The Hoffman Triangle in Central City New Orleans continues to emerge and re-claim the assets that were lost post Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Through the efforts of the Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association, Associated Neighborhood Development, WhoData.org and the University of New Orleans Department of Planning &Urban Studies (UNO-PLUS), property condition assessments and remediation neighborhood plans, that move the community from recovery to reinvestment, have been completed since 2011. The ‘broken windows theory’ suggests that resilient neighborhoods must first appear to be stable, habitable and safe especially post-disaster.
Neighborhood stabilization efforts have included identification, monitoring and mitigation of blighted properties, cleaning storm drains, evaluation of broken street lights, and monitoring of illegal tire and trash dumping for removal by the City of New Orleans. Equally important is conveying the story of potential or developed short and long-term investments such as affordable housing, park renovations, new business development and the implementation of a New Orleans Police Department crime prevention strategy that works with residents as partners. The Hoffman Triangle public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) program has expanded the role of the University, empowered the residents and reflects model ways in which the City can directly contribute to resident-led neighborhood stabilization efforts. This presentation will report on the 2012 Hoffman Triangle PPGIS which supports volunteered geographic information (VGI) that integrates City and State data for future neighborhood resiliency plans
