News and Updates

May 27, 2015

Get to Know Your Neighbor: Spotlight on Sylvia Richard from East New Orleans

by Kyle J. Shelly, Neighborhood Liaison
Filed under: community service, neighborhood spotlight

How long have you been a resident in New Orleans East?

I have lived in East New Orleans "ENO" for approximately 20 years but my commitment to this area started long before that.  I felt  a part of the New Orleans East community because for nearly 35 years  I taught at  Southern University at New Orleans and most of the students were from the East, Gentilly and the Ninth Ward. Additionally, during that period of time as a real estate broker, I sold homes primarily in the East to many of its residents, so I was familiar with the area issues and concerns of the community.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

I love the passion and commitment demonstrated by the ENO residents for our neighborhoods. Despite numerous challenges, such as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it did not dampen our zeal or willingness to return and rebuild our homes. We have survived and thrived determining to stay and work our way back to the uniqueness and the revitalization of our community. East New Orleans has different layers of living including affordable homes for first time homebuyers and, unlike other areas of the city, lush homes in over 15 subdivisions built around manmade lakes. We have a new, state of the art Read Regional Library, East New Orleans Hospital and Joe Brown Park with the slated return next year of the Audubon Nature Institute’s "Nature Center." New Orleans East is the gateway to the City of New Orleans and comprises 66% of the city’s land mass.  We are home to NASA Michoud Assembly, Folger Coffee, Boeing, Textron Marine, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and the new movie industry company Film Works.   ENO is the perfect location for families to live, work and play.

What led to the formation of ENONAC and what successes have you had?

After Hurricane Katrina, we realized to recover and rebuild our community we needed to have a plan and be a recognized authority to provide input, to determine and enforce standards that would maintain a good quality of life.  In 2008 East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission (ENONAC) was established as a state legislated commission adopted as HB887 (later revised to Act 394).  As a state legislated body we may advise, promote, and monitor both City and State government. This Act requires the City of New Orleans to notify ENONAC of proposed projects for the ENO community and allows us to advise the appropriate governmental bodies in regard to the planning of public and private development.  The citizen participation component mandated in the Master Plan of 2014 was already being implemented by Act 394 in 2008 in the East.

Consequently, ENONAC has been able to have a voice and recognized leadership in creating ENO as a thriving and sustainable community. Our successes have included establishing committees to:

  • Challenge incompatible zoning and land use requests, while focusing on high quality development, state of art design and landscaping
  • Lobby for quality and improved school facilities
  • Develop a blight eradication strategy in collaboration with NOLA EAST Clean Sweep and the City of New Orleans to successfully eradicate pervasive commercial blight
  • Host East NOLA Business Expo where we connected and educated the residential community with businesses and industries in ENO
  • Promote healthy lifestyles by hosting ENO, walk, run, bike in the “Families Get Fit” event
  • Foster collaboration and engagement of other stakeholders to increase property values, home ownership and improved healthcare

Do you have any upcoming events or projects?

We are planning a Katrina 10th Remembrance Event with a focus on neighborhood resilience and family commitment to protect, promote and preserve our ENO community.     

What advice would you give other neighborhood leaders?

Share your talents with your neighbors, we all have something to give. There is no greater value or benefit to you and your loved ones than the enjoyment and protection of your community.