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WATCH: What happened to the shotgun house?

To add space, many shotgun homes are converted into two-story camelback style homes. This home sits for sale in Uptown, New Orleans, waiting to be renovated. (MacKenzie Coffman/Medill)

By Almaz Abedje and MacKenzie Coffman
Medill Reports

Known for its vibrant culture and architecture, New Orleans has also faced rapid gentrification following natural disasters and the worsening effects of climate change. One of the city’s most famous architectural types, the shotgun house sits at the center of this change. Once affordable for everyone, shotgun homes can now be sold for a small fortune. Experts say a lot needs to be done to reverse these trends, but hidden in the history of the shotgun home is a lesson on how that can be done.

Reporting supported by Trevon Cole and LEDE New Orleans.

Almaz Abedje, who specialized in Video and Broadcast, graduated from Medill in Summer 2022. You can follow her on Twitter at @almazabedje.

MacKenzie Coffman, who specialized in Video and Broadcast, graduated from Medill in Summer 2022. You can follow her on Twitter at @mac_coffman.

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