North Scott Street

This whole entire city block, viewed from North Scott Street at Bienville Avenue, sat vacant for the longest time, even from before Katrina. Black Raspberry bushes with the most luscious berries grew up astride the fence around the perimeter.

Now last summer a sign proclaiming a new rehabilitation hospital went up. This last week the developer started driving piles.

South Scott Street

There is a vacant lot at 434-436 South Scott Street. It used to contain two single shotgun houses. Both of them got flooded after Katrina. Being rentals, they did not qualify for federal grant aid under the Louisiana Road Home program, so they sat and rotted for years. The one (#436) started leaning against the other, so it came down. A couple of years later, the other came down. The lot sat vacant and neglected for several years.

This past summer city officials took photos of the lot. That spurred the owner(s) to action, clear the lot, trim the grass, and to sell the property (properties).

Now this past week a "gradall" appeared with several timber piles. A new house or two will be going up soon.

Other Countries Build Advanced Infrastructure as New York City Awaits Possible Closure of Penn Station Tunnels.

Breaking on the Daily Kos.

Infrastructure advances in the rest-of-the-world will blow your mind.

While we're "debating" torture, access to basic health care and the veracity of climate change, the rest-of-the-world is simply advancing transformational infrastructure like you would not believe.

In Switzerland, the world's longest rail tunnel -- straight through the Alps -- is about to open.

At 57 kilometres, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which will travel through the Alps between the northern portal of Erstfeld and Bodio in the south, will become the longest rail tunnel in the world once complete, stripping the title from Japan’s 53.85 kilometre Seikan Tunnel.

Meanwhile, the ancient tunnels between New York City and New Jersey -- dating from 1910 and about 4,400 meters long -- are so old -- and damaged from recent hurricanes -- that they risk forced closure -- and economic catastrophe for America's largest city -- at any time.

Losing one of the current tunnels would be a commuting nightmare, but getting financial support for Gateway will be be difficult, said Len Resto, New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers president.  

"The situation gets more dire day by day," Resto said. "You will get delays unacceptable to the riding public and it will become an economic factor. There's only so much that employers will put up with if people can't get to work on time."

Italy now boasts Europe's fastest high-speed train -- capable of speeds up to 400 km/h (249 mph) --  that will cut travel times between Rome and Milan -- about the distance between Washington, D.C. and Providence -- to two hours and some change.

The high-speed electric-multiple unit (EMU), which is expected to be put into service on the Rome-Milan corridor by Trenitalia in 2015, is certified for speeds up to 360 km/h but is capable of 400 km/h running.

(And it's not just the sexy Italians who are leaving us in the infrastructure dust. As George W. Bush wouldn't want me to do: don't forget Poland!)

More at  the link.

This is Where the Poor Board the Bus to go to the Airport.

Tulane at Carrollton, opposite the Nike shoe and sporting goods outlet store.

View from Carrollton Ave across the plaza parking lot.

View along the sidewalk, Tulane Ave.

Dreary, innit?

Li Ki Fiyr Water Hydrant Co.

First, the big puddle in the street.

 

And a close-up of the hydrant.

 

Yes, the title is a bad Korean joke but the hydrant IS leaking!

My Iphone Camera Lost the Moon!

Taken this morning at Palmyra and South Olympia Streets in Mid-City while on my way to Caire's. Just TRY to find the moon! I couldn't. Arrrrrrrgggh!!!

Progress on the Houses across the Street

Photo was taken December 12, 2014 at sunset. The houses are almost completely hardiplanked.

316 South Alexander Street, Blighted Property.

These photos were taken on October 24, 2013.

Here is the front of the house in 3/4s profile.

Here is the right side of the house.

(Right side looking towards street.)

Here is the front room of the downstairs.

It's an indescribable mess!

Here's the next room downstairs.

It, too, is a mess; and look at the flood-lines!

Same room. Disgusting!

Third room downstairs. Also a mess.

Same room.

And here is the lovely car port! :^D

Here is what's left of the downstairs kitchen (or is it bathroom? or both??)

Looking up the back stairs. Unsafe!

Looking up the front stairs. Most unsafe!

And here is the front garden, landscaped with a lovely shopping cart from Spend-A-Center.

And here is the left side of the house.

 

And now I have new photos, taken November 29, 2014. if anything, the house has gotten worse. So dangerous not even street homeless people will camp out here.

 

 

Here is the front of the house, looking up the stairs.

 

Here is the right side of the house.

 

Here is the front room of the house. Notice anything different?

Yes! More wallboard has fallen down.

 

Second room of the house.

Still a disgusting mess.

Same room. Looks like a column has fallen over.

Third room of the house. Still just as I had left it in 2013.

 

And the left side of the house.