Ed Blakely's Ideas For New Orleans' Recovery
In his new job as the executive director for recovery management in New Orleans, Ed Blakely brings decades of experience and a few potentially controversial ideas.
"The man many hope will become a key leader in New Orleans' post-Katrina recovery spent Thursday packing up in Oakland, Calif., and preparing to start his new job -- determined, he said, to launch experimental rebuilding projects by summer to provide some relief to weary homeowners.
One possibility, said Ed Blakely, the city's new recovery czar: Let the city assemble vacant or blighted properties and offer them in swaps to homeowners -- preferably groups of neighbors -- who want to move out of sparsely populated neighborhoods and be closer to schools, shopping centers or other vital areas, while staying near their friends.
'What I'm suggesting here is not wide-eyed radicalism. It's been done before,' Blakely said. 'It works.' "
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
Related News Stories
From Bad to Worse in NOLA - Oct 09, 2008
Continued Demolition Threatens New Orleans Character - Oct 07, 2008
New Anchor For New Orleans - Jul 16, 2008
Another Year Later, New Orleans Still Waiting - Apr 06, 2008
The Most Important Year In New Orleans History - Dec 13, 2007
