Update on Levees.org’s plan to convert flooded house into a museum

The proposed Flooded House Relic (in background) with debris on the roof, viewed from atop the London Avenue Canal. Photo/Stephen Nelson

One year ago, the New Orleans City Council unanimously voted to approve Levees.org proposal to convert a badly flooded home at the London Avenue Canal levee breach site into a memorial.

Specifically, the city granted Levees.org a special permit to convert the house at 4918 Warrington Drive – which flooded to its rafters in 2005 – into a cultural facility open for public viewing.

We have an update! We recently submitted our final development plan to the New Orleans City Planning Commission and had a great meeting with the City Safety and Permits personnel. At this time, there are no foreseeable obstacles to implementing the project.

The Plan: Artists and craftspeople will create a replica of a flooded living room as it might have looked four weeks after dewatering. Like a movie set, the flooded room, including mold, won’t be real, but it will appear real. The exhibit will be viewed from the outside of the house, through the windows, like a diorama. It will show the visitor what homeowners were confronted with upon their return from evacuation.

Stay tuned for further updates on this meaningful way to preserve a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

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