This Old House to focus on New Orleans rebuilding

Published 11:38 am Tuesday, September 11, 2007

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The TV series “This Old House” plans to focus on rebuilding efforts in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans in episodes set to start airing in January.

The recovery stories expected to be part of the 10-episode series include the Musicians’ Village, a collection of pastel colored houses envisioned as a community for musicians. The shows also will feature Rashida Ferdinand, who is to get help from This Old House experts and a local architect and builder in renovating and adding onto her home in accordance with local historic district guidelines in the Holy Cross section of the heavily damaged Lower 9th Ward, according to a news release publicizing the project.

“We’re eager to share the compelling stories about the recovery and rebuilding efforts of individual homeowners who are committed to bringing back their beloved city, house by house,” the program’s host, Kevin O’Connor, said in the statement.

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Much of the city was inundated with water after Katrina, which hit Aug. 29, 2005, and the subsequent levee breaches. Sections of some neighborhoods remain in shambles today.

Episodes featuring the New Orleans project are to premiere nationally in January on PBS (check local listings). Those interested also can track progress online, and This Old House magazine will feature the project beginning in its April issue, the news release said.