Correction: "Still In Limbo"

The Deborah Brown-Cassine family, with its two small children, is "the last man standing" in the VA Footprint.

I observed yesterday, after doing my due diligence beyond what I even mentioned on the blog, that nobody remained living in the VA Footprint.  But I heard back today from Deborah, who noted that her family on Cleveland Avenue is in fact still "in limbo."

Although she hoped to move out yesterday, she is waiting for the money necessary to move, and while she has retained counsel, she has not heard from the state in some time.

Demolitions and site preparation began in the VA Footprint back in May of 2010.  When you add in the date of the first public discussion of the new "preferred site" for the VA above S. Galvez back in 2007, Deborah and her family have been in limbo for almost four years - after returning in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The continued presence of residents inside the footprint as it's been razed has been one of the most surreal aspects of the place and the process.  It's hard to believe that it actually happened.

On the Edge, For Months

The residents of the 2500 and 2600 blocks of Cleveland Avenue, who live outside the VA Hospital Footprint, have suffered since the street was torn out.

Fox 8 did not one but two pieces outlining the dangerous conditions that residents faced, such as sidewalks nearing collapse, gullies that required residents to place boards across them to walk out, a lack of emergency service access (the trenches on the sides are sometimes several feet deep), and an inability for trash pickup services to access properties.  

At least one vehicle remains trapped in a driveway, completely cut off.  Residents have also complained in at least one story about significant vibrations from the construction (which is relevant given the housing stock - the neighborhood falls within the Mid-City National Register Historic District).

Unfortunately, the continuing experience for peripheral residents is the result of a lack of adequate planning for the mammoth LSU/VA undertaking. 

It would be one thing if the entire affair for peripheral residents had only taken a week or even a few weeks.  Multiple months is a different story.  The apparent lack of adequate notice to the peripheral residents of the nature of the construction about to unfold in their neighborhood is also troubling.

Concerned residents can reach out at two upcoming meetings.  At 6 p.m. on January 18, 2011, the VA will hold a neighborhood meeting at the nearby First Pentecostal Church at 2525 Canal.  The following day, January 19, Council Member Stacy Head will hold a public hearing in New Orleans City Council Chambers at 2 p.m. to get an update on the site preparation process (Brad Ott of the Committee to Reopen Charity has been instrumental in reminding the City of its obligation under its own ordinance to hold such meetings).

Twilight

A Bobcat sits in a now vacant city block in the VA Hospital Footprint.  Behind it, a chugging generator floodlight illuminates a large cloud of dust kicked up as a squad car raced down Palmyra this evening.  Off on the right, the still-occupied home of Ms. Gaynell remains - one of only a handful of inhabited residences remaining in the midst of the desolation.

The old mailbox for Phoenix of New Orleans - "PNOLA" - sits, for some reason, at the corner of Cleveland and S. Galvez in a different part of the now-vacant block.  It once adorned the now-moved house at 2414 Palmyra.

Across the space, once densely populated with homes, the S.W. Green House remains, aloof.

On a different side of the silent square, Ms. Ruth Sanderson's home still showed signs of life.  While I've tried to be respectful of individual privacy, I think it's fair to report on who's left in the VA Footprint.  Persisting, at this point, is a news item.

Here it is from a different angle with Charity Hospital looming darkly on the right like a monolith.

On S. Miro, the floodlights cast powerful beams past the former Tate Services building and a few remaining homes set to be moved.

From Banks Street, the lonely lights at the home/business of Robert Rogers remained.

Nervous in the LSU Footprint

A "Right of Way Specialist" from Volkert dropped off this card last night in the home of one LSU Footprint resident, according to a friend.  Green spraypaint was also painted on the sidewalk out front.  The resident has not signed any papers at this point, and she does not believe the building has been sold - once again, I fear that expropriation may have occurred without effective notice.

Late in the day today, a bulldozer appeared in the lot next door (*Both photos submitted).

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Additionally, some other residents of the LSU Footprint appeared in court today in Baton Rouge due to troubles they've been facing due to the project.  Here's what a friend sent me late yesterday:

"I spoke to a woman who is going to court in Baton Rouge tomorrow to fight for fair compensation for her house.  After being lied to by Voelkert in order to get her to sign papers she shouldn't have signed, she sought legal council from Atty. Shafer to fight expropriation.  They appealed to the State three weeks ago but received notice in the mail just yesterday that her court date is for tomorrow at 2:00PM!"

The Fight for Just Compensation

Fox8 reports on the trials and travails of several VA Footprint residents...some of whom had to file suit in federal court last week to get what they considered a fair offer.

In the Neighborhood

A lone figure looks on from the Krause home in the VA Footprint as crews use construction equipment in front of a neighboring residence on Palmyra Street yesterday afternoon.

End of Utilities Eve

Tomorrow, the State of Louisiana will begin to disrupt and cut off utilities to the residents of the VA Footprint who still have a legal right to be there.  Yes, even still, they remain.

I went out tonight to ram home that point, all while trying to respect the privacy of the people in their homes.

While several families moved out this weekend, it's clear that there will still be nearly 20 households that remain as the utility shut-down begins tomorrow.

Even if the state provides back-up utilities, as it has promised, to those who legally remain, the disruption that the utilities removal process will likely cause and the "opt-in" nature (residents have to request continued services) is insensitive and mean-spirited.  Plus, given the track record of less than stellar treatment and confusion thus far, I'll wait to see if anyone actually gets the back-up services.

A reasonable developing party would simply work something out with the VA and wait until everyone has left the site.

Still Here

On Banks Street, these two residents of the VA Footprint said they weren't dressed up for the camera, but they wanted their picture taken as a reminder that people are still living in the site.

A Resident of the VA Footprint Speaks Out

You get a sense of just how unjust the state's move to cut utilities in the near future will be:

Yes, someone from Bright Moments brought around a flyer saying this today. It said the utilities would begin to be removed on Oct 18. The person wasn't sure if the utilities could be cut off between the 18th and 28th or not. The flyer states to call the Volkert office for more info and lists the phone number. While we were talking to the Bright Moments guy Lloyd Eberhardt from Volkert drove by and stopped. He claimed they have no info about this and was just informed today by the State that this is happening. They don't know what's going on either. The best info we could get was that generators and gas propane tanks would be provided at some point but no info on who to contact or who would do it or how. No one seemed to know about phone, water or internet service. At the same time that utilities are being cut off two residents are still waiting on the response of their appeal. The appeal results were supposed to be back in 10 days - tomorrow is going on a month with no response. Another resident is waiting on the check so he can move into his new rental.

How can the site be turned over when residents still have 90 days from the appeal response to find a new home?