Bulrush Grass @ Bayou Bienvenue

Coalition to Restore Coastal LA, CSED, Common Ground, GRN, Global Green, Groundworks, Sierra Club, and over 20 volunteers coming from as far as CA plant over 1000 plants in the Bayou.
Photo By: John Taylor

Shoring-Up The Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work continues on 5227 Chartres.  The Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development, otherwise known as The Center on Chartres undergoes repairs by the CSED.  We replaced termite damaged wood from the cantilevered section of the front porch.

September 28th volunteers from the USGBC's Green Apple Day of Service will be assisting with additional repairs to the porch at The Center.

CSED Purchases NORA Properties

The Lower 9^th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development (CSED) has purchased the vacant lots at 2639 Caffin Avenue, 5620 Florida Avenue, 2636 and 2640 Lamanche Street from the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA). 

The purchase of these properties will support and enhance our ongoing effort with partners to restore the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle into a healthly wetland which can once again serve as a natural surge barrier and a recreational haven for our community.  In 2007, we helped to build the Bayou Bienvenue Platform located directly across Florida Avenue from these lots.  The CSED acts as the caretaker of the platform site, provides tours by a Lower 9th Ward native bayou guide, and engages in community outreach and environmental education.  Use of these properties will further enhance our mission to reconnect Lower 9th Ward residents with the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle & the waters that surround them.

Current CSED plans for these lots include regular maintenance, soil sampling, fencing, tree plantings, and the development of a community orchard. We are honored to be able to give new life and purpose to these former homesites of displaced Lower 9th Ward residents. 

Pier Work at 5227 Chartres Nearing Completion!

 Look at bottom right hand picture to compare old and new pier!  We've  installed a total of six new! 

Piers go UP at the Sustainable Engagement and Development Center (5227 Chartres)

Volunteers  from West Virgina assist Big Jim and I in digging six holes for six new piers at 5227 Chartres.  The CSED is thankful for all the help from our volunteers!!!  Next step is leveling and loading the pier pads and then building the piers. Final step: lifting the house, finishing the piers and then letting the house back down!

Shooting Elevations with Big Jim

Welcome to the future Sustainable Engagement and Development Center - 5227 Chartres Street - Lower 9th Ward.  Big Jim and I took lazer level measurments of the Chartres house to determine how level the house was.  Largest difference in measurments was 2 1/2 inches.  Not bad! 

Big Jim determined that 6 new piers need to be built under the house because of spans over 7 feet.  Work is underway with the gracious help of volunteers  from West Virgina! 

Thoughts from A Special Place

"Be good to the environment and you'll be able to smile like the alligator." - John Taylor

Thoughts from A Special Place

"Bayou Bienvenue has been good to us, it's time for us to be good to it." - John Taylor

Thoughts from A Special Place

"There is always a way to find beauty in something you really care about." - John Taylor

John Taylor works for the CSED as Wetlands Specialist.  "Thoughts from A Special Place" will be made of his quotes and photographs about the Bayou. 

John has spent most of his life enjoying Bayou Bienvenue hunting, fishing, admiring, interacting, (teaching people) and taking photos of the bayou and the wildlife in and around the triangle

Please stay tuned to this blog to see some of his beautiful work!

Lower 9th Ward "Views"