New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village Continues Building
8/29/2006
- New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
Since groundbreaking began in New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village in March 2006, sponsors, volunteers, and partner families have concentrated their efforts on completing 33 homes lining the 4000 block North Roman Street and the 1800 block of Alvar Street. Over a ten-week period, 30 of these homes have been constructed with funding from the Baptist Crossroads Foundation and thousands of Baptist volunteers from around the country.
New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village, conceived by Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. will consist of homes constructed by Habitat in partnership with displaced New Orleans musicians and other qualifying homeowner families. Its centerpiece will be the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, dedicated to music education and development of homeowners and others who will live nearby, and named for the patriarch of the Marsalis clan, modern jazz pioneer and native New Orleanian.
The core area of the Musicians’ Village will be home to 75 single family homes and plans for 6 elder-friendly doubles or duplexes for senior citizens are being considered. In addition to these homes, Habitat has located an additional 300 lots in the Upper Ninth Ward and plans on continuing to build new homes on these lots. Ultimately, the Musicians’ Village will encompass hundreds of homes in the Upper Ninth Ward, resulting in the revitalization and redevelopment of the community.
Habitat partner families will purchase the homes through Habitat’s traditional low-income homeownership program. As Habitat works to raise additional money, it will continue to qualify low-income New Orleans families in need of shelter and work with the music community to identify local musicians who are willing to partner with New Orleans Area Habitat and become homeowners in the Musicians’ Village. The Musicians’ Village marks the beginning of Habitat’s long-term commitment to rebuilding New Orleans, one home at a time.
About New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. NOAHH builds new houses in partnership with sponsors, volunteers, communities, and homeowner families to eliminate poverty housing in the New Orleans area while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. In the coming years, NOAHH plans to build 1,500 homes in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes.
As one of the many musicians who was nurtured by the vibrant cultural environment in New Orleans, I cannot overstate the importance of the Musicians’ Village. Please lend your support for those artists eager to call New Orleans home again, and for those in future generations who will be the beneficiaries of their knowledge.- Branford Marsalis
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