[StBernard] Advocate Opinion Staff writes about Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Fri Apr 13 23:25:42 EDT 2007


Our Views: New pattern for the future
Advocate Opinion Page Staff
Published: Apr 8, 2007

Rebuilding Louisiana has been tough work, and early on in the process there
was little except frustration: slow settling of insurance claims, a needless
battle with the federal government over housing aid, dislocation and
despair.

While government had little to offer, one of the talismans of hope in those
days was an unlikely hero: the Pattern Book.

Published as a resource for Louisiana residents rebuilding in the wake of
the 2005 hurricane season, the Pattern Book contains patterns and techniques
for building housing, neighborhoods and towns while remaining true to the
values and traditions of the people of Louisiana.

Norman Francis, president of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, last year
praised the Fannie Mae Foundation for its initial grant to publish the guide
to rebuilding. At a time when rebuilding was so distant, the book gave hope
and inspiration to people who had lost their homes, he said. People picked
it up in large numbers at building material stores, with foundations
contributing money for the book through the LRA Support Foundation. It is
also available for downloading on the Internet at www.louisianaspeaks.org
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org> .

The Pattern Book was a license to dream about rebuilding our state.

The Pattern Book's compilation of designs reflecting traditional Louisiana
architecture is still relevant in neighborhoods across Louisiana. And it has
been recognized by the Congress for the New Urbanism, a leading planning
organization, as recipient of Congress' annual prize for promoting quality
neighborhood development.

The book "has given many pride and hope to rebuild in ways that uphold local
tradition," the CNU awards committee said.

The Pattern Book was a useful symbol, but as a grassroots guide to better
development, we hope that it has a long-term influence on building in the
state.

<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/images/1x1.gif>
Subscription Options: If you would like to unsubscribe to Louisiana Speaks
messages, please click here
<http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/unsubscribe.html?uid=2ee3c219ef010a4bfe954cc
9183fc84d> .

Louisiana Speaks is a long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana
Recovery Authority (LRA) that is supported with private funds provided
through the LRA Support Foundation. In the wake of the destruction caused by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Speaks initiative works toward
the development of a sustainable, long-term vision for South Louisiana. This
work combines the efforts of local, state and federal partners along with
many experts, stakeholders and citizens into a comprehensive approach that
will guide recovery and growth over the next 50 years.



More information about the StBernard mailing list