11,430 vacant lots

12,700 - (10% * 12,700)

There are no records of exactly how many buildings have been torn down since Hurricane Katrina, but the number of demolition permits filed with the city since the storm is at 12,700 and growing daily, according to Matt McBride, an activist who maintains a database of such permits.

While the dwellings are in need of repair, numerous owners have complained the city is rushing to demolish structurally sound structures that could be rehabilitated. Many owners who cannot afford repairs also find rebuilding cost prohibitive.

The latest available figures from June show new construction permits had only been filed for about 10 percent of the razed lots. People with an interest in real estate say the growing acreage of vacant lots could present problems as neighborhoods slowly rebuild.