pedestrian connections to the Holy Cross neighborhood and beyond. The proposal enhances the levee greenway connection through the port property. The levee greenway balances safe semi-public pedestrian spaces with the active industrial port infrastructure. This enhanced connection creates a way for pedestrians to safely move through the active port to the pier

Saint Maurice Waterfront Park and Riverfront Greenway Site Plan.

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or prohibit the opportunity for port growth. The levee greenway takes advantage of leftover spaces that the port is not actively using. If the port becomes more active along the rail lines or truck lines, multiple path options are given to provide safe pedestrian corridors.

The existing Saint Maurice Wharf structure has fallen into disrepair due to neglect. In the proposal, the solid structure of the wharf pilings has been saved and new pier structures have been added to create a more vibrant recreational pier space. The two existing historic structures on the wharf are preserved in the proposal and repurposed for new uses.

Pedestrian and vehicular connections exist within the Holy Cross neighborhood to connect people with the levee path and waterfront park site.

The Saint Maurice Wharf is connected to greater New Orleans through the existing riverfront levee path. The Saint Maurice Waterfront Park extends the levee path through the Alabo Street Port to connect people to the site.

The existing site conditions are arranged by the active Alabo Street Port and neighboring warehouses along with the unused Saint Maurice Wharf pier structure. There is currently an understood relationship between pedestrians and the port that people can use port property as a connection to the existing levee pathway as long as they look after their own safety. The proposal strengthens the pedestrian connection through the active port to the St. Maurice Waterfront Park. Designing with the active infrastructure of the Alabo Street Port requires creating safe pedestrian use spaces without interfering with any of the day to day operations of the port. While the proposal creates a greenway through port property, it does not interfere with any of the existing infrastructure

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existing conditions

Project area analysis. Site analysis helped lead to major decisions in the design proposal.

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Pedestrian Corridor Site Plan.

Proposed Pedestrian Corridor showing relationship between lower path and retaining wall.

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The connection to the existing levee pathway is a critical connection to bring people from the neighborhood and greater New Orleans to the waterfront park. The existing levee pathway connection is enhanced by creating a separation between pedestrian space and active port space. A pathway connection is created using an open space between an under utilized warehouse and the existing road. The new pedestrian corridor is separated from the road by a 6-10 foot tall retaining wall. The new pedestrian corridor creates a safe area for pedestrians to walk, run, and ride bikes between the neighborhood and the waterfront park. The corridor provides seating, shade, and night time lighting so that the path can be used at all hours of the day. When the railway is being actively used, a well defined pathway along the existing road can be used by pedestrians. This upper pathway is defined by concrete bands and blue paint to let vehicular traffic know where pedestrians might be using the road. Beyond the pedestrian corridor, the levee pathway continues on a new pathway that keeps pedestrians separated from port traffic through the most active area of the port.

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The proposed Saint Maurice Waterfront Park takes advantage of the existing wharf infrastructure to create a unique park for the city of New Orleans. The proposal builds upon the existing wharf structure to create a pier park with multiple uses. The most important connection point to the park is through the Saint Maurice corridor. The park was developed in a way that it can fit into the site designs of the warehouse site through a major connection node where the Saint Maurice corridor intersects with the levee. At this point a series of paths and levee terraces are created to gently pull people into the park. The levee terraces provide seating along the levee to view what is going on at the warehouse site. The levee pathway enters the pier park site from the west through a large open plaza that is large enough to be

used by the existing railway and pedestrians. The Pier Park uses the existing infrastructure with some additions to make for many unique waterfront experiences. The two existing structures are retrofitted into a cafe and public restrooms, and a Mississippi River Educational Center. The plan takes advantage of the existing batture by creating batture walks so that people can interact with the existing ecology and wildlife. A new fishing pier connection is created at the western end of the pier to open up circulation and provide valuable fishing opportunities. The main pier promenade provides spaces for seating and shade while providing views to the Mississippi River to watch boats and port activity while providing highly sought after views to downtown New Orleans.

Waterfront Pier Park Site Plan.

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waterfront pier

batture boardwalk

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project

A sustainable design development for the Saint Maurice Wharf

DEVON BOUTTE

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Seven years after Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans is still struggling to recover socially and economically. The historic and culturally rich Holy Cross neighborhood in the Lower Ninth yearns for the days when eco-nomic stability and a tight knit community were the norm. Although the neighborhood is home to only a fifth of it’s previous occupants, the remain-ing community members are dedicated to rebuild-ing their way of life.

The third year graduate studio from LSU has joined in the effort alongside the Center for Sus-tainable Engagement and Development, to help in the rebuilding process. Our studio’s focus was the Saint Maurice Wharf located in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward.

The Saint Maurice Wharf presents a unique op-portunity to implement a sustainably designed mixed use development. The project aims to cre-ate economic opportunities through entrepre-neurship and job creation, while also unifying the community through social interaction. The Lower Ninth Waterfront Project is a mixed use develop-ment that features a park and greenway, residen-tial lofts, civic, commercial and retail spaces, along with a state of the art and sustainably designed film studio.

project narrative

The Lower Ninth Waterfront Project features a (left) mixed use development, full service film studio, and park space.

