The C. J. Peete Redevelopment

CJ Peete Redevelopment – Summary

The proposed redevelopment of the C.J. Peete public housing site will decrease the concentration of low-income families by creating a viable mixed-income community that is integrated into the greater Central City neighborhood.  The redevelopment plan creates a safe and walkable neighborhood for its residents, which is centered around a school and community center.

The physical revitalization of the CJ Peete site includes:
•    Development of new public housing rental units;
•    Development of market rate housing units;
•    Preservation and construction of key community facilities;
•    The rehabilitation and preservation of two historic buildings (an administration building and an existing apartment building);
•    The application of PATH and Energy Star technologies; and
•    A variety of improvements to the site and its infrastructure.

Unit Mix
•    460 total rental units (replaces the 723 units that existed– 144 units were occupied at the time of Hurricane Katrina)
•    83 one bedroom units, 138 two bedroom units, 193 three bedroom units, and 46 four bedroom units.
•    Many new units will be handicap accessible and considerably larger than the existing units in order to accommodate a modern family's needs.

C.J. Peete History (The Magnolia Projects)
The development was originally built in 1941 (bordered by Louisiana Avenue, Magnolia Street, Washington Avenue and LaSalle Street and then expanded in 1955 north past Clara Street and incorporating an additional six city blocks.  The expansion increased the unit count from approximately 750 to 1400.  

The Magnolia Projects was renamed C.J. Peete in recognition of Cleveland Joseph Peete who managed the property from 1952 through 1978.  The conditions of the development declined drastically in the 1980s and 1990s.  In 1998 the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) began demolition of the 1955 expansion area of the site.