Starting Small in Haiti's Recovery

This column from Neal Peirce reviews a charrette-based effort that is putting the focus of recovery efforts on small blocks.

"[B]ehind the turmoil, there's a promising effort to rebuild Port-au-Prince's center and support the middle class a country so much needs. And two significant players have come from the outside to help: Prince Charles' Foundation for the Built Environment, and the famed Miami-based New Urbanist planning firm, Duany-Player-Zyberk (DPZ).

Late in January, with government approval, these visitors sponsored a ten day "charrette" - a democratic planning and ideas workshop, attended by officials, residents and other stakeholders. The goal: to review and respond to various scenarios for redeveloping a 461-acre area encompassing the earthquake-ravaged Presidential Palace and other major government buildings and several dozen surrounding blocks available for business and residential redevelopment."