“Let me thank you for holding this conference in New Orleans,” said Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco to the participants at the Louisiana Rebuilding and Recover Conference on the morning of November 10. “Never before has a city of this size been evacuated, so many people been homeless, or so many buildings been destroyed. However, never before has there been such an opportunity to build in new ways while recreating our cultural core.”

She said the region particularly welcomed the opportunity to rebuild to the standards of modern building codes and has asked the Louisiana legislature, currently in emergency session, to adopt its first-ever statewide building code. Other issues of eminent importance discussed by the governor were establishing community renewal zones, providing employment for local citizens, rebuilding wetlands, and revamping the state’s education system.

“The experience and talents represented in this room are astonishing. You are just the people we need—we are all turning to you to help us rebuild,” the governor said.

Calling the conference a perfect combination of public and private collaboration, she concluded, “We are deeply grateful to the AIA, the American Planning Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, who have risen to the occasion to help us rebuild.”

Inspiring messages from New Orleans
In addition to the governor’s message, the first morning of the Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference presented messages of hope and expectation for the conference.

AIA Chief Operations Officer Jim Dinegar introduced Norman Robinson, the anchor of New Orleans’ WDSU, Channel 6. A native of New Orleans who brought eyewitness reports to his fellow citizens, Robinson thanked the AIA and other participating organizations for keeping this story alive.” He briefly told the audience of his experiences with the storm and the floods: “I was struck by the demonic effects of the flood waters. I have never seen water like this in 30 years of covering floods,” he said. Particularly symbolic of the destruction to him was his granddaughter’s crumbled upright piano. “It looked like bewitching exercise,” he said “If this story died, it would be another tragedy. You have our undying gratitude for your energy, and your dedication . . . Please be prolific—we need your ideas.”

Collaborative process
AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, told the group, “With your presence and our collective commitment, we will define a path to solutions that will lead to your designed paths,” he said. He explained that the goal of the conference is to generate a body of defining principles. “Conceptual ideas will be shared here. This will be a collaborative process engaging everyone here.” Koonce assured the audience that the rebuilding work cannot and will not be dictated by outside demands. “The visions that we see will be your visions,” he said. “I wish you good fortune from good planning.”

Driven by the citizens
AIA President Douglas L Steidl, FAIA, made clear that the role of the AIA is not to dictate or advocate any solutions. “Our role is to work with the citizens of this state and city,” he said. “The participants will define what success looks like.” He reminded the audience that Governor Blanco has called for all groups to work together. The most important question we can ask, he concluded, is: “How do we approach this disaster as an opportunity to create a better future?

Planning creates confidence
W. Paul Farmer, executive director and CEO of the American Planning Association and a native of Shreveport, La., reminded the audience that, “We know that together, we can accomplish much.” Recalling a brief history of major city planning operations, he spoke of how Chicago returned stronger than ever after the 1871 fire, and that after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco tore down a major freeway that allowed its fabric of neighborhoods to be reunited. “Communities can emerge more beautiful, more just, and more successful,” he said. The process, of course, needs money, and “investments of time, caring, and creativity” as the conference participants have made clear. “We believe that planning is a way to create confidence for a city,” he concluded, and confidence leads to rebuilding and investor confidence.

No discrimination
David Siegel, also of the American Planning Association, said that “most of us can’t fathom the depth of feelings; only people who went through it can.” He cautioned that “we cannot give up on our cities, our rural communities, our people, and our culture.” He noted that hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not discriminate in the misery they wrought, and that “we cannot discriminate in our efforts to replant and rebuild.” We need to engage community residence, give citizens choices, and do planning right,” he concluded.

Preserving the culture
Xavier University President Dr. Norman Francis, who also chairs the Louisiana Recovery Authority, said that he couldn’t imagine another group with such expertise gathering in one place. “I thank you for bringing our people hope,” he said. “At the Louisiana Recovery Authority, we are volunteers—we know that we can’t do it alone.” He says that the group hopes to work collaboratively in the cities across Louisiana with the people of Louisiana to preserve their culture and still make their cities better. “Katrina and Rita did not discriminate—and now we are being brought together to rebuild,” he told the audience. “We will be back—we are determined to be back, and we will together welcome our people back to a city that is bigger and better than the one we left.”

Moving toward long-term recovery
Vice Admiral Thad Allen, chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard, who currently is leading the federal recovery effort, explained how the efforts he is directing are just now transitioning into long-term recovery. The group currently is working on reestablishing the criminal justice system, and on November 7 just began examining water resources. Admiral Allen said that one of the main tasks for the federal groups is to make sure that communications systems are in place to get critical information across to citizens. “Your challenges are significant,” he acknowledged. “We look forward to working with you, and wish you good luck.”

People want to know they’re safe
On the morning of November 11, former Time managing editor, CNN director, and New Orleans native Walter Isaacson joined David Downey, Assoc. AIA, managing director of the AIA Center for Communities by Design and a lead organizer of the conference, on CNN to explain the purpose of the conference. One goal, Isaacson said, is to harden the city’s levee system against a category-five hurricane. “We want to go where we were supposed to be before Katrina,” he said of the plan for the next five to six years. In the meantime, businesses and families need “bridge” emergency loans and a clear statement of intent to rebuild confidence, he said.

People want to know they’re safe, even against a category-five storm, Downey reiterated. The conference is just a beginning and an important forum for the people of the city to speak out about flood control and economic development. “The people are setting priorities and intent,” Downey said.

Emphasizing the “no discrimination” message from the previous days’ proceedings, Isaacson stressed that the lower Ninth Ward of the city, one of the poorest parts of New Orleans and the most heavily damaged, is an integral part of the rich urban fabric that creates the city’s unique cultural heritage. The conference is giving all segments of the city a voice so that its rebuilding will bring the city back stronger and richer in spirit than before, he said.

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