Should New Orleans Be Rebuilt?

Cities, it turns out, tend to get rebuilt no matter what. But what will the new New Orleans look like? Will it be the same city?

1 minute read

September 5, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"...Once people do return to ravaged cities ''there's often a rush to rebuild way too quickly," before there's been much discussion about what exactly is being built.

...Though no one is eager to talk about the situation in New Orleans as anything but an epic tragedy, planners and architects agree that, historically, devastation has often created an opening to address deep and long-standing structural problems. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, for example, the city was transformed from a wooden to a (far less flammable) brick one.

...if enormous swathes are effectively rendered useless--then what is one rebuilding? Why rebuild it if it's below sea level?... The details of such a plan would be devilishly complex, and would raise questions from the practical (where to put it?) to the almost philosophical (would it still be the same city?)."

Monday, September 5, 2005 in The Boston Globe

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY