CLAIBORNE INNOVATION DISTRICT
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Professional
Colloqate
2023
New Orleans, LA
Following the construction of the Claiborne Avenue Expressway through the heart of New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood, a group of local architects, designers, and planners came together to re-envision how the newly constructed piece of infrastructure might better serve its local residents. In 1976, the Claiborne Avenue Design Team (CADT) published their multi-use study of the expressway, and recommended several alternative reuse plans to the Louisiana Department of Highways which focused on areas for potential social, cultural, and economic development.
While the recommendations from the CADT report were never implemented, the ramifications of the expressway are still felt. As part of my work with Colloqate I worked to visualize a series of the potential futures outlined in the CADT report through renderings. These renderings are based off of original drawings from the 1976 report, and, along with accompanying maps and data, were compiled into a small booklet intended to help present-day Tremé residents better comprehend the potential for these spaces.
One of the principal recommendations of the CADT was the construction of “linear parks” stemming off of expressway junctions. The intention was for these parks to operate as pedestrian nodes that would enhance the social and cultural capabilities of the neighborhood. In addition, by populating these spaces with street furniture, adequate lighting, substantial landscaping, and ample recreational and assembly space, the CADT believed the spatial prerequisites would be in place to also revitalize the neighborhood’s economy as people would be drawn to businesses located nearby. In this speculation, a dual parking garage and hotel commercial complex is recommended for the area between Basin Street and Orleans Avenue, the site of present-day Lehman Park. This proposed park, would cover approximately 400,000 square feet, the equivalent to 4.5 city blocks, and provide parking for over 3000 cars. Office spaces, retail shops, and restaurants would be located on the ground floor to provide a buffer between the public space of the street and the private space of residential apartments above.
