The City of New Orleans has proposed to demolish four historic “Sexton Cottages” in the city’s historic cemeteries:

• Holt Cemetery – the cottage is a contributing element of the cemetery, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery – the cottage contributes to the significance of the Cemetery. The cemetery is a contributing element to the Garden District National Register Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.
• Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery - the cottage is a contributing element to the cemetery, which is part of the Central City National Register Historic District.
• Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery - the cottage does not retain integrity to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register.

This is the time to submit comments about the demolition proposals. You can share your opinion by posting online HERE or sending an email to FEMA-NOMA@dhs.gov. Comments can be submitted by mail at the address at the end of this blog post. Comments and requests must be physically received by April 24, 2012.

View our Flickr photo set of the 4 Sexton Cottages HERE.

Additional details about the Sexton Cottages proposed for demolition:

Holt Cemetary Sexton Cottage

FEMA has determined that Holt Cemetery is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and that the Cottage is a contributing element to the cemetery. The proposed project may indirectly affect Isaac Delgado Hall, a contributing property to the Parkview National Register Historic District.

Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery Sexton Cottage

Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and is listed as a contributing element to the Garden District National Register Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. FEMA has determined that the Cottage contributes to the significance of Lafayette Cemetery No.1 and the Garden District. The Area of Potential Effects also includes the residential structures located in the 1400 block of Sixth Street within the Garden District.

Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery Sexton Cottage

Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery is a contributing property to the Central City National Register Historic District. FEMA has determined that the Cottage is a contributing feature of the cemetery and the Central City Historic District. The Area of Potential Effects includes a variety of residential properties located across from the cemetery on Washington Avenue and S. Saratoga Street. A vacant, overgrown lot on Sixth Street is located to the west, and St. Joseph No. 1 Cemetery is north of the Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery. These properties are within the Central City Historic District.

Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery Sexton Cottage

Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery is located within the Carrollton National Register Historic District, and the cemetery is a contributing secondary landmark of the district. The Cottage is located near the center of the cemetery and does not retain integrity to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery is faced on all sides by residential properties that are included within the Carrollton Historic District.

Ground disturbing activities associated with the demolition of the four Cottages have the potential to affect archaeological resources and human burials.

Here is the fine print, the official public notice:

Public Notice Regarding Section 106 and NEPA Review of the City of New Orleans’ Proposal to Demolish the Sexton Cottages/Maintenance Buildings at Holt Cemetery, Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery, Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery, and Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA – Seeking Public Comment

Map of Project Locations

The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish, LA. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as part of its responsibilities under the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s (ACHP) regulations, 36 CFR Part 800, implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). FEMA has also decided to utilize the NHPA Section 106 review process to coordinate its responsibilities, including public outreach, required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This notice applies to activities carried out by the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.§§5152-5206.

The City of New Orleans is requesting that FEMA provide funds to demolish the substantially damaged Sexton Cottages Maintenance Buildings (Cottages) located at Holt Cemetery, Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery, Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery, and Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery in New Orleans.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 44 CFR Part 10 - FEMA is required to follow the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (NEPA Regulations, 43 FR 55978 (1978)) that provide policy and procedures to enable FEMA officials to be informed of and take into account environmental considerations when authorizing or approving major FEMA actions that may significantly affect the environment in the United States. It is the intent of NEPA that federal agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement to the extent practicable in decisions that may affect the quality of the environment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the CEQ established Alternative Arrangements to meet the requirements of NEPA in reconstructing critical infrastructure in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area (NOMA); Alternative Arrangements, Federal Register/Vol. 71, No. 56/Thursday, March 23, 2006. Alternative Arrangements enable FEMA, as a component of DHS, to consider the potential for significant impacts to the human environment from its approval to fund critical physical infrastructure in NOMA. More information on NEPA and the Alternative Arrangements process can be found on FEMA’s web page at: www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/noma.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 36 CFR Part 800: The regulations at 36 CFR Part 800 require FEMA, as the funding agency, to identify if the Sexton Cottages/Maintenance Buildings (Cottages) located at Holt Cemetery, Lafayette No. 1 Cemetery, Lafayette No. 2 Cemetery, and Carrollton No. 1 Cemetery are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; to assess the effects the demolition will have on historic properties; and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects.

FEMA has determined to fulfill its responsibilities under Section 106 of the NHPA through the development and implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA will document FEMA’s review of ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effects of the proposed Undertaking. FEMA is seeking input from members of the public on ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the potential Adverse Effects.

Any member of the public is encouraged to provide views on this project to FEMA. FEMA will accept and consider public comments on NEPA related issues as a part of the Section 106 review. Comments can be submitted to FEMA for a 15-day period beginning on April 10, 2012 by posting online at http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/fema106/ or sending an email to FEMA-NOMA@dhs.gov or sending a letter through the mail to:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA-1603/1607-DR-LA
Louisiana Recovery Office – Attn: E/HP
1 Seine Court
New Orleans, LA 70114

If mailed, comments and requests must be physically received at this address by April 24, 2012.