User:Sirenreins/Robert E. Lee Boulevard

Robert E. Lee Boulevard is named after the Confederate Army General. Robert E. Lee Boulevard is Located at the top of New Orleans and was badly affected by Katrina. Robert E. Lee Boulevard is hosts many festivals and parades, but none are as big as Greek fest. While few significant businesses run along Robert E. Lee Boulevard it does house the very sought-after Lakeshore/Lakeview neighborhoods. Lee Blvd. is going to be renamed, not a definite name yet, after Allen Toussaint. Allen is a singer/songwriter and wrote many iconic hits.

History
Robert E. Lee was a general in the confederate army. He was a part of the U.S. Army however his commitment to Virginia called for him to retire from the Army and join the confederacy. While it can be said that he did not own slaves or believe in slavery he did believe in white supremacy. In 1924, Robert E. Lee Boulevard got its name even though Lee has no ties to New Orleans. New Orleans has a street, movie theater named after him as well as a statue of him in Lee Circle.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, but specifically New Orleans, badly Robert E. Lee Blvd. was about 8 feet or more underwater   During the reconstruction of New Orleans after Katrina, the Lakeview area had a plan. Within that plan, Robert E. Lee Boulevard and surrounding roads were said to be reconstructed with a budget of $1.1 million, but it was established that the repairs of all the streets would cost 3.4 million. Many residents were afraid to move back to the city and this area due to the abundant amount of flooding that occurred due to Katrina.

Roughly 30 streets have already been renamed in New Orleans after being look over by a committee as way to begin removing the monuments of America's racist past in New Orleans. In 2017, the statue of Robert E. Lee was taken out of Lee Circle and now Robert E. Lee Blvd. is up for renaming 3 years later. Robert E. Lee boulevard is said to be renamed after Allen Toussaint. Allen Toussaint is a musician who wrote iconic songs like "Playing Sweet", 'I like it like that", "Yes we can can" etc. Toussaint was born in 1938 and died and 2015.

Streetscape
Robert E. Lee Blvd. roughly 5 miles long. Robert E. Lee Boulevard runs across the top of New Orleans. It starts at N.O. Hammond Highway and ends at Peoples Avenue. Robert E. Lee Boulevard encloses Lakeshore/Lake Vista which is a well-known neighbor in New Orleans. Lakeshore/Lake Vista has its own town center that includes public schools and shopping centers. Hurricane Katrina caused many of the attractions and residents to be wary of coming back to the Boulevard. One significant place that had a lot of trouble rebuilding and getting its stores back was the Lake Terrace Shopping center.

Activities
Robert E. Lee Boulevard hosts many events throughout its lifetime but none of them are as well known as Greek fest. Since 1973, New Orleans has hosted Greek Fest. Today more than 20,000 Greeks and others visit the festival for live music, good food, and more. This festival is presented by the Holy Trinity Cathedral which happens to be the first Greek Orthodox in America. Greek fest 2020 was canceled due to Covid-19 however, for this year they are doing a Drive-thru version of Greek fest.