Neighborhood Profiles / Gentilly

Gentilly

Neighborhood Overview

Gentilly, one of New Orleans' most diverse neighborhoods, stretches across approximately five square miles bounded by Lake Pontchartrain to the north, the Industrial Canal to the east, the Fairgrounds to the south, and City Park to the west. Once primarily swampland, Gentilly developed as a middle-class residential area in the early to mid-20th century. Today, it encompasses multiple sub-neighborhoods including Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods, Pontchartrain Park, Milneburg, and others.

Quick Facts

Population: Approximately 16,500 residents (post-Katrina recovery)
Demographics: Racially and economically diverse, with many long-term residents
Housing: Predominantly single-family homes, with increasing multifamily development
Historic Significance: Includes Pontchartrain Park, one of the first planned suburban-style communities for African Americans in the United States

Core Challenges

1. Climate Vulnerability & Flooding

Gentilly sits at the heart of New Orleans' water management challenges. Much of the neighborhood was developed on former cypress swamps and wetlands, resulting in significant subsidence issues. Its geography makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding from multiple sources:

Rainfall Events: Heavy precipitation overwhelms drainage capacity
Subsidence: Continuous sinking of the land (approximately 2 inches per year in some areas)
Canal Overtopping: Risk during tropical storms and hurricanes
Rising Groundwater: Emerging threat as water table rises with sea level

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina is still evident in parts of Gentilly, where vacant lots and blighted properties remain nearly two decades later. During Katrina, some areas of Gentilly experienced flooding of 8-10 feet.

Recent rainstorms in 2023 and 2024 have demonstrated that even with improved pumping capacity, the neighborhood remains vulnerable to flash flooding that damages homes and vehicles.

2. Housing Affordability & Displacement

As climate adaptation efforts increase property values in certain sections of Gentilly, long-time residents face mounting economic pressures:

Rising Property Values: Green infrastructure improvements have increased home values in some areas by 15-20% over five years
Insurance Costs: Flood insurance premiums continue to climb (average increase of 18% between 2021-2024)
Property Tax Assessments: Growing tax burden on fixed-income residents
Gentrification Concerns: New development attracting higher-income residents in previously affordable areas

This has created a paradoxical situation where necessary resilience improvements threaten to displace the very residents they're meant to protect.

3. Environmental Health Concerns

Residents of Gentilly have expressed concerns about environmental health issues:

Poor Air Quality: Proximity to Industrial Canal and I-610 creates air pollution exposure
Soil Contamination: Legacy industrial sites and post-Katrina mold issues
Vector Control: Standing water increases mosquito population
Urban Heat Island Effect: Limited tree canopy in some sections increases summer temperatures

A community-led environmental testing initiative in 2023 found concerning levels of lead in soil samples from certain areas, particularly near older industrial sites and major roadways.

4. Economic Revitalization

While some commercial corridors are showing signs of recovery, others remain underdeveloped:

Limited Retail Options: Food access remains a challenge in parts of the neighborhood
Vacant Commercial Properties: Empty storefronts along Elysian Fields and other corridors
Job Access: Limited employment opportunities within the neighborhood
Small Business Struggles: High costs and limited support for local entrepreneurs

The closure of several anchor businesses post-Katrina has left gaps in services and forced residents to travel further for basic needs.

Community Assets & Strengths

Despite these challenges, Gentilly possesses significant assets:

Strong Community Organizations: Active neighborhood associations and community groups
Educational Institutions: Dillard University, University of New Orleans, and several public schools
Cultural Heritage: Rich musical and cultural traditions
Strategic Location: Proximity to City Park, lakefront, and downtown
Committed Residents: Multi-generational families with deep roots in the neighborhood
Green Space Potential: Vacant lots provide opportunities for storm water management and community gardens

The neighborhood's relative affordability (compared to other parts of New Orleans) has attracted young families and new residents who bring energy and ideas while learning from long-term residents.

Emerging Solutions

Gentilly Resilience District

The most ambitious climate adaptation initiative in Gentilly is the Gentilly Resilience District, funded by a $141 million HUD grant through the National Disaster Resilience Competition. This comprehensive approach includes multiple projects:

Mirabeau Water Garden: A 25-acre water retention site with capacity to store up to 10 million gallons of stormwater (completed 2023)
Blue-Green Corridors: Bioswales and water retention features along major streets
Pontchartrain Park Water Management: Rain gardens and water features in the historic neighborhood
St. Anthony Green Streets: Permeable paving and native landscaping to reduce runoff
Community Adaptation Program: Helping individual homeowners implement water management strategies

These projects aim to reduce flooding while creating community amenities and educational opportunities. The Mirabeau Water Garden, for example, serves as both a massive stormwater retention basin and a public park with walking trails and outdoor classrooms.

