[StBernard] LRA Engages Nationally-Renowned Planners in Community Planning Effort

[Westley Annis]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2005
LRA Engages Nationally-Renowned Planners in Community Planning Effort
Board Receives New FEMA Flood Guidance Data; Information Available on Web
site        

BATON ROUGE, La. - In a major step toward rebuilding hurricane-ravaged South
Louisiana the Louisiana Recovery Authority announced today it would be
working with a team of nationally-recognized firms to help communities
impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita develop their long-term recovery
plans.

Calthorpe Associates of Berkeley, California; Urban Design Associates of
Pittsburgh and Duany Plater-Zyberk Associates of Miami will begin work
immediately to develop a comprehensive regional vision for South Louisiana.
[download presentation here
<http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/Calthorpe.ppt> ]

The consortium was selected from a field of 14 applicants by the LRA Support
Organization, which raises private funds to support LRA initiatives,
including the hiring of long-term planners. The Support Organization based
its selection on strict criteria adopted by the LRA at its Nov. 11 meeting. 

LRA member Donna Fraiche, who heads the authority's long-term planning task
force, commended the Support Organization on its recommendation and said the
unique nature of long-term planning after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was an
irresistible project for the nation's top planners. "This is the premier
project - not just in the country but in the world," she said. 

Board members stressed the importance of allowing community needs and
aspirations to inform the planning process.

"Ideas will bubble up from communities. The planners' job is to incorporate
them into a regional vision," Board member Rod West said.

Collectively, the three firms have been involved in high-profile
redevelopment projects, including helping communities respond to disasters.
The firms have developed regional plans throughout the country, including
Salt Lake City, Southern California, Chicago, the Twin Cities, Austin and
Denver. 

Fraiche said criteria developed by the American Institute of Architects and
the American Planning Association will inform the planning process. The
criteria, which the LRA endorsed today, were developed at a recent national
conference held in New Orleans at the behest of Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco and the LRA. The principles are available on the LRA web site at
<http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/STARTING_POINT.pdf> . 

A key challenge in the rebuilding process will be to ensure that all
community members and displaced residents are involved in the process. For
this, the LRA staff is working with nonprofit PolicyLink, which is providing
pro bono consulting to the authority in the areas of economic and social
equity; affordable housing policy; community outreach; and communication
strategy. 

PolicyLink CEO Angela Glover Blackwell
<http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/pr_11_30_policylink.html>  told LRA board
members that rebuilding in the Gulf Coast region is an opportunity "to
demonstrate how equitable development can result in opportunities for
everyone in the region to participate and prosper." 

In other action, the LRA Board:

* Received a report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency containing
new flood guidance data. LRA board members encouraged parishes to embrace
this new safety data and urged citizens rebuilding to follow its guidance.
The data is available on the LRA Web site at
<http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/FEMA.pdf> . 

* Received a report from Witt and Associates on strategies for using federal
hazard mitigation funds to rebuild communities. The LRA has already
authorized the release of $250 million in hazard mitigation funds to help
communities rebuild stronger and smarter. Louisiana is expected to receive
$2 billion to $4 billion in hazard mitigation funds resulting from damage
from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

* Endorsed in principle Cong. Richard Baker's legislation to establish the
Louisiana Recovery Corporation. 

The LRA, a 26- member body appointed by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
to identify and prioritize short and long-term needs of the recovery, is the
planning and coordinating body that will assist in implementing the
Governor's vision for the recovery of Louisiana. It will seek out and value
local input as it plans and implements the recovery.

###

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for
Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and
help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies. 

1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521) www.louisianahelp.org