Austerlitz Baptist Church no longer voting location after New Orleans fire, new polling place blocks away

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — While adjusters continue to assess the damage at the Austerlitz Street Baptist Church, services are now being held in their Fellowship Hall. A fire at the church in early September damaged the building. For years, the has been a polling place for Uptown voters on Election Day, but this year is different.

“There were people like ‘Oh, we vote here’ this is when the fire first happened,” said neighbor James Harris.

In early September, New Orleans firefighters put out a three-alarm fire that caused heavy damage to the church. A few months later, they are still working on rebuilding, but now voters are wondering where they go will now to vote.

“After the fire quite naturally, you can’t vote here right now,” Harris explained.

Voters who typically vote at the church are now being told they need to go vote at the Renew Charter School location at 3649 Laurel Street.

“We are very glad you are educating the community as to where to go to redirect their location to go vote,” NOLA resident Dwight Jarrett, Sr. explained. “This church is a historic building, a church pillar in the community. Please go to the redirected location.

Election officials want to get the word out now that the polling place has changed before Election Day. Not sure where to vote? Find your polling place here.

“From my understanding, there will be posters up giving the new address,” Jarrett said.

“There’s nothing like voting. It is very important to find out where you should go,” Harris added.

The pastor of the church said that he hopes the church will be remodeled and finished with all the repairs by May.