Redeveloping New Orleans: Recommendations from the John Hopkins University Redevelopment Panel

1. Redeveloping New Orleans: Recommendations from the John Hopkins University Redevelopment Panel David Bend, Sam Huleatt, Minchul Kim, Van Johnson, and Gina Myers January 21, 2006 New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

2. New Orleans Before The Storm • Mardi Gras • Jazz • Food • But…. New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

3. New Orleans Before The Storm • Concentrated poverty • Failing Schools • Weak Economy New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

4. New Orleans After the Storm • Disproportionate destruction • Inadequate response • ULI and Bring Back New Orleans Report New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

5. Our Vision New Orleans will emerge by its tricentennial (1718) as the most economically strong, intellectually rich, socially equitable, culturally vibrant and environmentally sustainable city in the world New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

6. Redevelopment Zones • Different areas-different demands • Smaller footprint • Equity • Mixed-income • Mixed-use New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

7. source: USGS Image courtesy of ULI St. Bernard Parish Jefferson Parish Orleans Parish New Orleans Urban Redevelopment elevation

8. source: USGS Flood Inundation New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

9. Sequence of neighborhood investment zones New Orleans Urban Redevelopment Source: ULI

10. Red Zone • Sense of urgency • Uniform assessment system • Remediation • Choice • Open space New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

11. Yellow Zone map courtesy of ULI • Analysis and remediation • Eye towards redevelopment New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

12. Green Zone • Least affected by the storm • Increased density New Orleans Urban Redevelopment Source: ULI

13. Strategic Open Space New Orleans Urban Redevelopment Source: ULI

14. Political Opposition “Over my dead body” -Ninth Ward Resident- “To say that you’re not going to fix this community or that community, you’re not honoring the dead” -Oliver Thomas, New Orleans City Council President- New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

15. Low Density Development Source: www.urban-advantage.com Pre – Urban Redevelopment Single use district Above ground utilities No parking in rear Narrow Sidewalks Auto-oriented development WIDE STREETS New Orleans Urban Redevelopment Source: EPA DCED

16. Dense Development Post – Urban Redevelopment Street Trees High Density Development Below- ground utilities Pedestrian-friendly area Mixed-Use (Residential and Commercial) Median for light rail Bike Lanes New Orleans Urban Redevelopment Source: EPA DCED Source: www.urban-advantage.com

17. Government Effectiveness NEED for Transparency & Oversight: New Orleans history of misappropriations and fraud within the Government (Ex: Marc Morial) Need to demonstrate compassion for all races and classes -Conscious not to only work in the “safest areas” -Conscious of retaining local heritage/culture Many feel abandoned by Federal Govt “Re-Build Confidence in residents over time and through transparency and open communication” New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

18. Oversight • Important to have Oversight and Benchmarking • Monitor Contractors • Keep Public Profile: Web Updates, Town Hall Mtgs • Create Independent Oversight Commissions: • Environmental/Health Commission • Financial Oversight Committee • Historical Precedent • Nothing Comparable in Recent History of this Scale • 9/11 (Some success but very slow!) New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

19. Financing Q: What are we financing? Traditional Infrastructure & Municipal Structures AND…Social Infrastructure (Teachers, Services, etc) 3 Levels of Financing: • Federal Level • State • Private (Economic Development) • Creative New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

20. Specifics • Federal – Most Aid • Gulf Opportunity Zone Act • Baker Bill (Yet to Pass) • Traditional Municipal Financing • Tax Exempt Bonds • Economic Development : Create Tax Base • Creative • How to Finance the GAP? • Public Private Partnerships New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

21. Traditional Model Reduce Poverty Focus on Deficiencies Need: Social Services Lead: Government Market-Oriented Model Create Jobs and Wealth Focus on Opportunities Need: Business Growth and Investment Lead: Private Sector New Orleans Economic Redevelopment New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

22. Strength Natural Resources (oil and gas) Higher Education Institutions Hospital and Medical Facilities Unique and Rich Culture The Port of New Orleans Opportunities Strong medical research institutions The indigenous music industry Development of bio-tech industry Increasing demand for the port Ship building and restoring World Class convention and Expos Weakness Lack of Economic Strategies Less Business friendly Tax Codes High Proportion of less-skilled Labors in Workforce Lack of inward investment Threats Racial and economical segregation High crime rate General trend toward out-migration from the city Increased competition from other cities Natural disaster SWOT ANALYSIS New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

