FEMA, Public Opinion Could Save Famed New Orleans Church

A presumably National Register-eligible barrel-vaulted design, influenced by Vatican II, for the former

St. Francis Cabrini Church--flooded by Katrina's waters-- has sparked debate in the city known for its 19th century residential cottages and grand mansions.

"National Register listing ...(by) FEMA historic preservation specialist Valerie Gomez, concluded that the church is architecturally significant and register-worthy on several grounds. The church, designed in the early 1960s by the well-known local architectural firm of Curtis and Davis, 'is unique in its singular design and utilization of several different structural systems in a complex manner,' Gomez's report says. 'Its distinctive design incorporating the geometric brick facade and thin-shell concrete roofing system make it a prominent example of modern architecture in New Orleans.'"

"Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, no federal money can be spent on a project that would adversely affect a property eligible for listing on the National Register until federal and state officials have reviewed possible ways to 'avoid, minimize or mitigate' the damage."

"In this case, those measures could range from, at the most, saving the entire church to, at the least, preserving photos and architectural drawings of it. "