Neighborhood Profiles / Treme

Treme

Neighborhood Overview

Tremé (pronounced "truh-MAY"), often described as America's oldest African American neighborhood, lies just north of the French Quarter in New Orleans. This culturally significant community has been at the heart of the city's musical and cultural development for over two centuries. Bounded by North Rampart Street, St. Bernard Avenue, North Broad Street, and Orleans Avenue/Basin Street, Tremé's rich history and central location make it both culturally invaluable and increasingly vulnerable to development pressures.

Quick Facts

Population: Approximately 6,300 residents (down from 8,800 pre-Katrina)
Demographics: Historically African American, with increasing diversity in recent years
Housing: Mix of historic Creole cottages, shotgun homes, and newly constructed properties
Historic Significance: Birthplace of jazz, home to Congo Square, center of brass band traditions and social aid and pleasure clubs

Core Challenges

1. Cultural Preservation & Gentrification

Tremé faces intense gentrification pressure that threatens its cultural fabric:

Rising Property Values: Housing costs have increased by over 60% since 2010
Demographic Shifts: Long-term resident displacement and changing neighborhood composition
Cultural Spaces Lost: Several historic music venues and gathering spaces have closed
Commercialization of Culture: Tensions between authentic traditions and commodified experiences

The neighborhood's proximity to the French Quarter and downtown, combined with its historic architecture and cultural cachet, has accelerated these changes in recent years.

2. Housing Affordability & Displacement

The housing market in Tremé presents significant challenges:

Short-term Rentals: Proliferation of tourist accommodations reducing long-term housing
Property Tax Increases: Rising assessments burden long-term homeowners
Maintenance Costs: Historic home upkeep poses financial challenges for longtime residents
Limited Affordable Housing: Few new developments include affordable units

The 2023 assessment cycle saw property values in Tremé increase by an average of 24%, creating tax burdens that pushed some multi-generational families to sell their homes.

3. Historic Preservation & Infrastructure

Balancing preservation with necessary infrastructure improvements creates tensions:

Aging Infrastructure: Water, sewer, and drainage systems require modernization
Historic District Constraints: Preservation requirements can increase renovation costs
Climate Adaptation Needs: Historic preservation guidelines sometimes conflict with resilience measures
Public Space Maintenance: Parks and community spaces need investment and care

The 2024 infrastructure improvements along Ursulines Avenue revealed the complexity of updating systems while preserving historic streetscapes and protecting heritage trees.

4. Economic Opportunity & Equity

Despite its cultural wealth, economic challenges persist:

Tourism Economy: Benefits of cultural tourism not equally shared with community
Wealth Gap: Increasing disparity between new and long-term residents
Commercial Gentrification: Local businesses displaced by higher-end establishments
Workforce Development: Need for pathways to quality employment for residents

Several beloved neighborhood businesses, including Willie Mae's Grocery, closed in 2023-2024 due to rising rents and changing consumer demographics.

Community Assets & Strengths

Despite these challenges, Tremé possesses remarkable assets:

Cultural Legacy: Globally recognized musical and cultural traditions
Strong Identity: Clear sense of neighborhood history and significance
Active Organizations: Dedicated community groups and cultural institutions
Physical Heritage: Historic architecture and significant cultural sites
Location: Central positioning with strong connectivity to other neighborhoods
Multi-generational Knowledge: Elders with deep understanding of traditions and history

These assets have allowed the community to maintain its identity despite significant pressures and changes over generations.

Emerging Solutions

Cultural Preservation Initiatives

Show Image

Several initiatives aim to preserve and sustain Tremé's cultural practices:

Tremé Cultural Heritage District: Special zoning overlay with cultural use protections
Living Traditions Grant Program: Direct support to cultural practitioners and tradition bearers
Backstreet Cultural Museum Expansion: Enhanced archive and programming space for cultural artifacts
Second Line Route Preservation: Official designation of traditional parade routes
Musical Mentor Program: Connecting youth with elder musicians

The Cultural Heritage District, established in 2023, includes pioneering provisions that incentivize developers to include cultural spaces in new projects and provides tax benefits for properties hosting cultural activities.