Community Land Trust Initiative

To address housing affordability concerns, a coalition of community organizations launched the Gentilly Community Land Trust in 2022. The land trust:

Acquires properties to maintain as permanently affordable housing
Separates land ownership from building ownership to reduce costs
Provides pathways to homeownership for lower-income residents
Renovates vacant properties with resilience features
Currently holds 15 properties with plans to expand to 50 by 2027

Urban Agriculture & Food Security

Several urban farming initiatives have taken root in Gentilly, addressing both food access and stormwater management:

Gentilly Greens: A network of six community gardens on formerly vacant lots
Pontchartrain Park Urban Farm: Youth-led farming program on 1.5 acres
Backyard Garden Network: Supporting over 75 home gardens throughout the neighborhood
Weekly Farmers Market: Providing fresh produce and supporting local growers

These initiatives combine traditional growing techniques with new water management strategies, creating "productive landscapes" that serve multiple purposes.

Workforce Development Partnerships

The neighborhood has fostered innovative partnerships to connect infrastructure investments with economic opportunity:

Green Infrastructure Academy: Training program for installation and maintenance of green infrastructure (graduated 47 residents since 2021)
Small Business Resilience Initiative: Helping local businesses incorporate climate adaptation into their operations
Dillard University Partnerships: Student projects supporting community needs
Youth Employment Programs: Summer positions in environmental monitoring and maintenance

These programs aim to ensure that resilience investments create economic opportunities for current residents.

Looking Forward: Strategic Priorities

Community leaders have identified several priorities for Gentilly's continued adaptation and development:

1. Equitable Implementation of Resilience Measures

Ensuring climate adaptation benefits reach all parts of the neighborhood
Preventing green gentrification through intentional policy interventions
Prioritizing projects in historically underserved areas
Meaningful community involvement in design and decision-making

2. Integrated Housing Strategy

Expanding affordable housing while improving housing quality
Supporting home elevation and weatherization for existing residents
Developing mixed-income approaches that preserve neighborhood diversity
Creating paths to homeownership for renters

3. Commercial Corridor Revitalization

Attracting neighborhood-serving businesses to fill commercial gaps
Supporting existing small businesses with technical assistance
Reimagining vacant commercial properties for new uses
Improving walkability and connectivity between residential and commercial areas

4. Environmental Health Monitoring & Remediation

Expanding community-based environmental monitoring
Addressing soil contamination through phytoremediation and targeted removal
Increasing urban tree canopy to reduce heat island effect
Creating buffers between residential areas and sources of pollution

How to Get Involved

The challenges facing Gentilly require collaborative approaches and sustained commitment. Here are ways to contribute:

For Residents

Join your neighborhood association
Participate in Gentilly Resilience District planning meetings
Implement home water management strategies
Support local businesses and community initiatives

For Organizations

Partner with existing neighborhood groups
Align programming with community-identified priorities
Share resources and technical expertise
Advocate for equitable infrastructure investment

For Government Officials

Ensure continued funding for resilience projects
Address regulatory barriers to green infrastructure
Support anti-displacement policies
Improve coordination across agencies

For Funders

Support resident-led initiatives
Fund maintenance and monitoring of existing projects
Invest in capacity building for community organizations
Prioritize initiatives that combine environmental and economic benefits

Key Contacts & Resources

Neighborhood Organizations

Gentilly Civic Improvement Association
Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association
Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association

Resilience Resources

Gentilly Resilience District Information Office
Water Wise Gulf South - Gentilly Programs
Homeowner Water Management Assistance

Housing Resources

Gentilly Community Land Trus
Home Elevation Assistance Program
Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Programs

This community profile was developed through interviews with Gentilly residents, community leaders, and technical experts. It reflects conditions as of April 2025 and will be updated regularly as new challenges and solutions emerge.

About This Series: This profile is part of TheNolaFiles.com's "Neighborhood Resilience Series," examining how different New Orleans communities are adapting to environmental, economic, and social challenges. Future profiles will feature other neighborhoods facing similar challenges but developing unique solutions based on local context and community assets.