New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is in Washington D.C. today as she attends the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 90th Winter Meeting.
While attending the meeting, Cantrell met with U.S. Environmental Agency Administrator Michael Regan to discuss possible federal funding to help relocate residents living on the former toxic landfill and redevelop the site into a power-generating solar farm.
“I met with EPA Administrator Michael Regan to explore the City’s plan for thoughtfully redeveloping Gordon Plaza into a solar farm that would increase our power resilience and minimize greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We remain simultaneously committed to ensuring the best interest of the residents in this neighborhood while pursuing sustainable opportunities for future generations of New Orleanians.”
The Desire area neighborhood named Gordon Plaza was built in 1981 on top of the former Agriculture Street Landfill which served as the city’s landfill for over forty years.
The 95-acre landfill was decommissioned and redeveloped into an affordable housing neighborhood. Soon after, residents living in the new subdivision began showing signs of toxicity. The homeowners were not aware the land contained numerous toxins such as arsenic and lead.
In early January, The New Orleans City Council voted 6-1 to earmark $35 million to buy out and relocate Gordon Plaza residents. The money was added to the city council’s five-year capital investment plan.