Explaining and exploring the history behind the Hendee Homes in New Orleans, Louisiana.

This news article will cover the history behind one of the lesser known public housing projects owned by Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) called Hendee Homes. Only so much history on Hendee Homes has been preserved. Hendee Homes is not as widely known as the Calliope Apartments or St. Thomas Projects.


Hendee Homes was bounded by Hendee Street, Ptolemy Street, Sumner Street, and Bringier Street. Each building belonging to Hendee Homes contained 40 3-bedroom units. Many of the buildings and units of Hendee Homes were built during the late 1960s or early 1970s. (Ref: https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/nob38792)


Over the years, Hendee Homes have suffered a series of structural flaws such as holes over steel stairs and premature roofs.

The proposed repair of outside steel stairs by welding plates over holes would not be sufficient to repair some of the stairs. The stairs needed to be replaced. The architect stated changes would be made to correct these structural flaws. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA250&lpg=PA250&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HANO repaired the roofs under a 1987 CIAP project at a cost of $88,492. However HANO realized the roof was replaced prematurely. So HANO subsequently replaced 6 flat roofs with mansard sliding with hip style roofs under the 1990 modernization program. It was decided it would be more cost effective to repair these stairs than to replace them completely. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA252&lpg=PA252&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HANO also discovered the kitchen side doors did not meet code standards based on the inspections conducted by the architect. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=6VxveB6JTnEC&pg=PA484&lpg=PA484&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

Some of the buildings and units belonging to Hendee Homes were demolished into clear lots in May 2001 by HANO as part of an $850,000 project. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=7Ry7S43JKOgC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

HUD took control of the failing housing authority known as HANO in 2002 to address serious management and financial concerns that plagued the agency for numerous years. These persistent problems led to deterioration of the public housing units, prior to Katrina. HUD’s receiver team had begun, through HUD capital improvement programs, a massive redevelopment effort of the city’s public housing. Some of HANO’s largest public housing developments, including Abundance Square (formerly Desire), River Gardens (formally St. Thomas) Fischer, Florida and Guste, had undergone or were undergoing redevelopment to bring quality public housing back to the city.

22 apartments at Hendee Homes were slated for demolition by August 2004. Hendee Homes were one of the scattered sites Mayor Gilmore approved for demolition. Many of the buildings and units of Hendee Homes were built during the late 1960s or early 1970s. Much of which were in need of dire repair. (Ref: https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4ca4898e-e7af-5336-875c-728eb8cc4548.html)

Hurricane Katrina did an estimated damage of $75,000 dollars. The lowest amount of replacement cost compared to the other public housing projects owned by HANO which were in the millions. Hendee Homes remained opened because of the low damage cost. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=XQpMbFBF9XQC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=%22hendee+homes%22&source=bl)

By  June 14, 2006, there were about a 1,000 residents back in public housing units at Iberville, Guste, Fischer, River Garden (formerly St. Thomas) and Hendee Homes. The plan announced was to accelerate the cleanup and repair of additional units at these developments, which will ultimately mean the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) reopening another 1,000 units by August of that year. (Ref: https://archives.hud.gov/news/2006/pr06-066.cfm)

Hendee Homes were demolished in 2011. Hendee Homes were relocated down to Lawrence Street and Mardi Gras Boulevard at location and address of 1824 Mardi Gras Boulevard.

Joseph Stebbins oversaw the design and construction of the new insulated concrete form construction of 16 units at Hendee Homes. He handled the installation of new underground utilities at Hendee Homes. (Ref: https://louisiana.uli.org/resources/emerging-trends/speaker-bios-2020/)

The Housing Authority of New Orleans has opened several public housing complexes to residents, including the Fischer low-rise, Fischer senior village, Guste high-rise, Guste low-rise, Hendee Homes and River Gardens. Iberville is being reoccupied in phases. Public housing scattered sites are in the process of reopening. Housing Authority of New Orleans claims Hendee Homes is being reoccupied in phases. (Ref: http://www.lsndc.org/index.php/component/cpx/?task=resource.view&id=488481)

Housing Authority of New Orleans says there are now 877 families living in Iberville, Hendee Homes, Guste, Fischer and River Gardens and selected scattered sites. (Ref: http://www.tulanelink.com/pdf/workersreport.pdf)


Hendee Homes were located at 1532 Hendee Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, US 70114. The Hendee Homes are now located at 1800 New Orleans, Louisiana, US 70114.