Aerial view of current day Poydras Street. Image via Google Maps.
Richard Campanella, the historian and geographer with the Tulane School of Architecture, just published an article in nola.com that does a great job outlining the history of Poydras Street and the decisions that drove its development into New Orleans’ high rise center.
City planners and residents wanted the street widened in the 1950s and 60s to make more for car traffic and new buildings.
As it got completed, the oil boom was underway, and many high rise office buildings popped up, driven by Big Oil, anchored by the newly completed Super Dome and bookended by the Rivergate Exhibition Hall and the World Trade Center.
The street was named after a Louisiana politician and businessman.
Campanella does a great job walking through each time period of its development. Its worth a read, just like most other Campanella articles. Check it out here.
about the author: CSB Staff
Related Posts
-
Is Your Neighborhood Cool? Campanella Digs In
-
Links: $6.6 Million Esplanade Development; Courtyard Brewery; Shotgun Houses
-
Campanella Explains How Your House Got Its Address
What building was located at 701 poydras prior to one shell square in 1972?
Thanks