Treme residents are speaking out this week about the next steps in the redevelopment of Armstrong Park. “We feel confident that Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration are ready to move this project forward,” said Cheryl Austin, a resident of historic Treme.
A Long History of Displacement and Delay
More than 60 years under the banner of “urban renewal” hundreds of homes and businesses in Treme were bulldozed to create a 32-acre site that eventually became Armstrong Park. The land includes historic Congo Square, where enslaved Africans once gathered in defiance – drumming, dancing, and trading goods as expressions of freedom and identity.
The Morris F.X. Jeff Municipal Auditorium, opened in 1930, served as the city’s premier venue for graduations, cultural performances, sporting events, and Carnival balls. Hurricane Katrina’s winds and flooding in 2005 causes severe damage to the roof, windows and interior. FEMA allocated nearly $40 million for repairs – with $37 million still unspent two decades later.
A Promising Agreement
On December 6, 2024, Mayor Cantrell signed a five-year Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the Save Our Soul Coalition (SOS) to create a new master plan for the park. The plan aims to preserve its cultural heritage, spur small business development, and transform the site into a lush, welcoming destination green space for residents and visitors. One French Quarter leader has called Armstrong Park an alternative to “the cultural anarchy of Bourbon Street.”
SOS was formed in 2021 in response to an effort to relocate City Hall to Armstrong Park. Thousands of residents signed petitions, rallied and met with city leaders to ensure the park’s future was shaped by community voices. This grassroots effort led directly to the CEA.
As part of the agreement, the mayor established a nine-member Municipal Auditorium and Armstrong Park Revitalization Advisory Committee, charged with advising the city on the master plan. The City also partnered with a subsidiary of the Greater New Orleans Foundation to help fund the planning process, which was originally projected to run through the end of 2025.
Nine community stakeholders have been appointed to the Municipal Auditorium and Armstrong Park Revitalization Advisory Committee. “We anticipate the advisory committee will be meeting shortly to begin work on the Request for Proposals (RFP). Our community members have done their part. By all indications the Cantrell administration and its economic development point person, Jeff Schwartz, have developed a new strategic timeline for the park’s redevelopment,” said Austin.
The Long Wait Continues
Austin believes that more than 100 families in the greater Treme area were displaced by the original demolition and have been waiting for justice since the 1960s. She draws a direct parallel to the destruction of Claiborne Avenue for Interstate 10.
“We understand projects like this don’t happen overnight. But six decades have passed since our neighborhood was destroyed. SOS has been working diligently for four years. It has taken a long time to get to this point and are confident that the upcoming master plan will include our visions and concerns,” concluded Austin.
SOS President Jackie Harris added:
“The SOS movement began in 2021. Now, four years later, we are ready to move forward with the city to fully envision and define how the Park will best serve the people of New Orleans.”
French Quarter resident and business owner Glade Bilby stressed the broader stakes:
“Louis Armstrong Park and the Municipal Auditorium offer a vital opportunity to expand economic opportunity for all. Our service-based economy stands to benefit greatly from the revitalization. Let’s not waste this chance.”
Mayoral Forum to Spotlight the Issue
SOS and community partners will host a Mayoral Forum on Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Treme Center, 900 N. Villere Street. “SOS remains eager and prepared to continue our work on Armstrong Park. Because a new mayor will take office in January 2026, it is important to hear from the candidates. We look forward to learning how they will support the vision,” Harris said.
Councilmember Freddie King and State Representative Alonzo Knox will introduce the forum with brief remarks. Lebron Joseph will serve as the moderator. Voter registration will also be available. V.O.T.E (Voice of the Experienced) will be on hand to explain to formerly incarcerated individuals how they can become registered voters. All candidates for mayor have been invited and are expected to attend.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
