Calliope Projects
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Officially called the B.W. Cooper apartments, the Calliope Projects (pronounced KAL-ee-ope) is one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans located in Central City New Orleans. There are 1,546 units on 56 acres of land (or 24 city blocks.)
The project was built between 1939 and 1941. The original boundaries were South Dorgenois, Erato, Calliope (now Earhart Boulevard) and South Prieur Streets. In 1941, rents ran from $8.25 a month for a one bedroom apartment to $22.00 a month for a three bedroom.
There are 690 apartments in the original development. In 1949, a gymnasium was added at Broad and Calliope Streets.
In 1954, a twelve block expansion added 860 new units. The expansion pushed the western boundary of the Calliope back two blocks from Erato Street to Melpomene Avenue (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard).
In May 1981, the Calliope was renamed the B. W. Cooper Apartments. Mr. Cooper worked for the Housing Authority of New Orleans for 33 years and served on several civic and social organizations until his death in 1974.
The Calliope Projects (or simply Calio to the locals) are among the most notorious in Uptown New Orleans and the United States along with the Magnolia Projects. The drug trade and subsequent violence from it were two of the primary reasons New Orleans was nicknamed the "Murder Capital of the U.S."
A popular nickname for these projects is "CP-3" meaning "Calliope Projects--Third Ward"[citation needed]. The projects are in the 2nd Ward (map).
Notable residents have included C-Murder and brothers Master P and Silkk The Shocker, as well as the Neville Brothers.
Most of Calliope is closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. As of January 2007, a small section of Calliope has been reopened to residents.
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