Jordan Ellis
Charity Hospital was a hospital in New Orleans that was founded in 1736 by a grant from French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis. The hospital was dedicated to serving the indigent, per Louis' last will and testament. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). Charity Hospital was one of two teaching hospitals that were part of the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans (MCLNO). The hospital sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has been vacant since. There have been several efforts to renovate or restore the hospital, including plans for Tulane University to occupy 500,000 square feet of the building. The University Medical Center New Orleans, which was completed in 2015, carries on the traditions of its predecessor, Charity Hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Charity Hospital |
| Location | 1532 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112–1352 |
| Founding Date | May 10, 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) |
| Purpose | To serve the indigent and provide medical care for those who could not afford it |
| Ownership | Louisiana State University (LSU) |
| Status | Closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 |
| Media Appearances | MTV's The Real World: New Orleans, Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital, Hours, Spike Lee's If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise |
| Redevelopment Plans | Tulane University plans to occupy 500,000 square feet of the redeveloped building |
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What You'll Learn
Charity Hospital's history
Charity Hospital, also known as Big Charity, was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis. It was dedicated to serving the indigent, per Louis' last will and testament. It was originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor). The first Charity Hospital was located on the intersection of Chartres Street and Bienville Street in what is now the French Quarter. It was the second hospital to open in the United States and the first one to treat a patient.
The hospital quickly outgrew its original facility, and a second hospital was built at the edge of the colony on Basin Street in 1743. A third hospital was built nearby in 1785 and was renamed the San Carlos Hospital in honour of King Charles III after New Orleans was ceded to Spain in 1763. A fire destroyed this hospital in 1809, and a temporary hospital was established at the Cabildo for a month, then at the Jourdan residence in the Faubourg Marigny for six months, and then at the dilapidated De La Vergne plantation for five years while a fourth hospital was built. This fourth hospital was built at the edge of the city on Canal Street where The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel is currently located.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Charity Hospital operated in the New Orleans Hospital District at 1532 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112–1352. The hospital sustained severe flood damage during the hurricane, and the evacuation of patients made national headlines. There were reports of hand-pumped ventilators being used to breathe for patients and personnel using IV fluids to keep them hydrated.
The hospital closed after Hurricane Katrina, and there have been several efforts to renovate or restore it. In October 2019, LSU, the organisation that has owned the structure since 2005, approved a redevelopment project to turn the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. The contract was awarded to a group called 1532 Tulane Partners, and work was expected to begin in Fall 2019 with construction predicted to take three years and cost $300 million. Tulane University has also expressed interest in occupying, developing, and revitalising the former hospital building.
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The impact of Hurricane Katrina
Charity Hospital, located in the New Orleans Hospital District, was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It was the second-oldest continuously operated public hospital in the United States. The hospital was transferred to the Louisiana Health Care Authority (LHCA) in 1991 and to the LSU System in 1997.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Charity Hospital suffered extensive damage and remained closed as of June 30, 2006. The evacuation of patients from the flooded hospital made national headlines, with patients ferried out through high floodwaters and then picked up by helicopter at the roof of Tulane Hospital. The hospital's closure left a significant gap in medical care for the indigent population of New Orleans, as it was the main trauma and safety net medical center serving the area.
The estimated cost of repairing Charity Hospital ranged from $27 million (FEMA estimate) to $258 million (LSU estimate). The discrepancy in these estimates arose from the scope of work included, with FEMA's estimate covering only hurricane-related damage and LSU's estimate including pre-existing deficiencies and anticipated cost escalations.
In October 2019, LSU approved a redevelopment project for the former hospital site, with plans to transform it into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. The project was expected to cost $300 million and revitalize the central business district that had been suffering since the closure of Charity Hospital.
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University Medical Center's continuation of Charity Hospital's legacy
Charity Hospital was founded in New Orleans in 1736, making it the second-oldest continuously operated public hospital in the United States. The hospital was dedicated to serving the indigent, per the last will and testament of its founder, French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis.
In 2005, Charity Hospital was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and patients had to be evacuated from the flooded hospital. The hospital subsequently closed, leaving the city's former "booming" central business district in decline. In the aftermath of the hurricane, temporary clinics named Spirit of Charity were established.
The University Medical Center (UMC) in New Orleans, which opened in 2015, continues the legacy of Charity Hospital. UMC is the only safety-net hospital for the people of New Orleans and is committed to serving the underserved. The hospital works closely with the Spirit of Charity Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds to support patient-centred care, promote health and wellness, and advance medical research and education.
