Ethan Rhodes
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, also known as Big Charity, was founded in 1736 to provide healthcare for the poor. The hospital was flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, causing it to close. Despite protests from patients, staff, and locals, the hospital never reopened. The closure of Charity Hospital left the Lower Mid-City community without access to affordable medical care, exacerbating existing segregation and inequality in the area. The site of the former hospital has since been redeveloped into a mix of homes and retail spaces, while new multi-million-dollar medical facilities have been constructed nearby.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 1532 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Year Founded | 1735 or 1736 |
| Founder | Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder |
| Original Name | Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor) |
| Owner | Louisiana State University System |
| Status | Closed since 2005 |
| Reason for Closure | Flooding and subsequent infestation of mold due to Hurricane Katrina |
| Current State | Art Deco ruin |
| Redevelopment Plans | To turn the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail space, and other facilities |
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What You'll Learn
Charity Hospital's closure
Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity", was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). The hospital was located in the New Orleans Hospital District at 1532 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. Charity Hospital was one of two teaching hospitals that were part of the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans (MCLNO), the other being University Hospital.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Charity Hospital served as a resource for the low-income population, residents of colour, and uninsured individuals in the Lower Mid-City area. The hospital was well known for its dedication to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment. However, the hospital had suffered from decades of disrepair, neglect, and lack of maintenance.
In September 2005, Charity Hospital was closed due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Three weeks after the hurricane, then-Governor Kathleen Blanco announced that Charity Hospital would not reopen as a functioning hospital. The Louisiana State University System, which owns the building, stated that it had no intentions to reopen the hospital in its original location. Instead, they opted to incorporate Charity Hospital into the city's new medical centre in the Lower Mid-City neighbourhood. This shift towards privatisation left the community without access to affordable medical care, exacerbating segregation in an already divided area.
In October 2019, LSU approved a redevelopment project for the former hospital site. The project, awarded to 1532 Tulane Partners, aimed to transform the site into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. The project was expected to cost $300 million and would include approximately 390 residential units, retail shops, and restaurants. Tulane University planned to occupy a significant portion of the building for student housing and offices. Despite the closure of Charity Hospital, there have been ongoing efforts to renovate or restore the site, recognising its historical and cultural significance to New Orleans.
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The impact on the local community
Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity", was a vital resource for the local community in New Orleans. The hospital was founded in 1736 by a French sailor and shipbuilder, Jean Louis, who wanted to provide healthcare for the indigent in the colony of New Orleans. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). The hospital was run by nuns of the Sisters of Charity until the 20th century when it became a medical and teaching hospital.
Big Charity served the low-income population, residents of colour, and uninsured individuals in the Lower Mid-City area of New Orleans. It was known for fostering a space that encouraged learning and provided accessible healthcare for marginalized communities. The hospital faced various challenges, including infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, violence, and trauma. Despite these challenges, the staff maintained a wonderful attitude and a missionary spirit of service.
The impact of Charity Hospital's closure after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 cannot be overstated. The hospital was flooded when the levies broke, and staff and patients struggled with a lack of electricity and resources while awaiting evacuation. The decision to close the hospital due to irreversible damage and contamination risks was met with intense protests from patients, staff, and locals. The loss of Charity Hospital left the Lower Mid-City community shaken and without access to affordable medical care.
The construction of new multi-million-dollar medical facilities, such as the University Medical Center and the LSU Medical Center, prioritized privatization and further amplified segregation in an already deeply segregated area. The shift towards privatization and the loss of a public hospital symbolized the end of a charity system of access to healthcare for all. The closure of Charity Hospital had a profound impact on the local community, particularly the African American population and the poor, who were accustomed to relying on the hospital for treatment.
There have been efforts to redevelop the site and revitalize the central business district, which has suffered since the closure of Charity Hospital. The future of the gigantic Art Deco building remains uncertain, but its three-quarters-of-a-century contribution to the city and its commitment to serving marginalized communities should not be forgotten.
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The hospital's history
Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity", was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). The hospital was founded 18 years after the city was founded by France in 1718, and it quickly outgrew its original facility.
A second hospital was built at the edge of the colony on Basin Street in 1743, and a third hospital was constructed nearby in 1785. After New Orleans was ceded to Spain in 1763, this third hospital was renamed the San Carlos Hospital in honour of King Charles III. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed this hospital in 1809.