23. New Orleans Economic Redevelopment • Short-Term Objectives • To bring dispersed New Orleans Residents back • To revive the core industries as soon and as much as possible • To enable workers to rejoin in the labor force • To maximize the benefits for New Orleans residents and companies from the reconstruction efforts New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

24. New Orleans Economic Redevelopment • Long-term Objectives • To encourage retention and expansion of job opportunities both in private and public sectors • To diversify the base of core businesses • Create an education system tailored to the actual jobs available and projected through restructuring period • To enhance the city’s reputation as a good place for business investment and sustained profitability through Public-Private Partnership • To alleviate concentrated poverty and racial segregation New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

25. Snap Shot of New Orleans Economy New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

26. Storm Water Protection • Levee’s • Poorly maintained: built for agriculture protection • Provide Multiple layers of levee protection: levees, canals, pumps and gates • Option not to rebuild all levees • Single Regional Levee Board • Close MRGO – Mississippi River Gulf Outlet New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

27. Coastal Wetlands • Coastal Wetlands • Natural buffer against storms (aka speed bump) • New Orleans more vulnerable than before storm • Levees harmful to wetlands natural cycle • Fresh water reintroduction, barrier island restoration, sediment diversion and vegetative planting New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

28. Infrastructure • Water • Pre-Katrina, did not meet federal standards • Rebuild & protect water treatment facilities • Waste • 44 million cubic yards debris will require management • Launch valuable new industries (deconstruction projects, composting facilities, biomass energy plants) possible economic stimulus • Power • Entergy utility company – Filed for Bankruptcy • Priority for areas that have immediate occupancy • Communication • “Wireless” communication WiFi system throughout the city • Remove communication barriers and attract residents and businesses New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

29. Transportation – Near Term • New Orleans Port • Getting back on feet – 80% by June • Biggest Need: Labor • Highway and road / bridge repair • Provide access to areas for construction and utility workers • Street signs and signals • Reconfigure bus routes • Focus routes in areas of highest activity New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

30. Transportation – Long Term • Street Car • New Orleans symbol • Friendly, aesthetically pleasing, human scale • Portland, Oregon example • Street Car Arrival Time, GPS Tracking • Light Rail • North Shore & New Orleans • Reduce the isolation of many low income neighborhoods • Connect Neighborhoods & Workplaces • Regional Rail • Connect Baton Rouge and New Orleans • Environmental & Economic Stimulus New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

31. Rebuilding Neighborhoods New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

32. Snap Shot of New Orleans Housing Market New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

33. Community Redevelopment • Short-Term Objectives • Form Neighborhood Planning Teams • Neighborhood residents • Planner/designer • Historic preservation expert • Environmental/public health consultant • Community Outreach • Mitigation Planner • Establish Temporary Housing Sites • Break through local public/political opposition to temp. trailer sites. • Enable Habitat for Humanity to locate housing portable foundations to city. • Insure site locations are environmentally safe for housing locations • Address Soil, Mold and Brown field environmental concerns • Establish Commercial and residential remediation plans/guidelines (EPA and or DEQ) • Meaningful and consistent community evolvement in environmental decision making • Address Neighborhood/Community Footprint issues • Establish safety measures • Develop Community specific remediation plans New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

34. Community Redevelopment • Long-term Objectives • Attract and develop strong community relationships • Education • Employment • Housing product types • Financial institutions • Commercial enterprises • Young creative talent • Employ comprehensive redevelopment strategies that map to the communities needs. • Mixed use product types • Stimulate entrepreneurship • Links business to housing • Supportive Housing • Affordable housing • Linked to services (Health, mental health, employment, etc.) • Mixed income housing • Stimulates the development of community • Creates multi-cultural environments • Existing house renovation • 77.8% Homes Constructed before 1970, 59.9% before 1960 • 81.1% homes are 5 bedrooms or less/76.3% 2 bedroom or smaller. • Utilize Sustainable building techniques were practical to reestablish communities • Sustainable sites • Water efficiency • Material and resources • Indoor Environmental Quality New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

35. MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS • Acres of reclaimed wetlands (LT) • Number of job training centers constructed (ST) • % of schools that consistently score in the upper half of state and national scores (I) • Percentage of residents that reside less than six blocks from public transportation (LT) New Orleans Urban Redevelopment

36. CONCLUSION • Audacious Goal • World is Watching-effects far beyond New Orleans New Orleans Urban Redevelopment