By David Bordson-Bozzo, Grants and Resource Development Officer

I had never seen a neighborhood map of New Orleans until my first day of work at Rebuilding Together New Orleans. This would be an otherwise unsurprising revelation for many, save for the fact that I am a New Orleans native.

I knew that neighborhood associations cover fixed boundaries, but until six months ago I had never seen them on paper. My familiarity with the locations of the neighborhoods seemed innate and while I probably could not have drawn an accurate map, if dropped off in a neighborhood, I am reasonably sure I would be able to tell where I was (without looking at the street signs).

My confidence in this ability is due much in part to the distinctive “feel” of many of the local neighborhoods. However, having grown up in the area, I never wondered where or how I acquired this sixth sense. When I moved to New York City after college, I remember looking at maps frequently and making a conscious effort to understand the boundary lines of neighborhoods like the East Village, Murray Hill, Greenwich Village and SoHo. When I saw my first neighborhood map at Rebuilding Together New Orleans, I was surprised that I had never seen one of New Orleans before and even more surprised when I realized I already knew most of what was on the map.

After my revelation, I couldn’t help but wonder how I learned all of this. Growing up, I’d been to many places which were identified to me by their neighborhood, but I was never told explicitly that I-10 acts as a boundary for the Gentilly neighborhood and I-610 does not. As I sat in the PRC, surrounded by photographs, maps and models of New Orleans residences, I realized that one of the most significant contributing factors to the feel of the neighborhood, and thus my ability to identify where I was, is the architecture of the homes.

The connection between the defining architectural qualities of the New Orleans neighborhoods and the work done by Rebuilding Together New Orleans is both striking and clear. By repairing existing homes instead of building new housing, RTNO is not only assisting the individuals who live in each rehabilitated home, but also playing an important role in preserving the feel and fundamental nature of the New Orleans neighborhood.

Retaining a historic community’s “feel” is obviously important for reasons both tangible and intangible. RTNO’s work brings people back to their homes and helps them as an individual, but it also assists with the preservation of the homeowner’s historic community which benefits local residents and tourists alike. As a top U.S. tourist destination, many visitors recognize and fall in love with the distinctive appearance of the local neighborhoods. This recognition is one of many defining characteristics of this city and I believe that our neighborhoods are one of the most marketable ideas that New Orleans can export to the rest of the country.

Our nation is experiencing a swell of young urban homeowners, who are creating a market for redevelopment of urban centers and New Orleans offers a blueprint for the rest of the country on the anatomy of neighborhoods that encourage local loyalty and involvement. Many US cities have been redeveloped into commercial centers powered by a workforce of non-resident commuters. New Orleans, for all of its problems, did not develop in the same way.

Careless development of swelling urban centers led to the creation of under-served slums in many cities, including New Orleans. As developers attempt to serve those interested in moving back to cities, thoughtful investors will look to see what options are most sustainable for the neighborhoods they enter in order to reduce their risk of failure. Development without preservation of neighborhood character risks creation of a place where existing residents lose their sense of ownership and a neighborhood loses its historic identity; neither the interests of residents or developers are served if new investment causes the neighborhood to lose their fundamental attraction. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, there has been rehabilitation and redevelopment of neighborhoods, where the character of the neighborhood has been both revitalized and preserved, and I believe this is what New Orleans can offer to the rest of the country.

I’m grateful to be working for an organization like Rebuilding Together New Orleans, an organization that is helping the city’s recovery as well as creating opportunities for economic growth. Each day we’re bringing back the people and architecture that makes each neighborhood we work in feel like home and I am proud to be part of this effort.