ASLA Supports Rebuilding Plan Proposed by Bring New Orleans Back Commission
The plan, drafted by Wallace Robert & Todd, LLC, calls for a comprehensive parks system, reconstruction of decimated wetlands, and substantial transit reforms.

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Illustration of the Neighborhood Center Model. Image Courtesy of Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC Click image to see a larger version.

Earlier this month the Bring New Orleans Back Commission released its final report for the urban planning of New Orleans (download a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation here). While much of the initial media coverage focused on the public reaction to the four-month moratorium on rebuilding—a moratorium that allows neighborhoods to assess their viability and draft comprehensive plans to rebuild—this moratorium represents just a small portion of the plan, which was drafted by Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC (WRT), which received the 2004 ASLA Firm Award.

In addition to the moratorium, the report calls for the restoration of wetlands surrounding the city, the installation of a comprehensive parks system, and the construction of new transportation corridors that would be designed with wide medians and space for pedestrians and alternative modes of transportation.

In the end, rebuilding New Orleans must come about after a comprehensive planning effort—one that will take time and must consider not only rebuilding, but protection for the future.

After carefully considering the report from the Bring New Orleans Back Commission and speaking with representatives from WRT, ASLA has come out in support of the commission's report, issuing the following statement:

"ASLA supports the comprehensive plan, drafted by Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC, and recently presented by the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, which will create a safer, resilient, and more vibrant New Orleans. The plan calls for the complete restoration of the wetlands surrounding the city, providing a vital, natural land barrier against storm surge, and a comprehensive parks system putting open space in every neighborhood, creating greenways to connect neighborhoods, and reusing areas around canals and levees as open space. In addition, transportation corridors would be designed to better accommodate pedestrians and alternative modes of transportation. The Society is also encouraged to see plans for a citywide, high-speed light rail system to connect neighborhoods to the downtown area, as well as provisions for a heavy rail system that will connect New Orleans to neighboring cities. ASLA supports efforts to bring comprehensive planning to the city's streets and neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Planning Areas initiative. The Society hopes and expects that landscape architects will play an integral role in this planning and rebuilding process.

"Citizens deserve to have the best possible information with which to make decisions about how and where to rebuild their lives. Unfortunately, critical information gaps exist, but many are working hard right now to fill those gaps. For example, leading landscape architects, architects, engineers, and scientists are developing interactive maps of the Gulf region that will allow citizens and public officials to see firsthand those areas that are most at risk of flooding, hurricane damage, and coastal erosion. The maps will provide factual and objective analysis based on actual data. With these tools, individuals, families, and entire communities will be able to make informed decisions and better understand the choices they are facing. In the meantime, actions should be taken by the appropriate agencies to ensure that those displaced by the hurricanes and flood damage continue to receive the aid and housing they need while the assessment and planning process continues.

"While ASLA generally supports the Bring New Orleans Back Commission plan, the Society believes it is necessary to plan for the long term. For example, any proposal for large-scale additions of parkland and open space must be coupled with strategies to ensure their maintenance so they remain safe and enjoyable places. At the same time, the city must plan for appropriate, sustainable pest control methods in reconstructed wetlands and buffer parks to guard against unintended consequences of these protective elements.

"In the end, rebuilding New Orleans must come about after a comprehensive planning effort-one that will take time and must consider not only rebuilding, but protection for the future. Rushing to rebuild without providing real security will only undermine the widely shared goal of making New Orleans and many other communities along the Gulf stronger and better than ever before."

A plan "built upon the school model"
In discussing the report, WRT Managing Principal Paul Rookwood, ASLA, AICP, and Principal Richard Bartholomew, FAIA, AICP, noted that, in addition to providing an overall plan for the city, the WRT report examines how the city's neighborhoods should be structured (see illustration). This plan calls for mixed-use development of varying density, several layers of open space, and connecting greenways. Bartholomew noted that the neighborhood model was conceived based on the final report of the Bring New Orleans Back Education Committee. The plan takes into account population models that predicted the expected number of children for the number of public schools, and created a density and layout for neighborhoods to ensure that every public school child is within walking distance of an elementary school. "All of these density metrics," Bartholomew noted, "are built upon the school model."

Bartholomew and Rookwood said that the next major step for the plan is to begin ramping up the controversial neighborhood planning sessions, a vital process that will help determine the viability of each neighborhood. That process is scheduled to conclude in approximately four months.

A plan for Louisiana
As this issue of LAND Online was being completed, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) announced a long-term planning initiative for the state of Louisiana. Governor Kathleen Blanco has selected the planning firms Calthorpe Associates, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ), and Urban Design Associates (UDA) to lead this effort. The firms will make rebuilding recommendations after holding an "intensive series of public meetings to collect citizen input," according to a press release from the governor. ASLA is analyzing the provisions of the LRA plan and will issue a statement, if necessary, once this process is completed.