Bywater, New Orleans, a Once-Industrial Neighborhood With a Funky Vibe
Ask a New Orleanian which of the city's neighborhoods has changed the most over the past 10 years and they're likely to say Bywater Historic District, a roughly 120-block neighborhood running alongside the Mississippi River.
Although only a 15 minute walk from the bacchanalia of Bourbon Street, Bywater feels like a calm retreat, where you can once again hear the chatter of birds and the ticking of bikes bouncing over erratically patched cement. Bywater extends beyond the historic district, but opinions on its boundaries vary, even among locals. It is made up of a colorful architectural blend of one-story shotgun houses and Creole cottages packed cozily together. Along the river, worn wharves hint at the neighborhood's industrial past when longshoremen lived there and unloaded tropical fruit. While the makeup of the neighborhood was racially diverse, 'what most folks had in common was their economic class,' as working or middle class residents, said Richard Campanella, a geographer and author with the Tulane University School of Architecture who lived in Bywater for 15 years.
Through the years, Bywater's population has been shaped by enslavement, migration and gentrification. By the late antebellum era, Black people who were free outnumbered the enslaved population by a three-to-one ratio. In the 1960s, integration of public schools triggered an exodus of white residents, and Bywater became mostly Black. In 2005, the neighborhood was largely spared the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina, and this set the stage for the area's ongoing gentrification. In 2000, 61 percent of Bywater residents were Black and 32 percent were white. By 2023, those numbers had nearly flipped, according to census data.
N. ROMAN ST.
Louisiana
LOUISIANA
New Orleans
PRESS ST.
New Orleans
ST. CLAUDE
AVE.
Frederick A. Douglass
High School
POLAND
AVE.
MARIGNY
bywater
HISTORIC DISTRICT
Vaughan's
Lounge
CRESCENT
PARK
NSA
East Bank
Apartments
42 Bywater
10
FRENCH
QUARTER
Mississippi
River
Detail
area
BOURBON
ST.
1/2 mile
By The New York Times
Location: Along the left bank of the Mississippi River, east of the French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods, from Press Street to Poland Avenue
Population: 3,600 in the Bywater statistical area, which extends beyond the historic district (2019-2023 American Community Survey)
Area: Approximately 120 blocks
Housing: Shotgun houses and Creole cottages, as well as some multifamily buildings and developing housing projects
The vibe: A funky, rapidly gentrifying neighborhood where dive bars and fine dining coexist, and biking with a boombox is popular.
What's great about where you live?
Tell us about life in your city, town or neighborhood and why you chose it as home.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Families of those killed in collapse of Georgia ferry dock sue companies that built it
ATLANTA (AP) — Relatives of seven people who drowned in waters off a Georgia island after a ferry dock walkway collapsed announced Wednesday they filed a lawsuit against the companies that designed and built it. Dozens of people were standing on the metal walkway over the water between a ferry boat and a dock on Sapelo Island when it snapped in the middle. Many plunged into the water and got swept away by tidal currents, while others clung desperately to the hanging, fractured structure. The tragedy Oct. 19 struck as about 700 people visited Sapelo Island for a celebration of the tiny Hogg Hummock community founded by enslaved people who were emancipated after the Civil War. Reachable only by boat, it's one of the few Gullah-Geechee communities remaining in the South, where slaves worked on isolated island plantations retained much of their African heritage. 'It was supposed to be a celebration of Black pride, but it became a day of great, great, great Black loss of humanity and life,' civil rights attorney Ben Crump, one of several lawyers behind the lawsuit, told an Atlanta news conference. 'We're filing this lawsuit to speak to that tragedy.' Attorneys for the families of those killed and more than three dozen survivors say the 80-foot (24-meter) walkway was weak because of a lack of structural reinforcement, poor welding and failure by the Georgia firm that built it to follow design plans. The walkway was 'so poorly designed and constructed that any competent construction professional should have recognized the flimsy and unstable nature of the gangway,' the lawsuit says. Regina Brinson, one of the suing survivors, said she was on the crowded walkway when she heard a loud crack and saw family friend Carlotta McIntosh plunge into the water holding her walker. Brinson and her uncle, Isaiah Thomas, also fell. Brinson recalled prying her uncle's fingers from her shirt to avoid being dragged underwater. Both Thomas and McIntosh died. 'The pain doesn't get any easier whatsoever,' Brinson told the Atlanta news conference. Kimberly Wood said she tumbled from the collapsed walkway clutching her 2-year-old daughter. Her older girl, 8, clung to the dangling walkway's railing. Wood said she managed to tread water until she reached a life preserver tossed from the ferry boat. Her older daughter was rescued and treated for wounds to her hand, said Wood, who had an injured shoulder. 