Today is a big day for "Historic Green", the day we've been planning and anticipating for the last six months – the start of a special work event/conference to support the people of Holy Cross and the Lower Ninth Ward in their rebuilding efforts. We think there's never been anything quite like Historic Green – the first time an entire neighborhood, an historic district, has addressed both preservation and sustainability simultaneously on such a wide scale. For two weeks, from March 8 to 23, hundreds of volunteers are coming to New Orleans to focus on "Greening Historic Homes, Green Spaces, and Green Community Places."
In addition to restoring two historic shotgun-style houses, crews will begin green deconstruction of a shotgun/camelback at 5200 Dauphine – a house that's been deteriorating for years and was further damaged by flooding from Katrina. A special design charrette will be held during Historic Green, with plans drawn up that could make it the greenest historic home in America. After the deconstruction is complete, volunteers and contractors will use the charrette designs to reconstruct the house, employing as many sustainable features as possible. Eventually, it will house the offices of the new Center For Sustainable Engagement & Development, a project of the Holy Cross Neighborhood.
There's more that we'll be reporting on this, our new blog titled "Sustain the Nine". Contributors will include members of the Historic Green 'Krewe', our steering committee, as well as Lower Ninth Ward residents and other interested volunteers. Stay tuned for more!
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