St. Thomas Development
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas Development is a neighborhood
of the city of New Orleans
and a former Housing Projects of New Orleans
. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Constance, St. Mary, Magazine
and Felicity Streets to the north, the Mississippi River
to the south and 1st, St. Thomas, and Chippewa Streets and Jackson Avenue to the west.
, the district has a total area of 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²). 0.23 square mile (0.5956972653 km²) of which is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (14.81%) of which is water.
, 1st Street, St. Thomas Street, Chippewa Street and Jackson Avenue.
of 2000, there were 2,957 people, 834 households, and 608 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
was 12,857 /mi² (4,928 /km²).
St. Thomas became one of the country's most dangerous developments by the late 1980s. In 1996, the Housing Authority of New Orleans received a HUD Hope VI grant to demolish and rebuild the area. This grant included the costs to relocate the nearly 3,000 residents to other properties. By the end of 2001 all of the buildings except a few had been demolished to create a mixed income neighborhood named "River Garden." A section of Chippewa Street was re-aligned in the process. Also, a new Wal-Mart
superstore was constructed on long-vacant property one block south of the former project site. Construction the rental property was completed in early 2009 with a final phase of construction focusing on condominiums beginning that same year.
Sister Helen Prejean
, a Roman Catholic nun, lived in St. Thomas Housing Project in the 1980s. While living there, she became pen pals with convicted killer Patrick Sonnier
. Her experiences with Sonnier and other inmates on death row
, recorded in her book Dead Man Walking, served as the basis for the feature film
and opera
. Scenes in the movie version were filmed on location at St. Thomas; Prejean was portrayed by Susan Sarandon
.
New Orleans neighborhoods
In 1980 the New Orleans City Planning Commission divided the city into 13 planning districts and 72 distinct neighborhoods.While most of these assigned boundaries match with traditional local designations, some others differ from common traditional use...
of the city of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and a former Housing Projects of New Orleans
Housing Projects of New Orleans
The Housing Authority of New Orleans is a housing authority in New Orleans, Louisiana tasked with providing housing to low-income residents....
. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Constance, St. Mary, Magazine
Magazine Street
Magazine Street is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. Like Tchoupitoulas Street, St. Charles Avenue, and Claiborne Avenue, it reflects the curving course of the Mississippi River...
and Felicity Streets to the north, the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to the south and 1st, St. Thomas, and Chippewa Streets and Jackson Avenue to the west.
Geography
St. Thomas Development is located at 29°55′34"N 90°04′21"W and has an elevation of 7 feet (2.1 m). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the district has a total area of 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²). 0.23 square mile (0.5956972653 km²) of which is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (14.81%) of which is water.
Adjacent Neighborhoods
- Lower Garden DistrictLower Garden District, New OrleansLower Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St...
(north) - Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
(south) - Irish ChannelIrish Channel, New OrleansIrish Channel is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Magazine Street to the north, 1st Street to the east, the Mississippi River to the south and Toledano to the...
(west)
Boundaries
The City Planning Commission defines the boundaries of St. Thomas Development as these streets: Constance Street, St. Mary Street, Magazine Street, Felicity Street, the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, 1st Street, St. Thomas Street, Chippewa Street and Jackson Avenue.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,957 people, 834 households, and 608 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 12,857 /mi² (4,928 /km²).
History
The St. Thomas Housing Project was one of the housing projects of New Orleans. It was bordered by St. Thomas Street to the south, a service alley between Constance and Laurel Streets to the north, Felicity Street to the east and Josephine Street to the west. It was built in 1941, and originally consisted of 120 buildings covering almost ten full city blocks. Under segregated housing laws in place until the 1960s it was occupied by white tenants.St. Thomas became one of the country's most dangerous developments by the late 1980s. In 1996, the Housing Authority of New Orleans received a HUD Hope VI grant to demolish and rebuild the area. This grant included the costs to relocate the nearly 3,000 residents to other properties. By the end of 2001 all of the buildings except a few had been demolished to create a mixed income neighborhood named "River Garden." A section of Chippewa Street was re-aligned in the process. Also, a new Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
superstore was constructed on long-vacant property one block south of the former project site. Construction the rental property was completed in early 2009 with a final phase of construction focusing on condominiums beginning that same year.
Sister Helen Prejean
Helen Prejean
Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., is a Roman Catholic religious sister, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, who has become a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.-Death row ministry:...
, a Roman Catholic nun, lived in St. Thomas Housing Project in the 1980s. While living there, she became pen pals with convicted killer Patrick Sonnier
Elmo Patrick Sonnier
Elmo Patrick Sonnier was a convicted murderer and rapist who was executed by electrocution at Angola in Louisiana on April 5, 1984...
. Her experiences with Sonnier and other inmates on death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
, recorded in her book Dead Man Walking, served as the basis for the feature film
Dead Man Walking (film)
Dead Man Walking is a 1995 American drama film directed by Tim Robbins, who adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book of the same name...
and opera
Dead Man Walking (opera)
Dead Man Walking is the first opera by Jake Heggie, with a libretto by Terrence McNally; it premiered on October 7, 2000 at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Opera.-Roles:...
. Scenes in the movie version were filmed on location at St. Thomas; Prejean was portrayed by Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
.