'I'm shaking now just taking about it,' said Wood, another plaintiff. The lawsuit targets four private contractors hired to design and rebuild the ferry dock and walkway for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The project was finished in 2021. The walkway was fabricated by McIntosh County business Crescent Equipment Co. Its attorney, Clinton Fletcher, declined to comment. The project's general contractor, Virginia-based Centennial Contractors Enterprises, said by email that it doesn't comment on pending litigation. So did SSOE Group, which purchased an Atlanta design firm named as a defendant several years ago. An engineering firm also named as a defendant did not immediately return a phone message Wednesday. The lawsuit doesn't target the Department of Natural Resources or any other Georgia state agency. It says the department relied on its private contractors to ensure the walkway was safely built, which was "beyond the scope of the DNR's internal expertise and qualifications.' The agency told The Associated Press last year that the walkway should have been able to support the weight of 320 people. About 40 people were standing on it when it snapped. 'There was supposed to be a certified professional engineer that signed off on that part of the project and that was neglected," said Chadrick Mance, a Savannah attorney representing nine of the injured. Filed in Gwinnett County State Court in metro Atlanta, the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for negligence, wrongful deaths and personal injuries. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation by the state officials, said Haley Chafin, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources. State Attorney General Chris Carr also tapped a private engineering firm to perform an independent investigation. ___ Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Black-necked stilts sighting with chicks at Pea Island Refuge
PEA ISLAND, N.C. (WNCT) — A pair of Black-necked Stilts with just-fledged chicks were seen feeding at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. According to a press release from National Wildlife Refuges in Eastern North Carolina, 'Two of the photos below show a parent with 1-2 chicks in the marsh grass. The 3rd photo shows a solo chick foraging.' The wildlife refuge encourage guests to 'bring your binoculars or spotting scope when you come to the refuge ready to birdwatch.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Sites preserving American history in jeopardy nationwide amid changing federal policies
As federal policies and staffing levels rapidly change in the name of government efficiency and energy independence, historical sites across the United States — sites that help the public understand the cultures that came before them and built their communities of today — are in jeopardy of losing out on important federal protections. In southern Louisiana, a project aimed at preserving the story of slavery in the Deep South and the unique path of formerly enslaved people transitioning to landowners after the Civil War has been halted amid the federal changes and staffing cuts impacting historic preservation offices in several agencies. The project — called Great River Road — is an 11-mile stretch of land following the winding path of the Mississippi River, spanning a few small towns that so far remain untouched by encroaching industrial development. The descendants of slaves and environmental activists in this community have been fighting industry proposals for decades. The Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, is one of more than 600 sites in the region found to be historically significant in a comprehensive study completed in 2024. The Whitney Plantation in Louisiana. CBS News Once a slave plantation, today Whitney serves as an educational museum. "I think so many people feel a sense of reverence in the fact that they're walking on the exact ground that these people walked on," said Ashley Rogers, Executive Director of Whitney Plantation. "It means everything to me to try to preserve this place for future generations… I want this place to still be here in 100 years." The study was a major win for the hope of securing federal protection for the region, finding that formerly enslaved farmers once cultivated the land — descendants of those people still use historical farming techniques to this day. As a result, the region was listed as eligible to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which listed 99,800 historically significant properties as of last March, according to a CBS News analysis of data provided by the National Park Service. Great River Road was expected to go even higher. It was anticipated to soon receive the coveted National Historic Landmark title — a special designation given to only about 2,600 sites across the country. But the project was halted after President Trump returned to the White House for a second term. "We found out on the news. This was not information that was shared with any members. We found out the same way everyone else found out," Rogers said. The request for the Great River Road to be removed from the National Register came from the State Historic Preservation Office, with documentation provided by local preservationists sent to the National Park Service, according to officials familiar with the project. The Louisiana Office of Historic Preservation declined to comment. While Rogers says local environmental and industrial struggles were a factor, historic preservation sources close to the project say the changing political landscape at a federal level paved the way for the project to lose steam for the foreseeable future. In fact, the National Park System Advisory Board, which designates historic landmarks, was quietly dissolved in May, CBS News learned, halting all applications for sites like Great River Road across the country. Across the entire National Park Service, sources close to the agency tell CBS News 13% of employees have been pushed out since January, a loss of up to 3,000 