A Case Study of Eminent Domain in New Orleans
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University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations Dissertations and Theses Fall 12-15-2012 They Took My Bedroom: A Case Study of Eminent Domain in New Orleans Jared E. Munster University of New Orleans, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td Part of the Urban Studies and Planning Commons Recommended Citation Munster, Jared E., "They Took My Bedroom: A Case Study of Eminent Domain in New Orleans" (2012). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1558. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1558 This Dissertation-Restricted is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation-Restricted in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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The uthora is solely responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright. For more information, please contact [email protected]. They Took My Bedroom: A Case Study of Eminent Domain in New Orleans A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of New Orleans in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies by Jared E. Munster, AICP B.S. Urban Studies and Planning, University of New Orleans, 2004 Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of New Orleans, 2006 December 2012 © 2012, Jared E. Munster ii Dedication To my husband, Brandon Robb, thank you for endless love and support. “Chère Nouvelle Orléans, patrie de ma jeunesse, berceau de quelques-uns de mes ancestres, tombeau d’un grand nombre de ceux que j’ai aimés. Je demande à Dieu de te protéger, de te garder, de te bénir” - Hélène D’Aquin Allain (1868) (“Dear New Orleans, home of my youth, cradle of many ancestors, tomb of many I have loved. I ask of God to protect, to preserve and to bless thee”) iii Acknowledgements I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Dr. David Gladstone, as my dissertation advisor and committee chair, for reading the many, many drafts of this dissertation through the years. I must also extend my gratitude to Dr. Arnold Hirsch for his role on my examination committee, Steve Villavaso for serving on both my examination and dissertation committees and Dr. John Renne and Dr. Patrick Haughey for their willingness to serve on the dissertation committee. Without you all, I could not have made it through this process. Additionally, there are many others whose support throughout research and writing has proved invaluable to the creation of this document. Irene Wainwright, the City’s Archivist, has proven to be an incredible resource, and Martha Griset, the City’s Real Estate Administrator, has been truly helpful in allowing me full access to the Real Estate and Records office of the City to review the thousands of documents needed to complete this research. My appreciation also goes to the City Planning Commission for opening their library for my use; and the Deputy Director of the City Planning Commission, Leslie Alley, for allowing me access to her personal files regarding the MCLNO/VAMC project. In addition to records held by the City and Archives, I must also thank the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Williams Research Center and the Preservation Resource Center, Michelle Kimball particularly, for the generous access provided to their resources. More goes into one of these projects than compiling information and reporting on it, for this I must express my gratitude to the Department of Safety and Permits, particularly Directors Paul May and Pura Bascos, and Zoning Administrator Edward Horan for allowing me the flexibility in my work schedule to complete this project. Lastly, I must thank my husband, Brandon Robb, to whom this dissertation is dedicated. It is said that by the time a dissertation is complete, its author knows more on the subject than anyone else. If that is the case, Brandon is the second best authority on the topic. Thank you for reading every word of this dissertation. Twice. Thank you also for being my sounding board and support as I worked through the creation of the 348 pages which follow. iv Table of Contents List of Figures ......................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ........................................................................................................... xi Abstract.................................................................................................................. xiii Chapter 1 – Introduction: A Background of Literature and Methodology in Eminent Domain Research .................................................................. 1 Significance and Purpose of Research ............................................................ 5 Literature Review ............................................................................................ 7 Methodology and Purpose ............................................................................ 24 Chapter 2 – The Municipal Auditorium: Culture Meets Tourism ........................ 35 The Vision ...................................................................................................... 36 The Planning.................................................................................................. 41 The Land Assembly ....................................................................................... 53 The Legacy ..................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 3 – Public Housing in New Orleans: The Transition from Homes to Housing .............................................................................. 63 The Vision ...................................................................................................... 65 The Planning.................................................................................................. 70 The Land Assembly ....................................................................................... 82 The Legacy ..................................................................................................... 89 Chapter 4 – The New Orleans Civic Center: Making a Modern City .................... 94 The Vision ...................................................................................................... 95 The Planning................................................................................................ 100 The Land Assembly ...................................................................................... 110 The Legacy .................................................................................................... 114 Chapter 5 – Bridges and Highways: Accommodating the Automobile at the Expense of the City .................................................................. 119 The Vision .................................................................................................... 120 The Planning................................................................................................ 126 The Land Assembly ..................................................................................... 150 The Legacy ................................................................................................... 158 Chapter 6 – The New Orleans Cultural Center: ‘Culture’ as Defined by Bureaucracy ................................................................................. 166 The Vision .....................................................................................................167 The Planning.................................................................................................176 The Land Assembly ..................................................................................... 184 The Legacy ................................................................................................... 188 v Chapter 7 – The Bio-Medical District: Removing a Community to Provide for their Well-Being............................................................. 196 The Vision .................................................................................................... 201 The Planning................................................................................................ 206 The Land Assembly ..................................................................................... 226 The Legacy ..................................................................................................