APA's New Orleans Team Releases Rebuilding Report

A special six-member team of planners assembled by the APA put published its report, "Charting the Course for Rebuilding a Great American City," which includes short-and long-term recommendations for improving the city's planning.

1 minute read

December 2, 2005, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The American Planning Association (APA), in response to requests from the New Orleans City Planning Commission and APA’s Louisiana chapter, assembled a team of six qualified urban planners to assess the capacity of the city’s planning function in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

After gathering preliminary information about its assignment, APA’s New Orleans Planning Assessment Team visited the city from October 23 to 28, 2005; conducted a tour of the city's devastation; interviewed a cross section of public officials and community leaders; and thus formulated a set of conclusions and recommendations that might assist local officials as they seek to make sound decisions about the city’s restoration and redevelopment. This report presents the APA Team’s general observations about the city’s planning function, including activities of the City Planning Commission and the Mayor’s Bring New Orleans Back (BNOB) Commission. On the basis of those observations, the report proceeds to make recommendations for addressing shortâ€"and long-term planning issues, and suggests appropriate next steps.

[PDF, 250KB, 13 pages]

Thanks to Bruce Knight

Thursday, December 1, 2005 in American Planning Association

Young Professional

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 and Environmental 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 and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

October 20, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A yellow, two-story building named Ferns with two American flags.

This MA town is drowning in its own sewage — and residents like it that way

Susan Murcott, a waste water expert, said if Carlisle didn't address their leaking sewage, the problem could turn “deadly.”

October 22, 2026 - Boston Globe

A pig poking its snout between the bars.

Iowa taxpayers are paying thousands to clean manure out of their water

While the Clean Water Act makes states responsible for regulating factory farms that discharge pollutants, Iowa has turned a blind eye to the polluting farms.

7 hours ago - Inside Climate News

Amtrak officials cut the ribbon at the new Seattle facility.

Amtrak cuts ribbon on Seattle Airo maintenance facility

The $250 million, nearly 100,000-square-foot building can house an entire Cascades Airo trainset.

October 27 - Railway Supply

One of Google's power plants pumping pollution into the air.

To power data centers, Google seeks autonomous control of thousands of homes’ electricity

The tech company has signed a deal to indirectly pay Mid-Atlantic residents to reduce their power demand when the grid is strained.

October 27 - New York Times