For the next five years, temporary hospitals were set up at various locations, including the Cabildo, the Jourdan residence in the Faubourg Marigny, and the De La Vergne plantation. In 1815, a fourth hospital was built on Canal Street, where The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel is now located. However, this hospital was criticised as being inadequate and underfunded.
In 1832, a fifth hospital was constructed on Common Street (modern-day Tulane Avenue). This hospital came under the administration of the Sisters of Charity in 1834, and it began its long history as a teaching hospital.
Over the years, Charity Hospital faced financial struggles and periods of disrepair. Despite these challenges, the hospital staff maintained a wonderful attitude and a missionary spirit of service. The hospital was known for serving low-income populations, residents of colour, and individuals without insurance in the Lower Mid-City area of New Orleans.
In 2005, Charity Hospital was closed due to Hurricane Katrina, and it was decided that it would not reopen as a functioning hospital. The Louisiana State University System, which owned the building, chose to incorporate Charity Hospital into the city's new medical centre in the Lower Mid-City neighbourhood. The new hospital, named University Medical Center New Orleans, was completed in August 2015.
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The building's current state
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, also known as "Big Charity", was constructed between 1936 and 1940 in central New Orleans, about a mile north of downtown. The hospital was founded in 1736 by a French sailor and shipbuilder, Jean Louis, who died in New Orleans a year before. In his will, he expressed his wish to finance a hospital for the indigent in the colony of New Orleans from his estate. The hospital was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor).
The hospital was flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and suffered extensive damage. Staff and patients were evacuated, and the hospital was closed indefinitely. Despite intense protests from patients, staff, and locals, and various plans for its reopening, it never resumed operations. The building has since been fenced off, with security guards turning away visitors.
In 2018, the building was described as a ruin, with no electricity and shrinking resources. The Louisiana State University Hospitals, which runs Charity Hospital, has expressed intentions to replace it due to damage from flooding and subsequent mold infestation. However, some, including Dr. Juliette Saussy, director of emergency medical services for New Orleans, believe the building is still usable.
In October 2019, LSU, the organization that has owned the structure since the 2005 evacuation, approved a redevelopment project. The project aims to transform the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. The contract was awarded to a joint venture between New Orleans-based CCNO and the Israeli development company El-Ad Group, with construction expected to take three years and cost $300 million.
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Future plans for the site
Charity Hospital, also known as Big Charity, was founded in 1736 by a grant from French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis. It was the oldest continually operating hospital in the US before it was closed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In 2019, LSU, which has owned the structure since 2005, approved a redevelopment project to turn the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail space, and other facilities. The contract was awarded to 1532 Tulane Partners, a joint venture between New Orleans-based CCNO and Israeli development company El-Ad Group. The redevelopment project was expected to cost $300 million, with construction predicted to take three years.
The redevelopment project aims to create a vibrant center of neighborhood activity, combining historic preservation interests with a planned renewal of the surrounding community's business life and participation. The project will include a mix of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom residential units, with some units reserved for marketing to middle-income and workforce users. The retail component will serve the office and residential users with goods and services, and there will also be space dedicated to public access celebrating the history of the building, including an interactive museum with antique medical artifacts.
The redevelopment project has been long-awaited by city leaders hoping to revitalize the former central business district, which has suffered since the closure of Charity Hospital and surrounding buildings due to Hurricane Katrina. The gigantic Art Deco building has been described as structurally sound, and its rehabilitation is expected to be the fastest and most cost-effective way to return quality healthcare and a teaching hospital to New Orleans.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Charity Hospital is no longer operational. The hospital was closed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Charity Hospital was flooded when the levies broke after the storm hit in November 2005. Staff and patients were evacuated, and the hospital was closed due to the extensive damage and the risk of contamination.
Yes, there were several efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital. However, the Louisiana State University System, which owns the building, stated that it had no plans to reopen the hospital in its original location. Instead, they chose to incorporate Charity Hospital into the city's new medical center in the lower Mid-City neighborhood.
After the closure of Charity Hospital, the University Medical Center New Orleans and the US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center were constructed nearby. These new hospitals are part of a BioDistrict dedicated to the biosciences sector.
