Calliope Projects

Geobox Neighborhood
name = B.W. Cooper Apartments
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = New Orleans Neighborhood

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image_caption = B.W. Cooper Projects as seen from the corner of Earhart and Galvez


flag_size =
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etymology_type =
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nickname =
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country = United States
state = Louisiana
region_type = City
region = New Orleans
district_type = Planning District
district = District 4, Mid-City District
area_imperial = 0.30
area_land_imperial = 0.30
area_water_imperial = 0.00
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 29
lat_m = 57
lat_s = 02
lat_NS = N
long_d = 90
long_m = 05
long_s = 32
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 0
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 4339
population_density_imperial = auto
established_type =
established =
mayor =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code =
postal_code_type = ZIP Codes
area_code = 504
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


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B.W. Cooper Apartments is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans and one of the housing projects of New Orleans, more commonly known as the Calliope Projects. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: the Pontchartrain Expressway to the north, South Claiborne Avenue to the east, MLK Boulevard to the south and South Broad Street to the west.

Geography

B.W. Cooper is located at coor dms|29|57|02|N|90|05|32|W|city GR|1 and has an elevation of convert|0|ft|1GR|3. According to the United States Census Bureau, the district has a total area of convert|0.30|sqmi|1. convert|0.30|sqmi|1 of which is land and convert|0.00|sqmi|1 (0.0%) of which is water.

Adjacent Neighborhoods

* Tulane/Gravier (north)
* Central City (south)
* Gert Town (west)

Boundaries

The City Planning Commission defines the boundaries of B.W. Cooper as these streets: Pontchartrain Expressway, South Claiborne Avenue, MLK Boulevard and South Broad Street. [cite web|url=http://gnocdc.org/orleans/4/60/index.html|title=B.W. Cooper Apartments Neighborhood|author=Greater New Orleans Community Data Center|accessdate=2008-06-21]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,339 people, 1,421 households, and 1,139 families residing in the neighborhood. The population density was 14,463 /mi² (5,424 /km²).

History

Officially called the B.W. Cooper apartments, the Calliope Projects (pronounced KAL-ee-ohp) is one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans located in Central City New Orleans. There are 1,546 units on 56 acres of land (or 24 city blocks.)

The project was built between 1939 and 1941. The original boundaries were South Dorgenois, Erato, Calliope (now Earhart Boulevard) and South Prieur Streets. In 1941, rents ran from $8.25 a month for a one bedroom apartment to $22.00 a month for a three bedroom.

There are 690 apartments in the original development. In 1949, a gymnasium was added at Broad and Calliope Streets.

In 1954, a twelve block expansion added 860 new units. The expansion pushed the western boundary of the Calliope back two blocks from Erato Street to Melpomene Avenue (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard).

In May 1981, the Calliope was renamed the B. W. Cooper Apartments. Mr. Cooper worked for the Housing Authority of New Orleans for 33 years and served on several civic and social organizations until his death in 1974.

The Calliope Projects (or simply Calio to the locals) are among the most notorious in Uptown New Orleans and the United States along with the Magnolia Projects. The drug trade and subsequent violence from it were two of the primary reasons New Orleans was nicknamed the "Murder Capital of the U.S."

A popular nickname for these projects is "CP-3" meaning "Calliope Projects--Third Ward"Fact|date=January 2008. The projects are in the 2nd Ward .

Most of Calliope is closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. As of January 2007, a small section of Calliope has been reopened to residents.

Notable residents

* C-Murder
* Master P
* Neville Brothers
* Silkk The Shocker

ee also

* New Orleans neighborhoods

External links

References