Neighborhood Profiles / Broadmoor

Broadmoor

Neighborhood Overview

Broadmoor, located in the heart of New Orleans between Napoleon Avenue and Louisiana Avenue, stands as one of the city's most compelling examples of community-led planning and revitalization. This racially and economically diverse neighborhood sits in a natural basin that was heavily flooded during Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath, Broadmoor was initially designated as a potential "green space" rather than being rebuilt—a decision community members successfully resisted through organizing, planning, and determination. Today, Broadmoor showcases how resident leadership and strategic partnerships can transform a neighborhood's trajectory.

The neighborhood's name reflects its topography as a broad, low-lying area or "moor." Developed primarily in the early 20th century, Broadmoor evolved from swampland to a streetcar suburb and eventually into a fully integrated part of the urban fabric. The Andrew H. Wilson School, Broadmoor Library, and various churches have long served as community anchors, while the Broadmoor Improvement Association (established 1930) stands as one of the city's oldest continuously operating neighborhood organizations, providing a foundation for the remarkable post-Katrina organizing that has made Broadmoor a national model for community resilience.

Quick Facts

Population: Approximately 7,200 residents (over 95% of pre-Katrina population)
Demographics: Diverse community (approximately 60% African American, 30% white, 10% Latino and other groups) with mixed income levels
Housing: Mix of historic homes, small apartment buildings, and new construction
Historic Significance: Developed in early 20th century from drained swampland, site of significant civil rights history and integration efforts, location of pioneering post-Katrina community planning, and home to the innovative Broadmoor Educational Corridor

Core Challenges

1. Water Management & Flooding

Broadmoor's geography creates persistent water challenges:

Basin Location: Neighborhood sits in a natural depression averaging 3.5 feet below sea level
Drainage Limitations: Aging infrastructure struggles during heavy rainfall
Subsidence: Continuing land sinking exacerbates flood vulnerability
Groundwater Concerns: High water table affects foundations and infrastructure
Climate Change Impacts: Increasing intensity of rainfall events

The 2023 flash flooding demonstrated ongoing vulnerability when three inches of rain fell in one hour, leaving parts of the neighborhood with up to 18 inches of street flooding. Several homeowners reported water entering their homes despite previous elevation and mitigation efforts.

2. Housing Affordability & Stability

Housing market dynamics create economic pressures:

Rising Property Values: Home prices increased approximately 45% since 2015
Maintenance Costs: Historic home upkeep financially challenging for many
Investor Activity: Growing presence of non-resident property owners
Short-term Rentals: Conversion of housing to tourist accommodations
Demolition Threats: Ongoing concerns about loss of historic structures

The 2024 property assessment cycle saw valuation increases of 20-35% for many Broadmoor properties, creating significant tax pressures particularly for fixed-income and elderly residents who have owned their homes for generations.

3. Commercial Corridor Revitalization

Despite overall recovery success, commercial areas face challenges:

Business Mix Gaps: Limited diversity of commercial offerings
Vacant Storefronts: Persistent vacancies in key locations
Property Condition Issues: Some commercial buildings need significant upgrades
Walkability Concerns: Pedestrian infrastructure needs improvement
Financing Barriers: Challenges accessing capital for business development

The South Broad and Washington Avenue corridors show uneven recovery, with clusters of successful businesses interspersed with vacancies and underutilized properties. The 2023 business district assessment identified over 25 vacant commercial spaces along these corridors.

4. Institutional Sustainability

Community-driven initiatives face long-term capacity challenges:

Volunteer Fatigue: Heavy reliance on resident volunteer time
Funding Sustainability: Transition from recovery funding to ongoing support
Leadership Transitions: Need for continued leadership development
Balancing Priorities: Managing multiple initiatives with limited capacity
Institutional Memory: Preserving knowledge as community changes

After years of intensive recovery work, organizations like the Broadmoor Improvement Association face the challenge of maintaining momentum while adapting to a post-recovery environment where funding sources have changed and volunteer energy has naturally declined.

Community Assets & Strengths

Despite these challenges, Broadmoor possesses remarkable assets:

Organizational Capacity: Strong neighborhood association with professional staff
Educational Corridor: Wilson Charter School, Broadmoor Library, and Arts & Wellness Center
Diverse Housing Stock: Range of home sizes and types accommodating different needs
Strategic Partnerships: Relationships with universities, foundations, and government
Recovery Experience: Proven capacity for community-driven planning and implementation
Demographic Diversity: Mixed-income, multi-racial community with intergenerational connections
Faith Communities: Active churches serving as community anchors
Green Infrastructure: Growing network of water management features
Cultural Traditions: Second line routes, musical heritage, and community celebrations

These assets provide a foundation for addressing challenges while building on the neighborhood's demonstrated capacity for self-determination and collaborative problem-solving.

