(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today applauded the groundbreaking of construction on the St. Bernard redevelopment project in New Orleans.  The redeveloped housing community will consist of approximately 1,300 units, of which 346 will be available for public housing.
“This new St. Bernard housing community represents a significant and positive change from the failed, old-style housing projects of the past,” said Vitter.  “This new community will offer residents a mix of rental and owned properties and will include an off-site phase that will help deter the risk of concentrating poverty and isolating lower-income families.”
Total development expenditures for the first phase of this project are $138 million, with funding coming from a mixture of grants and loans with an additional $74 million in tax credits.  The first phase of the project will include 466 rental units, of which 157 units will be designated for public housing.