After spending a couple of hours cleaning the Surly, including cleaning between each individual link in the chain and scrubbing the derailleur, all of which was incredibly pleasurable, I took the bike out for a ride. I headed to Mid-City for coffee and a cookie and some writing. Afterward I rode around, getting a little lost over by the Fairgrounds–I was trying to figure out what those green building behind the fences over on Moss were (they were the barns). I snapped this picture of what I’m guessing used to be a school on N. Miro and St. Ann. The building is an elevated square that frames a courtyard. The place is fenced off, the windows blown out, and hints of the former playground anchored with old tires to the empty lot next door. I tried to find information about what school this used to be or what happened here–if this is the result of Katrina-related flooding or blight from before or after the storm. But I came up empty. I passed a lot of people in this neighborhood on my ride, all of whom have to live with this daily reminder of what used to be, and what is now. I rode back Uptown via Simon Bolivar, where I ran in to a Young Men Olympian Jr. Social and Benevolent Club march. They were marching through Central City with Silence is Violence for peace. Thank you.
The school is Phillis Wheatley, and most of it didn’t flood because it was elevated.
Even so, it is on the demolition list:
http://www.regional-modernism.com/2009/09/wheatley-elementary-school-treatened.html
Thanks, liprap. I couldn’t find it anywhere. And that’s a great blog–cheers for the link.
Wow, that is an incredible piece of architecture! What a shame that is sitting unused.