New Orleans East

Sep 24

The northeastern most section of New Orleans, New Orleans East (or simply “The East”), embodies numerous distinct neighborhoods, including Pines Village, Read Boulevard East, Village de L’Est, Lake Catherine, and Venetian Isles. Bounded by the Industrial Canal, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Lake Pontchartrain, the East’s history dates back to the early 1800s, with the construction of Fort Pike and Fort Macomb, the latter of which, most known for being featured in Beyoncé’s 2016 video experience Lemonade, was the first Black militia in what is now the continental United States. From the 1950s onward, the East offered suburban, middle-class neighborhoods, particularly for Black and Vietnamese communities. However, disinvestment beginning in the years leading up to Hurricane Katrina led adjusters to egregiously undervalue properties following the devastating storm, prohibiting a complete recovery. Institutions and landmarks include the Lakefront Airport, Joe W. Brown Park, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Lincoln Beach, and NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.