Louisiana

Designing A New New Orleans

Architects and urban planners start thinking about designing the form of a rebuilt New Orleans.

September 15, 2005 - The New York Times

'Marshall Plan' Urged For Gulf Coast Region

Republican leaders propose the development of a comprehensive and ambitious 'Marshall Plan' for hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region.

September 15, 2005 - Congressional Quarterly Today

Katrina As An Extension of the US Environmental Justice Problem

What's behind the socio-economic disparity in environmental planning -- and emergency response to environmental disasters? Slow Katrina evacuation fits pattern of injustice during crises.

September 14, 2005 - Grist Magazine

Simulation Predicted Katrina Damage

A federally sponsored project had simulated the toll a Category 3 hurricane would have on New Orleans well before Katrina hit.

September 14, 2005 - CNN News

My Choice For A Post-Katrina Federal 'Super Manager'

Columnist Neal Peirce recommends an individual who, as a federal "super manager," has the ability to forge new understandings in Louisiana while being sensitive to social and racial issues.

September 14, 2005 - The Washington Post Writers Group

What's Really Under Water

Major data providers are compiling lists of deals connected to properties in the 90,000 square miles ravaged by Katrina.

September 14, 2005 - The Slatin Report

Salvaging History After Katrina

Hurricane Katrina devastated historic districts, properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and numerous other historicall important buildings.

September 13, 2005 - The New York Times

Planning For An Overnight Boomtown

Thousands of New Orleans businesses and residents have relocated to the 'New Baton Rouge', 75 miles to the northwest.

September 13, 2005 - USA Today

A New Urbanist Vision For New Orleans

Can New Orleans be rebuilt neighborhood by neighborhood based on their historic building types, wonders architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne.

September 12, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

New Orleans A 'Giant Superfund Site'

Flooded areas are saturated with oil, heavy metals and toxic waste.

September 12, 2005 - Salon.com

What FEMA Might Learn From Wal-Mart?

Some nimble private companies -- like Wal-Mart and The Sun Herald -- have contingency plans in place for a hurricane.

September 12, 2005 - The Miami Herald

A Sad Truth -- New Orleans Cannot Survive Forever

Despite the rhetoric about rebuilding, there are far too many economic, social and land use forces at work that will prevent New Orleans from returning to its former glory, writes Joel Garreau.

September 12, 2005 - The Washington Post

Consider Two Facts Before Rebuilding New Orleans

Klaus Jacob argues that we must face scientific facts before planning New Orleans' future.

September 12, 2005 - The Houston Chronicle

Three Planning Concepts For Rebuilding New Orleans

Patrick Doherty disagrees with New York Times columnist David Brooks' suggestions for rebuilding New Orleans. He argues that a redevelopment plan for New Orleans should adopt three urban planning concepts and lead the way for other U.S. metro areas.

September 9, 2005 - Common Sense

Can New Orleans Heal Its Old Problems By Rebuilding?

Can New Orleans rebuild its gritty charm without recreating 'hyperconcentrations of poverty'? Many fear the New Orleans will become a sanitized version of its past.

September 9, 2005 - The Wall Street Journal

Can A Rebuilt New Orleans Retain Its Character?

With federal aid available, pet redevelopment projects are now possible. Some worry that a rebuilt New Orleans will lose its distinct character.

September 9, 2005 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Wall Street Journal)

After Katrina, A Chance To Fight Urban Poverty

David Brooks argues that Hurricane Katrina has created an opportunity to address urban poverty.

September 9, 2005 - The New York Times

Kunstler On The Long Emergency and New Orleans

Will New Orleans and the devastated region around it be rebuilt on the hollow premise of cheap oil and suburban sprawl?

September 9, 2005 - AlterNet

Baton Rouge's Explosive Real Estate Market

Baton Rouge, LA is experiencing an explosive real estate boom as the the city of 400,000 takes in an estimated 100,000 from the parishes of southern Louisiana. 250 homes are sold in one day.

September 9, 2005 - The Wall Street Journal

The Case Against Rebuilding New Orleans

Jack Schafer argues that Katrina may amount to "creative destruction," and that "[o]nly a sadist would insist on resurrecting this concentration of poverty, crime, and deplorable schools."

September 8, 2005 - Slate

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.