One of the oldest Black districts in the country, Faubourg Treme (pronounced "Fo-boorg Tre-may") or just Treme (map), is bounded by Rampart Street, Canal Street, St. Bernard Street and Broad Avenue. Most tourists mistakenly think that Treme is bounded by I-10 Freeway, instead of Broad Avenue. Land occupied by Faubourg Treme was once owned by Claude Treme’, a wealthy planter. A large chunk of his land was purchased by the city in 1809 and subdivided for housing. In those days it was considered a faubourg (“suburb”) of the city. Churches were the most dominant structures for 87 years, until changing demographics attracted more African Americans.

    As customary for that era, the White Male Elite chose a vulnerable neighborhood within the politically weak Black community to become a red-light district. With their decision, the city had a no-holds barred purveyor of liquor and prostitution. A subdivision of Treme’ closest to Canal Street thus became Storyville, the Birthplace of Jazz. Providing steady work and better than average social conditions, Storyville was home to an monumental roster of Jazz musicians: Buddy Bolden, Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. When politics and local sentiment shifted in 1917, Storyville ended. It became known as Iberville and most buildings were replaced by the Iberville Housing Projects. Only St. Louis Cemetery #1 and #2 are unchanged for the better.

    An unfinished story, Armstrong Park has enjoyed a slightly better fate in Treme’. The Municipal Auditorium, Theatre of Performing Arts and the Treme Community Center are welcome neighbors to Congo Square. But misguided planning and landscape design allowed this potentially great park to fester at the gate of opportunity.  Who thought adding a system of canals with gondoliers and an expensive, garish entry arch was a good idea? For the same public expenditure, Armstrong Park could have supported a well-designed outdoor performance venue, a better landscape design, and a world-class Jazz Museum. Nearby private investment in cafes, shops, Jazz & Blues clubs on Rampart Street would have occurred much sooner.

    Treme has a brighter future. The segment adjacent to the French Quarter is anchored by the African American Museum of Art, Culture & History and retains a Bohemian atmosphere with a few cafés, shops and nightclubs. Residential restoration is underway. In a few years when Desire Streetcar Line is reborn, North Rampart Street in Treme’ should become a robust tourist destination like Frenchmen Street in Faubourg Marigny.

    The most exciting development in Treme' is redevelopment of many authentic Creole homes. Andrew and Naydja Bynum redeveloped all the homes in the 1200 block of St. Claude Street down to finely detailed balustrades (columns), railings and curls are the stuff and backyard gardens. Each home is remarkable, romantically unique use of space. You just want to kick back with a glass of wine and chill.

See the documentary Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans