Housing Development
NENA's approach to housing development encourages the clustering of widespread home redevelopment around the rebuilding of schools, libraries, and community space in the Lower 9th Ward. In addition to establishing the Design Studio, Loan Fund, and Land Trust towards this goal, NENA is creating a redevelopment plan, building its internal capacity for residential development activities, and forming partnerships with development entities to begin the rebuilding of housing and key community institutions.
NENA's initial target areas focus on the reopened Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology, and the potential redevelopment of the Alfred Lawless High School site as a Health Academy, library, and civic space.
NENA is creating and capitalizing the Lower 9th Ward Housing Redevelopment Loan Fund to provide forgivable and low interest loans to homeowners who require gap financing in order to rebuild.
Community Land Trust
NENA is exploring the founding of the Lower 9th Ward Community Land Trust (CLT) as an affiliate entity to protect housing affordability, build equity for low-income homeowners, and maintain local control of property.
