The Make It Right Project: Lower 9th Ward

Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. “Levee breaches created floodwaters that tore houses off their foundations, threw houses on top of cars, and left the entire community homeless.”

Brad Pitt targeted this location not only because of the severe damage but because it was one of the richest cultural communities in the country. Make It Right wants to rehabilitate the community and bring the history back to its roots.

Even through all the efforts of rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward, crime is still a major concern. Some residents asked the architects if bars would protect the houses’ windows, or if the architects could position windows high off the ground and locate bedrooms away from exterior walls. They are in the process of discussing and addressing these concerns.

There are several community groups that have joined together to rebuild the community. Some include: New Life Intracoastal Community Development Corporation, Common Ground Relief and All Congregations Together (A.C.T.).

The Make It Right core team assembled by Pitt includes experts such as William McDonough, a world leader in environmental architecture. Cherokee Gives Back Foundation, a firm that specializes is redevelopment is also involved in the project. A third company involved is Graft, an international leading architecture firm.