The featured image is from a private collection of documentary photography tracking the eviction/demolition process of the C.J. Peete Public Housing Developments in New Orleans, LA. The demolition of this housing development is part of a larger revitalization plan that embraces the development of "mixed"-income housing to replace areas of concentrated poverty.
Currently, it is estimated that the homeless population in New Orleans has been unofficially estimated at 13,000. Roughly 5,000 units of public housing have been slated for demolition as a result of being labeled "blighted" or "distressed."
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This question of "How do we preserve people?" follows the previous two questions regarding "How do we design cities?" and "How are we planning buildings?" The wordplay is an attempt to deconstruct the traditional paramaters of planning and preservation, extending the lens of focus beyond that of the preservation of cultural tradition of 'buildings' themselves to a fundamental respect and appreciation of humanity devoid of race or socio-economic class.
The questions that arise:
"How is blight defined, evaluated, and justifed?"
"Is this more than simply a redevelopment strategy?"
"What happens to the people immediately affected by displacement?"
"Where do people go?"
"Where are we in this picture?"