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TUPELO STAGE

Lower Ninth Studio

St Maurice Square

Cypress Grove Stage

Playground & Court

Mixed use commercial and residential

Full service �lm studio and o�ces

Performance stage and open lawn

Large playground and basketball court

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Pier & Banquet Buildings

Cypress Grove

Mississippi River pier and banquet builds.

Cypress grove rain gardens

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South Plaza

Green Wall

Public plaza, seating, green wall

“New Orleans Map” green wall

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North Plaza

Central Plaza

Alabo st. Plaza, seating, and green wall

Rain gardens, seating, open space

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Levee Terrace

Bioretention pond

Levee seating and promenade

Storm water retention pond

Public and private parking

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USE Description

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Master Plan

Lower Ninth Waterfront

New Orleans

L9

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Site Aerial Photograph

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CHARTRES STAGE

BIENVENUE MILL

TUPELO STAGE

LOWER NINTH STUDIOS O�ce Complex

L9

SITE LAYOUT

Lower Ninth StudiosNew Orleans

BACKLOT

St. Maurice Square

70’

240’

150’

220’

240’

143’

77’

66’

140’

9,240 sq. ft.

10,500 sq. ft.

30’ (Height)

30’ (Height)

40’ (Height)

65,000 sq. ft.

Optionla Retail/O�ce Space 75,880 sq. ft.

Two Floors

10,780 sq. ft.

75’

70’1

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TUPELO STAGE

BIENVENUE MILL

TUPELO STAGE

CHARTRES STAGE

BACKLOT

10,500

9,240

10,780

16,800

150’ x 70’

140 ‘ x 66’

140’ x 77’

240’ x 70’

40’

30’

30’

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STAGE SQ. FT. DIMENSIONS HEIGHT

Lower Ninth StudiosSt. Maurice Squareoptional rental space

65,000

75,880

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OFFICE SQ. FT.- Board Rooms-O�ces-Green Screens-ADR Rooms-Screening Rooms-Editing Rooms-VFX Studios-Control Room-3-D Screening Room

OFFICE COMPLEX

Park and Playground

Miss River Public Pier

65,000

75,880

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AMENITIES SQ. FT.

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Lower Ninth Film Studio

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Lower Ninth StudiosNew Orleans

Why Lower Ninth Studios?-Located within the historicHoly Cross Neighborhoodof New Orleans-Minutes from the FrenchQuarter and Business District-Pier access to the Mississippi River-Scenic filming locations minutes away-Post production-Set Construction-Transportation-On site restaurants, shops, and housing-Sustainably designed facilities-Low production insurancerates-Up to 35% LA State production tax incentive

Unique Filming Locations Within the Lower Ninth Ward

Steamboat Homes Holy Cross Church Bayou Bienvenue

Jackson BarracksMississippi River Levee St Maurice Church

French Quarter

New OrleansLower Ninth

Bayou Bienvenue

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Lower Ninth Studio Balcony Perspective


New Orleans

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Aerial Perspective


New Orleans

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Site Photos

(Above) Aerial perspective of the LowerNinth Waterfront Development. (Below)St. Maurice Square residential and commercial building diagram.

St. Maurice Square

St. Maurice Square Mixed Use Development

New Orleans

St. Maurice Square

St. Maurice Square Mixed Use Development

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project St. Maurice Square - Mixed Use Development

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Residential

Commercial

Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential

Total

75,600

3,000

3,000

1,200

1,200

900

50,000 s.f.

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280’ x 270’

25’ x 60’

25’ x 60’

30’ x 40’

30’ x 40’

30’ x 30’

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Use SQ. FT. UnitsDim. Floor

Commercial - Retail - Civic Opportunities

Restaurant Brewery

Trade School

Co�ee HouseFood Co-Op

Commercial Space O�ce SpaceStudio Space

Art Gallery

Industrial Kitchen

Music Hall Museum

Seafood Market

Health Club

LibraryTheater

Book Store

Banquet Space

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Cypress Grove


New Orleans

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Perspective: Residential Loft


New Orleans


(Above) Cypress Grove open lawn and performancestage. Residential lofts overlook the open lawn that hosts civic events, music performances, and filmscreenings.

(Above) Site photo of existing brick warehouse.(Right) Rendered perspective from the St. Mauriceloft balcony.

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“Great Schools by Design”, American Architectural Foundation“Schools of the 21st Century”, Marks, Thomas

“New Schools for Older Neighborhoods” National Association of Realtors “Are Small Schools Better?” West End

“Report from the National Summit on School Design”, American Architectural Foundation

Sustainable Design Goals

Sustainable Design

Goals

-Water Systems: contain and reuse sitestormwater and air conditioner condensate-Vegetation: maximize ecosystem servicesof vegetation, use native and naturalized planting, reduce energy usage by implementing green walls-Materials and Resources: reuse existing structures, salvage and reuse building materials from demolition-Energy Systems: Use solar energy productionto offset energy needs-Cultural Systems: the site should create a sense of place, educate, and build community;program elements should encourage the development of job skills and create economicopportunities

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Sustainable Design

Water Systems

1. Bioswale planting beds2. Pervious pavement and paths3. Retention Pond4. Stormwater and AC condensate reuse for irrigation of beds and greenwalls

1. Native and naturalized plantingsprovide ecological diversity, andmanages site stormwater2. Green walls reduce coolingloads on buildings

1. Salvage and reuse constructionand demolition materials;Reuse of existing structures

1. 430 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system2. 400 kilowatt solar photovoltaicsystem

1. Implement a program that encouragesthe development of job skills and creates economic opportunities2. Design promotes social interaction

Vegetation Materials and Resources Energy Systems Cultural Systems

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Green Wall System


New Orleans

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Vegetation

1”=10’

Magnolia Virginiana

Taxodium distichum

Myrica cerifera

Hibiscus mosheutos

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Iris hexagona

Juncus e�usus

Sabal minorCypress Grove

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Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Vegetation: Cypress Grove

(Below) The Cypress Grove raingarden bedsfeature native and naturalized plantings that help to absorb and filter storm water.

(Above) South plaza featuring the “New Orleans Map” green wall. The green wallreuses air conditioning condensate for irrigation and provides a cooling effect forthe buildings south facing wall.

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Green Wall Concept


New Orleans

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(Top-Right) Rendered image of the St. Claude Ave. and St. Maurice Street intersec-tion with proposed street car stop. (Lower-Right) Street car extension on St. Maurice street could provide public trans-portation to the neighborhood and new L9 Waterfront Development

(Top-Left) Central Plaza perspective be-tween the Lower Ninth Film Studio and Saint Maurice Square. (Bottom-Left)Existing conditions in the cen-tral corridor of the warehouse site.

Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project Central Plaza


New Orleans

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Transportation Study: St. Claude Street Car

Transportation Study: St. Maurice Extension

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Saint Maurice Wharf WarehousePreserving the Historic River to Bayou ConnectionCohesive and Sustainable Future Development

STEPHEN LUNA

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Saint Maurice Wharf Warehouse The St. Maurice Warehouse is positioned in one of the best spots in not only the Lower 9th Ward, but the entire New Orleans area. This site was once a home to many different economic generators for the neighborhood. With this design the intent is to create a sustainable design for the community. Also one of the biggest need is an economic gen-erator.The concept for the site is to recycle, reuse, and recharge the water in the surrounding area. Wa-ter will be transferred from a drainage pipe into a treatment pond that will filter out containments. This water will be used for the hydroponics and aquaculture systems when they are in need of wa-ter. Aquaculture is one that can easily fit into this neighborhood, surrounded almost entirely by wa-ter. This site would be host to not only a high pro-duction aquaculture farm, but will still have areas for entertainment, eating, interaction, learning, and small business entrepreneurship. These areas consist of a culinary school, restaurant, skate park plaza, and a playground that has a splash pad. The Aquaculture system runs water through the tanks where the fish and shellfish are raised. Af-ter the water is contaminated with nitrates and nitrites the water is the circulated through a hy-droponics system, which cleanses the water. The vegetation that is produced from this hydropon-ics system will also be available for sale, restaurant use, and use by the culinary school.

project narrative

The Saint Maurice Wharf Warehouse will contain an extravagant pedestrian corridor lined with shaded trees and seating areas. This space is directed by a meandering planting bed that leads you into the heart of the site.

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Legend12345678910

Cotton Market Aquaculture Detention PondsAquaculture FacilityHydroponics GreenhousesHydroponics Detention PondsMixed-Use WarehouseSkate Park PlazaTreatment PondSplash PadPlayground

Proposed Site Plan for the St. Maurice Warehouses. The site is divided; into a aquaculture facility and an area for learning, relaxing, dining, or just tak-ing the views in.

Existing site contains two abandoned warehouses and a historic cotton weighing building. The site is currently used as over-flow parking for the tractor trailer trucks.

Master Plan

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Aquaponics

AQUACULTURE FILTRATIONAQUACULTURE TANKS

RETENTION PONDDETENTION POND

RUNOFF PURIFICATION

HYDROPONICS SYSTEM

Aquaponics consist of aquaculture with a hydro-ponics system attached. The aquaculture facil-ity will grow such fish as tilapia, perch, catfish, cod, and barramundi. There will be a some shell-fish grown and harvested such as: crawfish and prawns. The entire system is freshwater because of maintenance and the availability.The aquaculture facility could also be used for a reestablishment of the bayou. Fish and shellfish could be grown here and then let back into the bayou to replenish.Hydroponics cleanses the water from the aquacul-ture tanks. In these glass greenhouses vegetation such as: cabbage, lettuce, basil, roses, tomatoes, okra, cantaloupe, bell peppers, and beans, among many more.Most of the fish and vegetation harvested will be used at the restaurant and culinary school. Any excess will be sold at the Cotton Market at a wholesale price.

Aquaponics Water Cycle

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A look at the detention ponds that feed the aquaculture building.

