A Proven Plan to Renew New Orleans

The nonprofit Bayou District Foundation was created by a group of civic-minded leaders committed to rebuilding and renewing the Bayou District in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Inspired by the East Lake Model of community revitalization, Bayou District Foundation (BDF) leads one of the largest urban transformation projects currently underway in the United States.

Housing
BDF is creating a healthy, sustainable, mixed-income community that will attract residents from all backgrounds. The new community will include 900 mixed income apartment homes (of which 300 will be public housing, 300 will be low income and 300 will be market rate), complemented by 300 affordable single-family homes and a senior housing facility with 125 apartment homes. The first homes will be ready for occupancy in 2010.

Education
Educational access, opportunity and achievement are critical to building a sustainable, mixed-income community. BDF will provide excellent, on-site educational opportunities for children from cradle through college. Plans are underway for an early learning center, a K-8 New Schools for New Orleans charter school and a $50 million high school, designed to be the premier public college prep school in New Orleans.

Recreation
BDF is working with City Park on a complete overhaul of the park’s golf and recreational facilities in order to provide access for every citizen to health and recreational facilities in a beautiful, green environment. BDF and City Park have engaged Rees Jones to design the golf facilities, which include 36 holes of competition quality golf, a 9-hole executive course, a driving range, a Junior Golf Learning Center, maintenance facilities and a new clubhouse. Plans also include new softball, soccer and baseball fields, as well as a YMCA with basketball, swimming and exercise facilities.