Emerging Solutions

Distributed Water Management Network

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Innovative approaches to living with water:

Neutral Ground Water Features: Water-absorbing landscapes in medians and public spaces
Residential Rain Garden Program: Over 100 home installations managing runoff
Permeable Alleyway Initiative: Converting service lanes to water-absorbing pathways
Wilson School Water Plaza: Educational demonstration site for stormwater management
Community Monitoring Network: Resident-led documentation of flooding patterns

These initiatives represent Broadmoor's shift toward a distributed approach to water management that combines public and private property solutions rather than relying solely on municipal drainage systems.

Housing Stability Alliance

Strategies to maintain housing affordability and neighborhood character:

Home Preservation Fund: Low-interest loans for critical home repairs
Tax Relief Advocacy: Coalition seeking protections for vulnerable longtime residents
Broadmoor Community Land Trust: Securing permanently affordable properties
Senior Housing Initiative: Helping elderly residents age in place
Renovation Resource Center: Technical assistance for appropriate home improvements

These approaches aim to preserve Broadmoor's socioeconomic diversity by addressing various aspects of housing pressure, from maintenance costs to property taxes to ownership structures.

Commercial Corridor Activation

Strategic approaches to revitalizing business districts:

Washington Avenue Business Association: Collective marketing and improvement efforts
Storefront Enhancement Program: Façade improvements and signage upgrades
Pop-up Retail Initiative: Temporary activation of vacant spaces
Business Incubator Program: Support for neighborhood-serving entrepreneurs
Commercial Property Improvement Fund: Matching grants for building upgrades

These initiatives focus on creating more vibrant, diverse commercial areas that better serve neighborhood needs while adapting to changing retail patterns.

Sustainable Community Leadership

Building long-term institutional capacity:

Broadmoor Community Development Corporation: Dedicated vehicle for housing and economic development
Leadership Development Pipeline: Training programs for emerging neighborhood leaders
Shared Resource Model: Collaborative approach to administrative functions
Diversified Funding Strategy: Moving beyond recovery grants to sustainable revenue
Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer: Connecting experienced leaders with newcomers

These approaches address the critical challenge of maintaining community-driven initiatives beyond the initial recovery period through sustainable organizational structures and expanded leadership capacity.

Looking Forward: Strategic Priorities

Community leaders have identified several priorities for Broadmoor's continued development:

1. Climate Resilience & Adaptation

Implementing comprehensive stormwater management throughout neighborhood
Creating resilience hubs for emergency response and recovery
Addressing subsidence impacts through strategic interventions
Expanding green infrastructure on public and private property
Building community capacity for climate adaptation

2. Housing Affordability & Preservation

Expanding permanently affordable housing options
Creating circuit-breaker tax relief for vulnerable homeowners
Supporting home maintenance and weatherization
Addressing vacant properties through strategic redevelopment
Balancing new development with neighborhood character

3. Educational & Cultural Vitality

Strengthening the educational corridor as a community anchor
Preserving and celebrating neighborhood cultural traditions
Expanding arts and wellness programming
Developing youth leadership opportunities
Creating stronger connections between schools and community

4. Economic Development & Commercial Vitality

Revitalizing neighborhood commercial corridors
Supporting locally-owned, neighborhood-serving businesses
Creating workforce development pathways
Developing community wealth-building strategies
Enhancing walkability and commercial district amenities

How to Get Involved

Broadmoor's continued development requires collaborative approaches and sustained commitment. Here are ways to contribute:

For Residents

Join the Broadmoor Improvement Association committees
Participate in neighborhood planning processes
Volunteer at the Broadmoor Library or Educational Corridor
Implement home-based water management features
Support locally-owned businesses

For Organizations

Align programming with community-identified priorities
Provide technical assistance for resident-led initiatives
Support capacity building for community leadership
Develop partnerships addressing specific neighborhood needs

For Government Officials

Implement infrastructure improvements with community input
Support community-driven development approaches
Improve coordination between departments
Ensure effective community engagement in decision-making

For Funders

Invest in resident-led initiatives
Support organizational capacity building
Fund innovative approaches to neighborhood challenges
Prioritize sustainability and long-term impact

Key Contacts & Resources

Neighborhood Organizations

Broadmoor Improvement Association
Broadmoor Development Corporation
Broadmoor Educational Corridor

Housing & Business Resources

Broadmoor Housing Assistance Center
Commercial Corridor Resource Hub
Home Repair Assistance Program

Environmental & Community Resources

Broadmoor Water Management Network
Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center
Broadmoor Community Garden

This community profile was developed through interviews with Broadmoor residents, business owners, and community leaders. 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. Other profiles feature Gentilly, the Lower Ninth Ward, Tremé, Central City, the 7th Ward, Bywater, Hollygrove, Lakeview, Algiers, Mid-City, the Irish Channel and Garden District, New Orleans East, Arabi, Chalmette, Uptown, the Marigny, the French Quarter, Gert Town, the Warehouse and Arts District, Leonidas/Pigeon Town, Bayou St. John, Fairgrounds/7th Ward, St. Roch, St. Claude, Plum Orchard, Pontchartrain Park, City Park, Fontainebleau/Audubon, Desire/Florida, Village de l'Est, Tall Timbers/Brechtel, and Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks, each facing similar challenges but developing unique solutions based on local context and community assets.