Community-Controlled Development

Innovations in development models aim to balance growth with preservation:

Tremé Community Land Trust: Holds 17 properties in permanent affordability
Historic Property Renovation Fund: Low-interest loans for resident homeowners
Legacy Business Preservation Program: Rent stabilization for long-standing neighborhood businesses
Community Benefits Agreements: Required for major new developments
Cooperative Ownership Model: Resident-owned housing and commercial buildings

These approaches give the community greater control over neighborhood change while allowing for necessary investment and improvement.

Cultural Economy Expansion

Programs that strengthen the economic benefits of cultural production:

Tremé Cultural Enterprise Incubator: Supporting culture-based businesses
Fair Share Tourism Initiative: Directing tourism dollars to authentic cultural productions
Musician Housing Cooperative: Affordable living/performance space for artists
Cultural Apprenticeship Program: Paid positions for youth learning traditional skills
Sound Ordinance Reforms: Balanced regulations protecting both music venues and residents

These initiatives work to ensure that Tremé's cultural producers benefit economically from their contributions to the city's identity and tourism economy.

Public Space Activation

Reclaiming and enhancing community spaces for resident benefit:

Congo Square Expansion: Enhanced programming and community access
Neighborhood Squares Initiative: Converting vacant lots to community gathering spaces
Louis Armstrong Park Community Management: Increased resident involvement in park governance
Cultural Marker Project: Historical signage telling authentic neighborhood stories
Community Gardens Network: Food production and gathering spaces throughout the neighborhood

These projects reinforce community ownership of public spaces while creating platforms for cultural expression and community building.

Looking Forward: Strategic Priorities

Community leaders have identified several priorities for Tremé's continued cultural preservation and equitable development:

1. Housing Justice Framework

Expanding community land trust properties to reach 10% of housing stock
Implementing stronger short-term rental regulations and enforcement
Creating property tax relief programs for long-term residents
Supporting heirs' property resolution to secure generational wealth
Developing affordable housing with cultural space requirements

2. Cultural Sustainability Ecosystem

Establishing a cultural preservation fund with dedicated revenue stream
Creating a comprehensive inventory of cultural assets and practitioners
Developing succession planning for cultural traditions and practices
Supporting spaces for transmission of cultural knowledge
Building economic models that fairly compensate cultural practitioners

3. Equitable Economic Development

Creating pathways from cultural knowledge to sustainable livelihoods
Supporting locally-owned businesses serving neighborhood needs
Developing cooperative ownership models for commercial properties
Implementing targeted workforce development for creative industries
Balancing tourism benefits with resident quality of life

4. Climate Adaptation with Preservation

Developing historic preservation guidelines compatible with resilience needs
Improving stormwater management while respecting historic landscapes
Reducing urban heat island effect through appropriate green infrastructure
Creating community resilience hub with cultural preservation components
Addressing subsidence through appropriate interventions

How to Get Involved

Tremé's preservation and development require collaborative approaches and sustained commitment. Here are ways to contribute:

For Residents

Document and share neighborhood history and cultural practices
Participate in community planning processes
Support neighborhood cultural events and institutions
Engage youth in cultural traditions

For Organizations

Partner with established community groups
Prioritize hiring from within the neighborhood
Align programming with community-identified priorities
Support capacity building for cultural organizations

For Government Officials

Implement culturally-sensitive zoning and development policies
Support anti-displacement measures
Improve cultural asset mapping and support
Ensure effective community engagement in decision-making

For Funders

Invest in community-controlled development
Support cultural transmission programs
Fund collaborative approaches across organizations
Prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term projects

Key Contacts & Resources

Neighborhood Organizations

Tremé Community Improvement Association
Preservation Resource Center - Tremé Program
Tremé Cultural Heritage Society

Cultural Resources

Backstreet Cultural Museum
New Orleans African American Museum
Tremé Music Archive

Housing Resources

Tremé Community Land Trust
Historic Home Rehabilitation Assistance
Heirs' Property Legal Aid

This community profile was developed through interviews with Tremé residents, community leaders, and cultural practitioners. 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, Central City, and the 7th Ward, each facing similar challenges but developing unique solutions based on local context and community assets.