workers, adding the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park has lost half its staff already. Sources close to NPS said some PhD researchers and park rangers are now cleaning bathrooms at many protected park service sites and monuments across America because they are the last employees left at those sites. Historians say they're deeply concerned about the more than 3 million artifacts preserved at these sites, which are also at risk due to the staffing cuts. Other historians tell CBS News several other agencies have also faced significant cuts. In the Government Services Administration, preservationist positions in charge of managing historic properties have been reduced by 80%, down from 40 employees to only eight. A few other staffing positions with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation — a small, independent federal agency tasked with advising the president and Congress on preservation policy — have also been chopped. At the Department of the Interior, historians fighting the federal policy changes say an order was recently issued proposing to reduce payroll expenses by another 30%, but that may not necessarily constitute a 30% reduction in staff. And while earlier termination notices that were part of the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to the federal workforce are still pending judicial review, they leave activists concerned that historic properties considered irreplaceable could suffer as a result. With nearly $1 billion in budget cuts to the National Park Service proposed for next year, national parks advocates estimate 350 additional historical, cultural or natural sites nationwide are at risk of closing. Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust For Historic Preservation — one of many groups fighting against drastic budget cuts and low staffing at National Parks and historic sites — told CBS News, "We are concerned when the infrastructure that supports preservation activities is dismantled in such a way so that we can't quite figure out how these activities are going to happen now." Her organization is even suing the federal government over the impact the cuts and policy changes are having on important places in American history. The White House says the changes are important for ensuring government efficiency, and are an effort to "restore truth and sanity to depictions of American history." "President Trump is ensuring agencies across the country run more efficiently while preserving great services for the American people, like access to our beautiful national parks," said Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, in a written statement to CBS News. "Secretary Burgum is doing an incredible job keeping our parks ready for peak season, ensuring they are in pristine condition for visitors, and restoring truth and sanity to depictions of American history in line with the President's Executive Order." But Rogers says, "It's a cynical view to think that we can't spend any government money on things that bring us joy and learning. There are very few places in this country where you can even hear this story, let alone in the place where it happened." She remains hopeful the Great River Road project will regain traction again down the line. Another advocate involved in the project says Great River Road's demise was "crazy." But despite state requests for the site to be removed from eligibility, technically, the Great River Road still stands a chance for federal protections in the future. According to a CBS News analysis of U.S. Park Service data on the National Register of Historic Places and updated data for 2025 provided by NPS, Great River Road was among about 28 properties that were submitted to the Register and considered eligible for listing as of last year. Getting added to the Register requires passing several procedural steps, with some 428 properties having been added to the National Register so far this year, compared to 1,178 total last year, according to 2025 data provided by the Park Service. So far in 2025, 32 properties have been removed from the Register, including 16 properties that were demolished in Kansas City, Missouri. There were 57 removals in all of 2024, and another 57 removals in 2023. Thirty-four properties were determined to be ineligible for listing last year. Asked about Great River Road, as well as the spending and staffing cuts, the National Park Service says employees may need to take on additional responsibilities amid the cuts, offering the following written statement: "National Park Service employees are deeply committed to preserving our public lands and serving visitors. At times, team members may step into a range of responsibilities outside their usual scope to help ensure continued access, safety, and stewardship across the park system. This flexibility reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of our workforce. "Our parks have long stood as symbols of our shared heritage, resilience, and natural beauty, and continue to offer inspiring experiences to millions of visitors each year. The National Park Service is focused on once again ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks. "We encourage travelers to do a bit of advance planning to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Our parks offer incredible natural beauty and recreational opportunities, and thoughtful preparation helps make the most of every visit. Checking Park alerts, reviewing maps, understanding site-specific guidelines, and planning for varying conditions are all great ways to support a positive and memorable trip. We appreciate everyone's cooperation in preserving these treasured places for all to enjoy.