These detention ponds hold toxic water that comes from the aquaculture tanks and the treatment ponds

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Food Production/Safety Employment

Indoor facility makes for a cleaner environment

Customers seemingly can pick food

All vegetation and fish will be 100% organic (no contain-ments)

All foods is either used on site (restaurant and culinary school) or sold at the market

Roughly 80 employees required to run aquaculture, hydroponics, and Cotton Market

All job levels from Entry-Level to a Bachelors or Masters in farming

Annual salary for Entry-Level is between $25-$31

Workers can be part-time, seasonal, or full-time employees

Farmer can earn around $63,000 annually

Director of either aquaculture or hydroponics can earn about $150,000 a year




Making A Case for Aquaponics

Glass greenhouses is where hydroponics take place. They are glass so that the space does not feel as con-gested

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Aquaculture building from green to blue: water storage, pumps and filters, hatchery, fish tanks in light blue, and shellfish in the darker blue. There is an office at the southern corner of the building

The hydroponics system is NFT (Nutrient Film Technology). The plants are suspended about 6” above the water that continuously flows. With the plants being suspended the roots are capable of receiving more than enough oxygen.

Aquaculture Facility

Hydroponics Planting Strip

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Mixed-Use Warehouse/Skate ParkInside of the mixed-use warehouse there will be space for residential, a trade school, restaurant, a skate park, and parcels for small business owners. This will allow for many different generations to come together and interact with one another. The residential will mainly be studios and lofts, targeted towards student with low income. These studios and lofts will be almost completely sus-tainable with solar panels arranged on the roof of the warehouse. The skate park is a full functional skate park with many ramps. There is a large glass door that opens up and allows skaters to transition into the skate plaza. The graffiti on the walls will remain as they were to bring about this young generation, and to keep the identity of the site. The restaurant and trade school will be most of the foods required to prepare food from the aquapon-ics system.

Residential

Restaurant

Culinary School

Skate park

Small Business

Warehouse Program

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Warehouse Program

A look down the plaza towards the pedestrian corridor.

An overview look at the entire skate plaza

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L9 CenterRedeveloping a warehouse area into an economic generator while maximizing multi-generational recreational space.

LUCAS MARTIN FREY

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Currently the Ninth Ward and especially the Holy Cross neighborhood is deprived of public open space, recreational activities and commercial opportunities. Shops, medical services or office spaces are scarce and from an opportunistic void.

In order to revitalize the neighborhood and to bolster the local economy a central economical magnet is needed to provide jobs, create retail space and form a meeting point in the neighborhood. The repurposed warehouses and the open space around them will be transformed into an economic, recreational and social center.The productive heart of the project is formed by a farm and a nursery. These provide plants and food for the neighborhood and have shops within the L9 Center. The production areas of nursery and farm are dissected by paths which are open to the public and greatly increases the recreational space on the site. These paths connect the Greenway and the Levee to the production and plaza areas of the L9 Center. The Plaza is a multifunctional open space with a variety of potential uses. Aside from shopping opportunities, planters built as skate obstacles activate the plaza and together with the open areas offering a multi-generational use.

Project Narrative

The L9 Center will house shops, office spaces, artist studios, restaurants and a brewery. This programing is connected by a public plaza that forms a meeting point within the neighborhoodseconomic generator.

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The images on the right show the site conditions from a human perspective.

The top image shows the central axis through the site, connecting the greenway

with St. Maurice.

The middle image shows Bienvenue Street with the existing brick warehouses.

The bottom image shows the current illegal warehouse use.

Site Aerial and Existing ConditionsExisting Warehouses

Axis St. Maurice, L9 Center, Greenway

Existing Playground

Highest Ground on Site and Neighborhood

Turf covered Levee

Alabo Street Wharf

Jackson Barracks

Levee Greenway

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Landuse

Building Conditions

Ideal Circulation

Views and Visual Connections

Site

Good Condition

Usable Buildings

Usable Buildings

Neighborhood

Bad Condition

Ideal Circulation

Ideal ViewsTowards Wharf and CityTowards opposite shoreAxial View into the neighborhood

Wharf

Wharf

Wharf

Jackson Barracks

Site Inventory Diagrams

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Repurposed Warehouses

Farm Shop

Nursery Shop & Pick-Up

Nursery Production

Nursery Greenhouses

Central Plaza Axis

Amphitheater

Existing Playground

Parking

Retention Pond

Levee Meadow

Skate Plaza

Farm Production

Legend1

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Site Plan

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Building diagram

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Retail/Stores Farm/Nursery Brewery Restaurant Artist Studio Offices/Lofts

Warehouse Use

Ground level36800 sq ft~20 shops\5 full time jobs

100 jobs newly available

Opportunities for small businesses, farm and nursery store selling local products.

Ground level18700 sq ft2 shops\10 full time jobs

20 jobs newly available

Grows the produce sold in the farm shop, separate nursery shop, indoor area for garage and storage.

Ground level12350 sq ft

15 full time jobs

Using the adjacent hop garden the brewery produces micro-brews and creates a meeting point.


15 full time jobs

The Restaurant usesmostly product grown on site, creating a new food venue in the neighborhood.


