Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina decimated the New Orleans metro area, some parts of the region are still struggling to rebound from the storm’s wrath, especially the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. The people who live and work in there say those areas are ripe for development.
Larry Barabino is the director of the New Orleans Recreation Department. He spent part of his youth in the Ninth Ward playing baseball here and visiting relatives who lived in the area. Barabino says a little investment in the Ninth Ward would go a long way in revitalizing a long-neglected part of the city.
“There’s a lot of property around here that needs attention. There’s a lot of property around here that needs new owners,” Barabino said. “As we continue to rebuild, there’s definitely landmass for people to come and rebuild.”…