LIVING IN THE EAST Castle Manor

New Beginnings IN NEW ORLEANS EAST’S QUIET CASTLE MANOR SUBDIVISION, A LOCAL COUPLE HOPES FOR PROGRESS

When David and Yolanda Reed — he originally from Chicago and she from Westwego — first married in 1985, they called the Westbank home. They lived there until Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, when they evacuated to a small town in Florida and remained there until 2013. Upon their return to New Orleans, David, who was hired as the aquatics manager at Joe Brown Park, needed to find a place to live within the area (rather than on the West Bank) as a requirement of the job. He and Yolanda rented a home in the Ninth Ward near Carver High School while they searched for a home to purchase, and in May 2019, they finally found a comfortable home in Castle Manor. David says that most of the homes in Castle Manor were built in the 1970s and ’80s, and they are all unique.

“The homes are not cookie cutter,” he says. “The neighborhood is quiet and settled. There aren’t people hanging out on the streets. We were surprised to find such a quiet neighborhood in this area.” When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans East, Castle Manor was one of the many neighborhoods affected by flooding. “Then, about three years ago, that tornado hit this area,” David says. “Right now, the neighborhood is about 95 percent back to normal. There are no vacant homes, but there are some vacant lots where homes used to be.” In addition to being located near his job at Joe Brown Park, David is happy that Castle Manor is close to basic necessities, such as Winn-Dixie. However, he and Yolanda would like to see more

»Pictured is David Reed in front of his recently purchased home in Castle Manor.

businesses open in the area. “In order to do serious shopping, we have to drive about 20 minutes to Slidell, Metairie or Uptown,” David says. “It’s a good central location, but it would be great if New Orleans East could attract more big boxes and small businesses.” Through his work at Joe Brown Park, David is heavily involved and engaged with the area’s youth. Even with the amenities at Joe Brown Park and the Audubon Nature Center, he says that New Orleans East also needs private investment for youth activities. Yolanda agrees that there should also be more entertainment options for families and kids. “We need options like movie theaters, bowling alleys and skating rinks,” she says. “Those types of businesses would draw and keep families here.”

Yolanda also would like to see renovations for the abandoned buildings that were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina so that businesses can move in. “New businesses would bring more jobs and help the overall community.”

Currently, Yolanda drives nearly an hour to Gretna for her job as a case manager and probation officer for Jefferson Parish. David, who enjoys spending time outdoors, and Yolanda, who is a self-proclaimed homebody (she prefers to scrapbook and read), have five children who are all now grown. One daughter also lives in New Orleans East.