12 studio spaces for rent

Studio spaces are offered to give artists the opportunity to create and sell artwork in the adjacent shop.

Upper Level90770 sq ft~30 offices\3 full time jobs

90 full time jobs

The upper levels are entirely devoted for officespace or as residential lofts as well as small businesses.

a b c d e f

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Offices/Lofts

The new public areas in the L9 Center are purposed to be a recreational space for a variety of user groups. Planters executed as skate obstacles pose active recreation for younger people while the paths in the Levee meadow, the plaza areas, and the outdoor sitting areas traditionally attract an older user group.

Public Open Space

Newly created public space

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The perspective on the top shows the new commercial corridor created on Bienvenue Street.

The perspective on the bottom shows the meadow on the levee and the recreational paths that connect to the path system of the Greenway.

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The perspective on the top shows the new space created for outdoor artist and the

Amphitheater on the Levee slope.

The perspective on the bottom shows the outdoor sitting area of restaurant

and brewery. Adjacent to the left are the production fields of the farm.

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Saint Maurice DistrictPreserving the Historic Saint Maurice Church and Planning Cohesive and Sustainable Future Development

PETER SUMMERLIN

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The focus of the Saint Maurice District had two primary objectives. First, the focus is to support the proposed redevelopment of the warehouse facilities by providing supportive infrastructure that responds to the increased traffic. Secondly, the district seeks to operate as a catalyst for sustainable growth and development in the holy cross neighborhood.Saint Maurice Avenue itself is a historic river to bayou corridor that provides the most obvious connection to the warehouse redevelopment site. It currently operates as two drive lanes with on street parallel parking on both sides. The organization of the streetscape operates sufficiently given the present usage amounts but as development grows and residents return, the road will need a stronger visual hierarchy. Saint Maurice Avenue can serve as the prototype for a new neighborhood streetscape and the design proposal reflects a more appropriate corridor both socially and environmentally.More than just the Saint Maurice corridor, the Saint Maurice Church site and surrounding properties present a unique opportunity to promote and support redevelopment in the Holy Cross Neighborhood. Preservation of the pre-civil war Saint Maurice church is vital and utilizing it for communal purposes is desired. The anticipated convent redevelopment is also an opportunity to influence future development and encourage specific commercial uses to return to the neighborhood.The design proposal presented for these available parcels is anchored by a new neighborhood elementary school. This design approach would allow for the Saint Maurice Church to be utilized as an auditorium for school purposes and a civic meeting hall for the neighborhood. These shared uses help bind the school and neighborhood and are one of the many reasons that neighborhood schools are more effective schools. Pre-kindergarten services, medical facilities, and the reopening of the former corner grocery address glaring needs in the community while the deconstructed convent housing allows the new infrastructure to fit more appropriately in the existing urban fabric.

project narrative

The Saint Maurice Elementary School will contain shared facilities with the Holy Cross Neighborhood. The school yard itself will include a play yard (left) with seat walls defining seating nooks and stormwater retention for the site.

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st. maurice schoolst. maurice school

st. maurice churchst. maurice church

st. maurice groceryst. maurice grocery

st. maurice schoolst. maurice school

st. maurice gymst. maurice gym

st. maurice conventst. maurice convent

1

23

45

6

11

33

55

22

44

66

focus area

conn

ectio

n to

pl

aygr

ound

an

d fu

ture

par

k

passiverecreation

shar

edfa

cilit

ies

deconstruct housing

greenin�ll

link sites

Available parcels along the historic Saint Maurice corridor offer unique opportunities for development. Program should operate as a catalyst for redevelopment in surrounding areas and respond to the needs of the Holy Cross Neighborhood.

Legend:1. Saint Maurice School2. Saint Maurice School3. Saint Maurice Church4. Saint Maurice Gym5. Former St. Maurice Grocery6. Convent of the Perpetual Adoration

Saint Maurice Avenue is one of the major ‘river to bayou ‘roadways in the Lower Ninth Ward. It has a direct connec-tion to the Warehouse Site and abuts available parcels ripe for redevelopment.

removedfuture redevelopment

removedfor sale

church blockfor sale

play yard?

sain

t mau

rice

aven

ue

new

infra

stru

ctur

e fo

r fut

ure

grow

th

subj

ect a

rea

intr

oduc

ing

infra

stru

ctur

e as

a ca

taly

st fo

r red

evel

opm

ent

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medicalfacilities

civic use

conventrooms andoperations

garden space

medicalfacilities

medicalfacilities

medicalfacilities

parking

conventfacilities

formal garden

common space

clinic

dentalclinic

conventduplex convent

duplex conventduplex

conventduplex

healing garden

clinic

optometrist

Health Care Hub Concept

maintain streetscapearound entire block

new construction to actas temporary housingprior to convent need

porousparking and

asphaltdrive lane

convent

single familyhousing

apartments

infill residential

infill residential

infill residential

condosand then futurecommercial?

