A University of New Orleans, Department of Geography curbside survey of the rebuilding status of more than 2,500 business on 21 major commercial arteries in the flooded areas of Orleans and St. Bernard parishes found that 59 percent of commercial enterprises are open for business, said Peter Yaukey, associate professor of geography and project supervisor.

Streets with less than half of their business open include St. Bernard, St. Claude, Bullard, Crowder and Lake Forest avenues in New Orleans. The four thoroughfares with 70 percent or more of their businesses restored are the I-10 Service Road in eastern New Orleans, Carrollton and Elysian Fields avenues and, in St. Bernard, Paris Road.

On 57 percent of the streets surveyed, 20 percent or more of the pre-Katrina businesses are in a derelict status, Yaukey said.

The curbside evaluations of all businesses on the selected arteries were made between February and April. Each business was classified as one of the following:

• Derelict: Structure still present, but no evidence of renovation beyond gutting;
• Empty lot: Structure removed; often contained a remnant foundation;
• Renovating: Evidence of reconstruction, such as presence of building materials;
• Finished: Appearing restored or rebuilt but not yet open for business;
• Open for business

Commercial arteries were selected for inclusion based on examination of pre-storm aerial photos, Yaukey said. The arteries with the most commercial development in the two parishes were included in the study.

To focus surveying efforts in the areas flooded by Hurricane Katrina, streets between Claiborne Avenue and the Mississippi River were not included.

Project participants included geography students and senior undergraduates Renee Agnelly, Marko Allain, Ian Brisco, James Coleman, Christina Duggar, Ruth Guymon, Chad Netto, Kevin Nguyen, Kaleigh Pitre, Stuart Ponthier and Mark Williams.

Street Name	Parish	No. of Businesses	Derelict	Empty Lot	Renovating	Appears Finished	Open for Business
Broad	Orleans	256	27%	6%	4%	8%	55%
Bullard	Orleans	74	31	8	15	7	39
Carrollton	Orleans	145	9	3	6	11	71
Chef Hwy.	Orleans	271	19	2	6	11	62
Claiborne	Orleans	147	18	12	5	3	63
Crowder	Orleans	79	29	4	10	8	49
Downman	Orleans	109	21	4	6	2	62
Earhardt	Orleans	67	18	0	12	15	55
Elysian Fields	Orleans	138	12	5	3	8	72
Franklin	Orleans	89	24	1	13	0	62
Gentilly	Orleans	140	34	3	5	1	57
Harrison	Orleans	59	22	14	7	2	56
I-10 Service Road	Orleans	46	20	0	2	2	76
Jeff Davis	Orleans	78	13	5	6	8	68
Judge Perez	St.  Bernard	378	17	9	10	6	58
Lake Forest	Orleans	103	56	2	15	0	27
Paris Road	St. Bernard	128	4	2	12	9	73
Read Blvd.	Orleans	178	7	1	7	16	69
St. Bernard Ave.	Orleans	56	34	4	14	5	41
St. Bernard Hwy	St. Bernard	63	30	0	3	0	67
St. Claude	Orleans	96	50	6	8	0	36
Lakeview & Gentilly*	Orleans	409	26	5	9	4	56
N.O. East	Orleans	855	24	3	8	8	57
St. Bernard	St. Bernard	569	15	7	10	6	62
Total		2,555	21%	5%	8%	7%	59%

* Comprehensive surveys of Robert E. Lee, Filmore, Paris and Mirabeau were also made and included in the Lakeview and Gentilly totals.

The University of New Orleans (UNO), the urban research University of the State of Louisiana, provides essential support for the educational, economic, cultural and social well-being of the culturally rich and diverse New Orleans metropolitan area. It opened its doors in 1958 as part of the Louisiana State University System "to bring public-supported higher education to Louisiana's largest urban community." Today, UNO offers 43 undergraduate degree programs, 37 masters, and 11 doctoral programs. The 340-acre main campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, offering easy access to all parts of the metro area. For more information, visit www.uno.edu.