The year was 1995, and the rider was John Crosby, Jr. The ride was one of many made by the developer, as he painstakingly mapped out creeks, trees, and other landmarks to create a schematic topography of the land that would become the Mandeville subdivision named The Sanctuary. Crosby’s goal, and that of John L. Crosby’s family-run business, was to develop a subdivision to fit the land, not to change the land to fit his development.

The progressive, environmental plan was not easy to implement, as most of the land consisted of undisturbed wetlands. And the project was temporarily put on hold, because the four parcels of land that were to make up the subdivision had no well-defined entrance. Careful planning was required, and that effort is quite evident today in the lush 1,200 acres of land – 500 acres of developed area, 700 acres of preserved wetlands.

The neighborhood demonstrates that technology and construction can coexist with the environment. The lots have setback requirements, including a minimum of 40 feet on lot sides, which gives each home a wooded, private feel. Construction techniques, such as directional boring beneath trees to run utility lines, have allowed much foliage to remain where other developers might have simply cut down trees that were “in the way.” And individual lots are carefully designed to require only gentle grading for water drainage, which cuts back on otherwise necessary fill material that could harm even the hardiest of trees. Pervious materials such as limestone are used in driveways to allow for water absorption and the reduction of storm water run-off. The natural aspects of the construction certainly required additional costs, but for the Crosbys, the environmental aspect of community planning was just as instrumental as financing, zoning, or building.

“I think that most people are environmentalists, simply because we all share this planet,” states John Crosby Jr. “They may not completely understand the planning that went into all of this, but they do enjoy the end result.”

Undoubtedly, much of his love for the outdoors came from his father, John L. Crosby. The patriarch of the family business, Crosby is a jovial man who loves to surround himself with nature. His Metairie home office is lined with glass that looks out to an elegant pool surrounded by manicured lawns and various fountains. Adjacent to the workspace is an air-conditioned aviary that Crosby built for his many birds; he can’t remember how many he has now – but it’s over ten. He and his wife, Cathy, enjoy the sunset every afternoon while looking out over Bayou St. John from the backyard. And Crosby still revels at the many bluebirds and purple martins that frequent the multitude of birdhouses scattered about the yard.

He built the home forty years ago for his family of seven children and his late wife, Linnette. At that time, Crosby had already enjoyed a successful career in the stevedoring business. He had graduated from Fortier High School – which he calls the “Harvard of the South” – and the Merchant Marine Academy. Crosby worked for years as a Port Captain, and went on to acquire a prestigious Unlimited Master’s License. But he longed to be in business for himself, and his strong engineering background soon led him to construction.

Crosby’s first venture was in Metairie in 1958, followed by more than 75 homes in Whitney Heights, and various builds in Green Acres Court, Lake Forest, Tall Timbers, and Maned Downs. The Crosby Corporation truly made a name for itself with the prominent development known as DeLimon Place in Old Metairie, once the site of the long-remembered

Do Drive Inn.

As his children grew, Crosby was fortunate enough to have all of them express interest in the family company. He was adamant about raising his children with respect and a healthy work ethic. They grew up sweeping houses under construction, cutting grass in new developments, and even pounding nails into framework on jobs.

All seven children make their living in the business today. The siblings are: John L., Jr., Harry, Lisa Crosby Forshag, Thomas, Stephen, Claire Crosby DiPol, and Patrick, the baby born on St. Paddy’s Day! Crosby speaks often, and quickly, about his brood, often referring to the kids by number: “Number three manages DeLimon; number six does the homes’ interior design; number four has the swing vote in family discussions...”

But when it comes to his 19 grandkids, Crosby is more specific. He knows each exact birthday and age. He loves to tell stories of his family’s annual trips to his home in Destin – how each of his seven children’s families have separate condominiums, yet all take turns cooking dinners for the family to share in Crosby’s own condo.

He tells one memorable story of a trip to Disney World with two of his grandsons. He sent them both off to the ice cream stand with a dollar each, and one of the kids came back crying after standing in line for just moments. When he reached his grandfather, he was wailing, “You gave him a newer dollar bill!”

After raising seven children, you would think Crosby has had his share of sibling rivalry. But surprisingly, he says that he never had much of a problem. He was fortunate enough to be able to give equally to each child, and he attributes much of the lack of jealousy to that rule alone.