A collaborative visioning conference for the long-range rebuilding and recovery of Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be held in New Orleans, November 10–12. The three-day program marks the beginning of the process that will bring local and national\ design and planning professionals together with Louisiana public officials, civic groups, and business organizations, to develop a body of principles that will guide Louisiana’s long-range recovery efforts.

The Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference is being presented by the AIA, in collaboration with the American Planning Association (APA), at the request of Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the new 24-member Louisiana Recovery Authority. Providing specialized expertise, the conference will be cosponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, American Society of Civil Engineers and possibly other organizations.

The local, state, and national components of the AIA—with assistance from additional local partners—are managing the conference.

Broad input sought
To be opened with a keynote address by Governor Blanco, the conference represents one of the top action items that form the agenda of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was appointed by Blanco on October 17. The authority will develop everything from a 30-day plan to a 5-year plan to rebuild the state after the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Xavier University President Norman Francis will chair the authority, and former CNN executive and Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson will serve as its vice chair.

In addition to state and local community, civic, and business leaders, public officials at all levels—local, state, and federal—are being invited to participate. The Louisiana congressional delegation is being invited to address prospects and strategies for federal long-term rebuilding assistance at the conference’s November 11 luncheon. Leaders of additional local and state recovery efforts, such as New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s Bring New Orleans Back Commission and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu’s National Advisory Board on culture, tourism, and the economy also will be invited to participate as collaborative partners. There will be opportunities for broad-based public input both before and after the conference; comments submitted by members of the general public will be made part of the conference’s official record.

Collaborative, inclusive, and driven by local citizens
“This is a collaborative, inclusive, and open process driven by local Louisiana citizens,” said Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, the Institute’s executive vice president and chief executive officer, and a Louisiana native. “This conference is not intended to dictate solutions or impose a final plan, but rather to serve as the initial step that sets the stage and defines conceptual design principles for the comprehensive planning process in the Louisiana rebuilding effort.”

“APA is pleased to be working with the State of Louisiana in rebuilding its historic and diverse communities,” said W. Paul Farmer, AICP, executive director and CEO of the American Planning Association, and a native of Shreveport. “By participating in the planning process, residents, business interests, elected officials, and engaged citizens can ensure that their communities will meet everyone’s needs and, once again, have lasting value.”

Wide range of topics
The conference will focus on a range of issues, with sessions on:

• Infrastructure: Flood control/levees, utilities, transportation
• Building communities: Planning and designing healthy neighborhoods; downtowns, suburbs, rural lands, community design; historic resources and preservation, building codes, zoning, public land and private property rights.
• Environment and public health: Environmental impact, air, water, soils, brownfields, wetlands, sustainable design
• Economic development: Market realities and opportunities, tourism and conventions, business retention and attraction, public/private partnerships, incentives, venture and angel capital
• Public services: Demographic trends and projections, housing and mixed-income living, schools and education, public safety

After the conference, the Louisiana Recovery Authority is expected to hire planning and design consultants to implement state plans.

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