bed and breakfast

artiststudios

courtyard

civic space

lift and move isnecessary

property is too pivotal toleave blank

future grocery

In�ll Residential Concept

infill residential medical hub

benefits benefits

single family housingapartmentscondosartist studiosbed and breakfast

urgent care facilitymedical clinicsdental clinicsphysical therapyoccupational therapy

• supportsexpectedpopulationgrowth• diversifyexistinghousingoptions• removesblightedproperty

• servicesamedicaldessert• goodneighborfortheconvent• generateslocaljobs• educationalopportunity

1 2

herb production

gardens

wholesalegroceryfacilities

restaurantand civic use

temporary productiongardens while

development is beingconstructed

local grocery

accessconvent

urban productiongardens

storagefacilities

agriculture relatedresidential

urban productiongreen houses

chapelcourtyard

urban productionfacilities

rainwaterharvesting

rainwaterharvesting

market area

market covering

production orchard

temporary productiongardens while

development is beingconstructed

Urban Agriculture Concept

habitat2,800 square feet

play yard12,000 square feet

cafeteriacourt3,100

square feet entry

entry

entry

entry

administrationentrycourt

chapel court2,400

square feet

artsclassrooms

andcafeteria

5,600square feet

classrooms9,500

square feet

administrationand add. class

rooms6,200 square

feet

maintain streetscapearound entire block

additionalparking

recreation as a temporaryuse phasing plan for new

construction

civic useauditorium

porousparking and

asphaltdrive lane

before/after figureground diagram of

pervious area

active recreation

convent

cultural connectionpeople at different

stages of life

gym

square feet

pre-kindergardenfacilities

Elementary School Concept

elementary school production gardens

benefits benefits

classroomslibrarygymcafeteriapublic auditorium

wholesale production plotsdistribution centergreenhouses and storagegrocerycommunity garden plots

• providesacivicpresence• sharedresourceswiththecommunity• servelocalresidents• increasepropertyvalues

• providesatemporaryandpotentiallylong-termsolutionforabandonedproperty

• generatelocaljobs• providealocalgrocery

3 4

scenario sketches

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The site planning process incorporated inventory of existing infrastructure in the Lower Ninth Ward combined with feedback gathered from focus group reviews of the scenario sketches.

legendRental Housing, Future Convent ResidencesConvent Communal FacilitiesConvent Multi-Unit DwellingsConvent GardensExisting Convent BuildingConvent Entry Court RestorationMedical ClinicHealing GardenPre-Kindergarten FacilitiesPre-Kindergarten Play YardOutdoor ClassroomAdditional Classroom FacilitiesWater GardenAdministration and Additional ClassroomsGymnasiumChapel CourtyardCafeteria and Art StudiosSeating NooksLarge Play AreaTwo Story ClassroomsCivic Meeting Hall and School Auditorium

01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.09.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.

scale: 1" = 30'

15' 0' 30'

N

01

02

03

04

06

05

08

07

09

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1920

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scale: 1" = 30'

15' 0' 30'

N

01

02

03

04

06

05

08

07

09

10

12

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13

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1920

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conceptual master plan

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Neighborhood Schools as the Center of Communities

Effectiveness of Small Schools

A Catalyst for Growth and Redevelopment

Provide Civic Presence (Marks, Thomas, 2011)

Share Facilities, i.e. Museum, Libraries, Recreation (AAF, 2006)

Integrated and Open Campus, “See and Be Seen” (Marks, Thomas, 2011) (AAF, 2006)

Buildings as a learning tool for the community (Marks, Thomas, 2011)

Higher Graduation Rates and More Students continuing to Post-Secondary Education(AAF, 2006)

Lower Violence (West End, 2001)

More Affordable for School Systems (West End, 2001)

High Extra-Curricular Participation (West End, 2001)

Higher Student Attendance (West End, 2001)

More Community Involvement (West End, 2001)

Healthier Lifestyles (AAF, 2006)

Lessens Fiscal and Social Barriers (West End, 2001)

Small Neighborhood Schools Bolster Property Values (AAF, 2006)

Improved teacher working conditions means better faculty (West End, 2001)

Effective Schools promote redevelopment (NAR, 2010)




The Case for Saint Maurice Charter School

play yardplay yard

cafeteria courtcafeteria court

chapelcourt

chapelcourt

watergardenwater

garden

entryplazaentryplaza

seatingnooks

seatingnooks

outdoorarts areaoutdoorarts area

speedtablespeedtable

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The proposed infrastructure for infill development within the focus area seeks to fit more appropriately with its urban context. The convent site proposes deconstructed housing units that mirrors adjacent streets while infill on the church site readdresses the street corners.

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While sufficient for current use, existing road infrastructure will need to be re-examined as development returns to the Holy Cross Neighborhood. New paving materials and bio-retention bump-outs will help define on-street paving and calm traffic in the neighborhood.

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rain

wat

er

porous pavement

Less Pressure on existing system

9’ Drive Lane 9’ Drive Lane 8’ Parking Space Sidewalk and Sod8’ Parking SpaceSod and Sidewalk

Traditional roadway construction crowns roads to sheet flow water to curb and gutter systems and ultimately to underground stormwater systems. The proposed infrastructure utilizes porous pavement and retention islands to take pressure off of the existing system while organizing the road hierarchy.

existing road infrastructure

proposed road infrastructure

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Infrastructure ConflictProblem Solving Through Shared Benefits for the Holy Cross Community.

