[StBernard] Military installation will be community nexus to Lower 9th Ward, Holy Cross, Arabi and Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

Jackson Barracks makes a comeback 

Military installation will be community nexus to Lower 9th Ward, Holy Cross, Arabi and Chalmette 


BATON ROUGE

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced today that Jackson Barracks  headquarters of the Louisiana National Guardis coming back safer, stronger and better than before. The surrounding communities like the lower Ninth Ward, Holy Cross, Arabi and Chalmette can count on the guard facility as an anchor to the areas revival. 

Dating back to the 1830s, the historic Jackson Barracks suffered extensive flood damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nearly 4,000 guardsmen and women, and their families worked, trained and lived there. Governor Blanco proudly declared today that theyll be back at the military installation and they will serve as a strong signal of the viability of the area. 


Jackson Barracks has long served as an anchor bridging Orleans and St. Bernard parishes. An investment in Jackson Barracks will provide a catalyst to the surrounding communities. It will spark new life in the areas most devastated by Katrina,
 Governor Blanco said. 

The historic restoration and new construction of the facilities will take two to three years to complete. Its design-build construction method will fast track the time it takes to bring the facility back. The design team is building the campus to safeguard against future events and will move its critical infrastructure to the second floor, and will rebuild using the new advisory flood guidelines. The total cost of the project is estimated at $200 million of which $173 million is federal funds. 

Under the leadership of Governor Blanco, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Louisiana National Guard, guardsmen and women are actively pursuing opportunities to co-locate community serves on the campus, acting as a bridge between the base and its neighbors. 


We have an unprecedented and unique opportunity to integrate community services like fire and police protection on the campus. I envision Jackson Barracks as a community nexus, providing space for a charter school, and community health care center. Through thoughtful planning and community charrattes, I truly believe the Jackson Barracks will be the anchor to a strong community comeback,
 Governor Blanco said. 

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People www.louisianahelp.org