Demolition Continues Unchecked in LSU Footprint

1925 Cleveland Avenue, shown above after salvage was underway, was demolished on Friday in the LSU Footprint.

The man who lived in the house, who owned a dog, as I recall.  "Ooh, he did NOT want to leave," a neighbor noted from across the street, looking on as a crew worked to pull out an ornate metal fencepost.

She said she's leaving the city since she has to move.  She's moving to the country.

This morning, around the corner, the beautiful shotgun at 218 S. Prieur was demolished. 

Its demolition demonstrates concretely that the State of Lousiana, and the Division of Facilities and Planning in particular, really have no intention of participating in a house moving effort, despite what Jerry Jones has said on multiple occasions.  It also illustrates an inability of the City of New Orleans to extract positives from the situation.

A private party recently reached out to offer to take eight houses off the site.  When I mentioned this to someone on site, I was told that it would likely not be possible because there are "time issues."  Time issues?  The only time issues are those self-imposed by the state and its contractors because they have to continue demolishing buildings to make the complete razing of the site seem inevitable before anyone can stop them with the pile of nagging concerns that exist - like inadequate financing to build the proposed hospital.

Over a dozen buildings, many of them contributing historic properties, have been demolished in the LSU Footprint to date.

Lately

Not much has changed in the LSU or VA Footprints in recent weeks. A handful of people continue to live in the VA Footprint, and Outer Banks hosted a slew of Saints fans today.

While the VA Footprint is largely cleared, the LSU Footprint retains a number of buildings, including the Blood Center, the large brown building in the mid-ground below.  Charity Hospital continues to tower, vacant, over the whole scene.

On S. Tonti Street, it appears water pipes are leaking in at least two places.  Near Cleveland Avenue, it looks like a series of small springs are burbling up in a small crater in the road (perhaps they're actual springs; I'm not sure).  The water is washing down the street and flooding in front of the house at 212-14 S. Tonti, pictured above. 

This afternoon, a dog started barking inside of 214 as I passed.  I've noticed this before, and while I have no idea what's up, I found it strange.  There's water pooled in front of the front stoops of the building, as you can see.

Down the street, water from the leak and water from another smaller leak near Outer Banks flow into a sort of pond forming on the cleared lots. The S.W. Green House is visible in the background.

Dogs, Too

Here's another strange tidbit from last evening: as I walked past 214 S. Tonti, which is roped off with caution tape, I heard several dogs barking inside the house.

Strange Sights

Hmmm...who are you guys?  "Do you own that property?" I asked the four men in purple shirts, two of whom remained behind in the pickup truck as their compatriots pried away at the wood on the door of the former Headquarters barbershop and salon on Banks Street.

I took a photo or two, and suddenly they returned quickly to the truck and left.  In broad daylight.

Along Banks Street, this random golden arm appeared in the sidewalk rather bizarrely.  Again, it seems like the site itself is telling someone to stop.

Inside the fence surrounding the diggings at Tulane and S. Tonti, a pack of large dogs roamed this afternoon.