Starting Small in Haiti's Recovery

Port-au-Prince, the devastated capital of Haiti, is far from recovery. But as it and the rest of the country tries to rebound, some are thinking creatively about how best to rebuild the city's center.

March 14, 2011, 10am PDT | Nate Berg

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."

Full Story:

Creative Ideas for Ravaged Port-au-Prince

Published on Friday, March 11, 2011 in Citiwire