Abandoned Bywater naval base cleared out for new development
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Bywater residents can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now, as several agencies conducted a sweep of the old naval base after years of complaints from residents.
“Constant disappointment. Constant thinking that you are living nowhere where anything is important. You can see the writing on there. Pray for us,” said Bywater resident Ken Ferdinand.
The property has been vacant since 2011.
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The building has remained mostly lifeless, except for the vagrants and homeless people who continue to cause problems.
“I’ve heard neighbors say, you know, they hear screams in there and they see fires in there and all that sort of stuff. I don’t blame people for being homeless, but I don’t think that the solution [is] to live in that,” said Bywater resident Farrow Stevenson.
Empty promises are all neighbors say they have been left with by the city.
“When I first moved here it was going to be this big, huge Walt Disney terminal and everybody was all excited. I was like oh wow sure let’s do it. Then Katrina happened and we all just kind of fell apart,” said Stevenson.
“Either they made promises or, you can see it with your own eyes, it’s in formal structure. Something needs to be done with it rather than have kids die in there,” said Ferdinand.
$20 million in federal funds have been allocated to fix up the complex and turn it into housing units.
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Ferdinand believes it would be a great rehabilitation place for the homeless.
“They could live there if they fixed it up and provided some housing for people who don’t have homes,” said Ferdinand.
While one individual left in handcuffs, others were offered housing assistance. The sweep is just the start and residents pray that the people who took over will they take up the offer of help.
“I know the homeless problem is so huge, and I’m so torn about what to do and how to help. Setting up encampments where it kind of looks like thunder domes is not how it should be,” said Stevenson.
Residents tell us that they hope something good will come of the property, and that they’re not left with empty promises once again.
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