By Roy Douglas Malonson
AframNews
https://aframnews.com/
For years, we were told that more than $150 million was set aside to protect Third Ward — to keep longtime Black families from being pushed out of the neighborhood they built. The Midtown Redevelopment Authority bought up hundreds of lots and promised affordable homes, community stability, and a real fight against gentrification.
But here we are, at the end of 2025, looking around and asking: Where are the houses? Block after block, the land that was supposed to save Third Ward is still sitting empty. Some lots are so overgrown they look like miniature jungles. Others are used for dumping. Meanwhile, expensive townhomes and luxury developments are popping up right across the street. Property taxes keep climbing. And longtime residents are watching their neighborhood slip away one construction crane at a time.
People are frustrated — and rightfully so. This wasn’t just about land. It was about protecting a community with deep roots, rich history, and generations of Black families who thought these funds would actually help them stay in place.
Then came the scandal. Instead of building homes, millions were poured into things no one asked for — like a five-story “housing operations center” that barely has anyone inside. On top of that, several officials and contractors were charged with criminal offenses after investigators found fake invoices, suspicious maintenance contracts, and millions that went to companies tied to insiders. And while those cases play out in court, the land that was supposed to lift up the community is still sitting — untouched and undeveloped.
Here’s the painful reality: Third Ward didn’t lose this money all at once. It disappeared slowly, through mismanagement, bad decisions, and a system that spent more time paying contractors than building homes. And while the money was wasted, Black families continued to face rising costs, gentrification pressure, and the fear of losing everything they’ve built.
People in Third Ward deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And most importantly, they deserve actual homes — not empty promises, empty lots, or empty buildings.
This is bigger than a scandal. It’s a reminder that when money meant to protect Black communities doesn’t reach the people it was promised to, the result is displacement, frustration, and the slow erasing of culture. Third Ward has always been a place of strength, history, and pride. But no community can withstand broken promises forever.
