Claiborne Avenue in the Treme: re claiming neutral ground
This thesis investigates and proposes a redesign for Claiborne Avenue, a ⁰́neutral ground⁰́₊ in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. The Treme has suffered greatly due to several planning interventions, most importantly the building in 1969 of the elevated I-10 freeway, which runs right over the middle of the district. At one time Claiborne Avenue was the heart of the Treme, lined by a large grove of old oak trees. The I-10 brought blight to the area. Nevertheless, neighborhood residents have kept their culture alive underneath the freeway bridge. It continues to be a ritualized space, in spite of the oppressive nature of the massive concrete structure that looms overhead. The intent of this thesis is to develop another option for the future of this neutral ground, one in which the I-10 overpass is removed. In a neighborhood with such strong and persistent connections to its past, it is important not only to re-establish Claiborne Avenue as an aesthetic amenity, but also to create a discourse around the injustices that have occurred. The hope is that, by approaching the project in this manner, the neighborhood⁰́₉s residents can begin to heal and create a better future for the Treme
Thesis, Dissertation, English, 2011
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL., 2011