UMC's president and CEO, John R. Nickens IV, has emphasised the hospital's dedication to patient care and its role in serving the community: "Everybody has their own story about Charity, but the common theme is that it’s about people who choose to show up and serve others... In New Orleans, we take care of people in every situation."
In addition to UMC, other healthcare providers have contributed to filling the gap left by the closure of Charity Hospital. Ochsner, one of the nation's largest private health systems, has been serving New Orleans for over sixty years. The Children's Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA) is the city's only dedicated pediatric hospital, providing subspecialty care for children. The Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center, located 90 minutes outside of New Orleans, offers residents the opportunity to gain experience in emergency medicine and making clinical decisions in a rural setting.
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The racial and economic contrasts at Charity Hospital
Charity Hospital, originally named the Hospital of Saint John or L'Hôpital des Pauvres de la Charité (The Charity Hospital for the Poor), was founded in 1736 in New Orleans. It was the second-oldest continuously operated public hospital in the United States, serving as a safety net for the poorest patients in one of America's poorest cities.
The hospital was built to serve the indigent population of the colony of New Orleans, and it quickly outgrew its original facility. Over the centuries, Charity Hospital expanded and rebuilt several times, reflecting the city's growing demand for medical services. However, the hospital also faced significant challenges, including financial struggles, disrepair, and the impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which led to its eventual closure.
Despite its name and mission, Charity Hospital was not immune to the racial and economic contrasts of the American South. Originally, there were separate wards for black and white patients, reflecting the segregationist policies of the time. Even after the wards were merged, the hospital primarily served a medically indigent population that was heavily black or Latino, reflecting the racial disparities in access to healthcare.
The closure of Charity Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina exacerbated existing racial and economic inequalities in access to healthcare. The replacement hospital was built in a low-income neighbourhood, but it was inaccessible to those it was meant to serve. Furthermore, the loss of Charity Hospital as a public healthcare provider left a gap in the city's healthcare infrastructure, as thousands of people became charity cases due to the loss of jobs and health insurance in the aftermath of the hurricane.
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Plans to redevelop the Charity Hospital building
Charity Hospital in New Orleans has been closed since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to the building. There have been several efforts to renovate or restore the hospital since then.
In 2019, LSU, which has owned the hospital since its closure, approved a redevelopment project to turn the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. The contract was awarded to 1532 Tulane Partners, a joint venture between New Orleans-based CCNO and the Israeli development company El-Ad Group. The redevelopment project was expected to cost $300 million and take three years, with construction beginning in Fall 2019.
In late 2021, Tulane University announced that it planned to lease and redevelop Charity Hospital downtown with the help of developers at 1532 Tulane Partners, Inc. and SKK Opportunity Zone Fund I, LLC. The facility is now planned to reopen in 2027, serving as a hub of biotech discovery and innovation, as well as a destination for medical education and healthcare. Tulane University plans to lease approximately 400,000 square feet of the building, housing over 600 researchers and supplements to its School of Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and the School of Professional Advancement.
The redevelopment project will also include student spaces, a cafe, study areas, and a landscaped plaza area fronting Tulane Avenue. The existing basement of the building will be converted into on-site parking. The residential plan consists of a mixture of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units, with some reserved for middle-income and workforce users. The retail component will serve the office and residential users, with certain spaces dedicated to public access, celebrating the history of the building.
The adaptive reuse of the one-million-square-foot building will bring renewed vitality, density, and connectivity to the community, serving as a reminder of its enduring vitality for New Orleans. The development combines historic preservation interests with a planned renewal of the surrounding community's business life and participation.
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Frequently asked questions
Charity Hospital, also known as Big Charity, was a hospital in New Orleans that served the medically indigent population. It was founded in 1736 by a grant from French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis, who wished to finance a hospital for the indigent in his last will and testament. It was the second hospital to open in the United States and the first one to treat a patient. The hospital has since closed, with the building suffering from decades of disrepair and lack of maintenance.
Charity Hospital closed in 2005 due to severe flood damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The evacuation of patients from the flooded hospital made national headlines, with patients ferried out through high floodwaters and picked up by helicopter.
After its closure, there were several efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital. In 2019, LSU, the organisation that owned the structure, approved a redevelopment project to turn the former hospital into a mix of homes, retail spaces, and other facilities. Tulane University is set to occupy 500,000 square feet of the redeveloped Charity Hospital building.
University Hospital, now known as University Medical Center (UMC), carries on the traditions of its predecessor, Charity Hospital. UMC serves as the only safety-net hospital for the people of New Orleans and is located 20 minutes from downtown New Orleans.
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