MICHAEL PETTY

project narrative

opens up additional opportunities to enhance the face of the port to the neighborhood and creates one and one half blocks of future development space along with a two-block public open space along with a more compact footprint for the port storage facility. This reduction in footprint is achieved through rethinking how the port conducts business by creating a new truck loading facility on vacant parcels at the major thoroughfare of St. Claude Ave. and reactivating the under-utilized rail line along Alabo Street to move the goods the this new facility. A highly productive system of overhead cranes can increase the efficiency of the port operations while creating a softer and less impactful threshold between the port and the neighborhood. This shared benefit is the basis for the overall solution for the community.

The Holy Cross Community of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, however growing, has a number of limiting factors preventing major development from occurring within the neighborhood. This project addresses those limiting factors and focuses on conflict resolution as the basis for the design. Issues such as the relationship between the active Alabo Street Wharf and the neighborhood and, the resulting deterioration of the streets from newly-introduced tractor trailer traffic, are addressed through a shared benefits solution to the issues. Roadway redesign and circulation modifications are at the heart of the project. Creating a new, enhanced Caffin corridor along with a new port entrance at Douglas Street while closing Chartres Street for a one-block segment at Charbonnet Street dramatically changes the way in which large trucks engage the neighborhood. An extension of Douglas Street to facilitate through traffic

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Infrastructure Conflict

master plan - shared benefits

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COMPONENTS OF DIESEL EXHAUST - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

COMPONENTS OF DIESEL EXHAUST - HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT

IMPACTS OF TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS ON HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD

PARTICULATE MATTER

DIESEL PARTICULATE MATTER HAS BEEN LINKED BY THE EPA TO:

LUNG CANCER CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AGGRAVATED ASTHMA

HYDROCARBONS

NITROGEN OXIDES

CARBON MONOXIDE

SULFUR DIOXIDE

OTHER HAZARDOUS TOXINS

GREENHOUSE GASES

NOISE POLLUTION VIBRATION / SEISMIC IMPACT

UNSTABLE SOILS AND FRAGILE FOUNDATIONS (90% OF HOMES AREON PIERS) ARE EASILY DISTURBED BY CONSTANT GROUND VIBRATION

Bird Calls

Source: CALTRANS

Heavy Truck -

25 Ft. Away

Jet Takeo� -

200 Ft. Away

102

dBA

90 d

BA

40 d

BA

TRUCK ROUTES

MAJOR CIRCULATION

ROAD CONDITIONS

MAJOR TRAFFICINTERSECTIONS

GOODPOOR

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COMPONENTS OF DIESEL EXHAUST - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

COMPONENTS OF DIESEL EXHAUST - HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT

IMPACTS OF TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS ON HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD

PARTICULATE MATTER

DIESEL PARTICULATE MATTER HAS BEEN LINKED BY THE EPA TO:

LUNG CANCER CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AGGRAVATED ASTHMA

HYDROCARBONS

NITROGEN OXIDES

CARBON MONOXIDE

SULFUR DIOXIDE

OTHER HAZARDOUS TOXINS

GREENHOUSE GASES

NOISE POLLUTION VIBRATION / SEISMIC IMPACT

UNSTABLE SOILS AND FRAGILE FOUNDATIONS (90% OF HOMES AREON PIERS) ARE EASILY DISTURBED BY CONSTANT GROUND VIBRATION

Bird Calls

Source: CALTRANS

Heavy Truck -

25 Ft. Away

Jet Takeo� -

200 Ft. Away

102

dBA

90 d

BA

40 d

BA

TRUCK ROUTES

MAJOR CIRCULATION

ROAD CONDITIONS

MAJOR TRAFFICINTERSECTIONS

GOODPOOR

Repeated abuse and wear from truck traffic has left the streets of the Holy Cross neighborhood in poor condition. This along with safety, health, and environmental concerns have created a truck crisis within the community.

The historical context of the neighborhood, along with the health concerns of the emissions impact of the trucks is reason alone to resolve the major conflict and create a solution that mitigates the issue and eliminates the truck impact on the community.

Existing conditions within neighborhood

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LC

42’ OVERALL ROW

HOME PORT WAREHOUSE

~15’ OPEN GRASS

~14’ OPEN GRASSED SWALE

23’ PAVEMENT WIDTH

The roadway infrastructure of the neighborhood offers several opportunities to create solutions to the issues of the community. Caffin Avenue has one of the widest right of ways within the neighborhood and, being the current truck route, allows for modifications and enhancements to be made to create more opportunity for multiple modes of circulation along this major neighborhood access road. Douglas Street, with its relationship to the port, allows for enhanced solutions, as well as, an alternative port entrance. Chartres Street currently is the turning point for truck traffic from Caffin but, through existing open space and potential new open space, allows itself opportunity for modification for the greater good of the neighborhood through the closure of the street from Charbonnet Street to Alabo Street. This closure, along with the opening of Douglas Street as a through street, creates a new opportunity for shared public open space within the neighborhood and enhances the port-neighborhood threshold and relationship.

existing douglas street conditions

existing street configuration proposed street configuration

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LC

42’ OVERALL ROW

HOME PORT WAREHOUSE

~15’ OPEN GRASS

~14’ OPEN GRASSED SWALE

23’ PAVEMENT WIDTH

enhanced douglas street section perspective

flood street greenway connection perspective

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1.

