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

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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

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New Orleans Before The Storm

• Mardi Gras
• Jazz
• Food
• But.

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New Orleans Before The Storm

• Concentrated poverty
• Failing Schools
• Weak Economy

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New Orleans After the Storm

• Disproportionate destruction
• Inadequate response
• ULI and Bring Back New Orleans Report

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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

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Redevelopment Zones

• Different areas-different demands
• Smaller footprint
• Equity
• Mixed-income
• Mixed-use

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Image courtesy of ULI
source USGS
St. Bernard Parish
Jefferson Parish
Orleans Parish
elevation
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Flood Inundation
source USGS
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Sequence of neighborhood investment zones
Source ULI
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Red Zone

• Sense of urgency
• Uniform assessment system
• Remediation
• Choice
• Open space

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Yellow Zone map
courtesy of ULI

• Analysis and remediation
• Eye towards redevelopment

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Green Zone

• Least affected by the storm
• Increased density

Source ULI
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Strategic Open Space
Source ULI
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Political Opposition

• Over my dead body
• -Ninth Ward Resident-
• To say that youre not going to fix this
  community or that community, youre not honoring
  the dead
• -Oliver Thomas, New Orleans City Council
  President-

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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
Source EPA DCED
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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
Source EPA DCED
Source www.urban-advantage.com
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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

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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!)

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Financing

• Q What are we financing?
• Traditional Infrastructure Municipal Structures
• ANDSocial Infrastructure (Teachers, Services,
  etc)
• 3 Levels of Financing
• Federal Level
• State
• Private (Economic Development)
• Creative

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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

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New Orleans Economic Redevelopment

• 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

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SWOT ANALYSIS

• 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

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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

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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 citys reputation as a good place
  for business investment and sustained
  profitability through Public-Private Partnership
• To alleviate concentrated poverty and racial
  segregation

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Snap Shot of New Orleans Economy
Before Katrina After Katrina
Stagnant and Sluggish Economy Vibrant and Competitive Economy
Low Inward Investment Rate High Inward Investment Rate
High Concentration in only a few Core Industries Diversification of Core Industries
Lack of Job Opportunities Increased Job and Employment Opportunities
Brain Drain High Retention of Brain in the City
Low Wage Economy High Wage Economy
Labor intensive Economy Capital and Technology Intensive Economy
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Storm Water Protection

• Levees
• 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Rebuilding Neighborhoods
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Snap Shot of New Orleans Housing Market
Before Katrina Post Katrina (Goal)
465,000 Residence (August 05) 31st largest City 144,000 (January 06) ?247,000 (September 08)
18 Poverty Rate 50,000 Lived in neighborhoods with poverty rates exceeding 40 Develop 10,000 supportive housing units/ link under serviced communities to long term relationships
Disparities in Home ownership (41 African Americans and 56 White) Mixed use/Mixed income properties that promote diversity and home ownership
Ranked 80th out of 100 in College Attainment Reestablish Community relationships and training/ Neighborhood Centers through educational partnerships.
Small/Old Housing Infrastructure (81.1 5 rooms or less/77.8 Homes built prior to 1970) Mixed Use/Mixed Income Products
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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

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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

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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)

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CONCLUSION

• Audacious Goal
• World is Watching-effects far beyond New Orleans