Vacant Lots

All mitigation projects are on hold until further notice.

Click on the map for a bigger image.

Many vacant lots in the Industrial Canal Lock Replacement Project impact area are not being maintained by their owners. These lots are usually overgrown with up to 8 feet of weeds, and quite often become public dumping grounds for large trash items such as abandoned cars, mattresses, etc. In addition to being unsightly and depleting the values of surrounding properties, these vacant lots breed mosquitoes, snakes, and rats, creating a health hazard for the neighbors. In 2001 an inventory of un-maintained vacant lots was completed for the impact area.

2001 Survey

CBMC’s Vacant Lot Cleanup Program:

The CBMC has designed a program that will help residents of the impact area maintain vacant lots in their neighborhoods by offering a free one-time lot cleanup to any neighboring property owner who is willing to sign a letter of commitment to continue the upkeep of the lot.

In May 2005 the Corps of Engineers finalized a grant agreement with the City's Department of Sanitation for the implementation of the one-time cleanup program. Cleaning began on May 21, 2005.

If you are a resident of the impact area and are interested in maintaining a vacant lot in your neighborhood, download and print a Letter of Commitment (pdf). To request an information packet, email Stacy Van Sickle at svansickle@gcr1.com or call (504) 304-2500.

Criteria for Vacant Lot Clean Up

• A signed letter of commitment, indicating the intentions of a resident to keep the lot clean after the initial clean up by the City, must be received.
• The vacant lot must be adjudicated by the City in order to be cleaned up with mitigation funds.
• The lot must be in the impact area: (Lower Ninth Ward, Holy Cross, St. Claude/Florida, Bywater).
• The lot must be “adopted” by someone who lives in the impact area.
• A first come, first serve policy will be followed for clean up efforts.
• If the lot is in the same block as the person who is committed to keeping the lot clean, the lot will receive a higher priority for clean up.
• Mitigation funds allocated for vacant lot clean up will be divided among all the neighborhoods based on the percentage of vacant lots identified.  In other words, the more lots identified, the more funding will be directed towards clean up efforts in the area.