2.

3.

4.

LEGEND:

1. INFILL DEVELOPMENT ON NEW BLOCKS.

2. NEW PORT STORAGE FACILITY ENTRANCE WITH MODIFIED STORAGE ARRANGEMENT AND SCREENED TRACK ACCESS WITH SUBSTANTIAL TREE CANOPY.

3. CLOSURE OF CHARTRES ALLOWS FOR UNIFIED OPEN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SPACE.

4. MULTI-USE POROUS PATH FROM ST. CLAUDE DOWN CAFFIN TO CONNECT TO PROPOSED GREENWAY ENHANCEMENTS.

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1.

2.

3.

4.

LEGEND:

1. INFILL DEVELOPMENT ON NEW BLOCKS.

2. NEW PORT STORAGE FACILITY ENTRANCE WITH MODIFIED STORAGE ARRANGEMENT AND SCREENED TRACK ACCESS WITH SUBSTANTIAL TREE CANOPY.

3. CLOSURE OF CHARTRES ALLOWS FOR UNIFIED OPEN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SPACE.

4. MULTI-USE POROUS PATH FROM ST. CLAUDE DOWN CAFFIN TO CONNECT TO PROPOSED GREENWAY ENHANCEMENTS.

Through the creation of a boulevard on Caffin Avenue and drainage enhancements along Douglas Street, a new system of stormwater movement and cleansing is created with the terminus being the south end of the new public open space. Through a neutral ground bioswale on Caffin and connecting swale along Douglas, water is moved into a gradient structure at the open space that begins very rigid and moves through a series of cells that each become more organic in shape and look terminating in a open body of water. The cells are criss-crossed with boardwalk paths that allow visitors to watch the water cleansing process while being in a shaded, attractive area. Screening of the port operations from the neighborhood was an important component of the design. Screening was achieved through the design of a hollow wall structure that mimics the industrial nature of the port while allowing space to grow several species of flowering and non-flowering vines within the hollow structure.

proposed stormwater flow diagram

screen wall locations

proposed screen wall details

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EXISTING RAILNETWORK

PROPERTY OWNERS:

LAND ACQUISITION ESTIMATE:

1. New Orleans Health CorporationTotal Tracts: 10Land Value: $243,147

2. Peter Nguyen

3. Eric McMorrisTotal Tracts: 1Land Value: $9,500

4. Ninth Ward Housing Development

Total Property Value: $502,64720% Over-valuation: $100,530Possible Acquisition Cost: ~ $605,000

Total Tracts: 1Land Value: $200,000


1

1

23

4

truck loading center concept sketch

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EXISTING RAILNETWORK

PROPERTY OWNERS:

LAND ACQUISITION ESTIMATE:

1. New Orleans Health CorporationTotal Tracts: 10Land Value: $243,147

2. Peter Nguyen

3. Eric McMorrisTotal Tracts: 1Land Value: $9,500

4. Ninth Ward Housing Development

Total Property Value: $502,64720% Over-valuation: $100,530Possible Acquisition Cost: ~ $605,000



1

1

23

4

existing rail network diagram

The proposed truck loading center provides space for ten tractor trailers to be loaded along with a ten-truck capacity for load tie down. This allows for up to 20 trucks to be in position of loading/securing at a time. An additional staging capacity of five trucks can be accommodated at the rear of the loading area. The center provides approximately 130,000 square feet of metal storage area which allows for material to be moved in the evening hours the night before for the day’s loading que. Sensitivity to the neighborhood is achieved through extensive screening and vegetation. An additional three infill lots are created that could serve as light commercial or residential uses. The center and rail operation would add an additional ten jobs to the overall port operation numbers.

Utilizing the existing infrastructure, as in the case of the rail network, allows for a low investment solution for moving material from the port to the proposed truck loading center. New technology, such as hybrid locomotives, which are 7 times more quiet and 4 times more fuel efficient than their traditional counterparts adds to the sustainability of the project.

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we would like to thank those who volunteered their time and efforts towards helping progress the revitalization efforts in the holy cross neighborhood and to thank the residences themselves for their assistance and inspiration.

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professor:Austin Allen

students:Kyle JacobsonDevon BoutteStephen Luna

Lucas FreyPeter Summerlin

Michael Petty

louisiana state universitymay, 2012

professor austin allenlouisiana state university302 design buildingz rouge, la 70803

la 7006 . saint maurice wharf, warehouse district

Documents

st maurice wharf district

previous design studio

city of new orleans

urban design

waterfront warehouse

new ideas

ward center

recovery of neighborhood