Louisiana Mayors Discuss Post-Katrina Recovery at Tulane-Hosted MICD Session
NEW ORLEANS — The Mayors' Institute on City Design, in partnership with the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center at the School of Architecture, held a special Institute session for Louisiana mayors that focused on post-hurricane recovery and growth problems.
Five Louisiana mayors and a panel of design experts gathered in New Orleans from August 14-16 to discuss city planning and protection in the post-Katrina era. Mayoral attendees included Mayor-President Melvin Holden of Baton Rouge, Mayor-President Joey Durel of Lafayette, Mayor Candace Watkins of Covington, Mayor Ben Morris of Slidell, and Mayor Ronnie Harris of Gretna.
The mayors were joined by a resource team of experts in architecture and urban design, including: William Gilchrist, planning director of the City of Birmingham; Susan Turner, professor emeritus of landscape architecture at Louisiana State University; Fred Schwartz, founder of Fred Schwartz Architects in New York; Reed Kroloff, dean of the Tulane School of Architecture; and Grover Mouton, director of the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center.
In the typical Mayors' Institute format, each mayor made a presentation on a design challenge facing his or her respective city. Following each presentation, the resource team, along with the other mayors, offered suggestions and discussed alternative paths toward solutions. In addition, the resource team members presented brief lectures on best practices in their areas of expertise.
Grover Mouton commented, "This conference brought to the table mayors who face the pressure of growth and rebuilding due to Hurricane Katrina. Cities like Slidell were devastated by water and wind, while Baton Rouge and Lafayette are dealing with instant growth resulting from the exodus from New Orleans."
In preparation for the conference, Mouton and students conducted site visits to each city. Through conversation, collections of maps, photographs and design studies, they helped the mayors identify their cities' biggest issues. "Having the mayors present to objective, outside eyes gives a completely new perspective on each project," explained Mouton. "The resource team is very good at assessing projects and then developing a specific agenda for each mayor to pursue upon return to their city."
"To spend time with such highly educated, experienced and talented individuals dedicated to the rebuilding of our region was quite a gift," said Mayor Candace Watkins of Covington. "I enjoyed hearing other mayors [talk] about the great things that are happening in their cities that are taking Louisiana forward in excellence."
Following is a synopsis of the project each mayor brought to the Institute:
Mayor Ronnie Harris of Gretna presented his waterfront, expressing a desire to regulate development, maintain positive public spaces and historical landmarks.
Mayor Candace Watkins of Covington sought to recreate the northern entrance corridor to her city with a landscaped boulevard and possible design restrictions.
Mayor Ben Morris of Slidell wanted to expand the city's successful Heritage Park, while continuing general recovery in the hard-hit city.
Mayor Melvin "Kip" Holden of Baton Rouge brought two initiatives: downtown waterfront development and the continuation of his neighborhood revival program Operation Restore Pride.
Mayor Joey Durel of Lafayette presented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's historic Horse Farm, a parcel of land the city is interested in preserving and maintaining.
The MICD and the Tulane Urban Regional Design Center will be in touch with the five mayors to offer continued support as they implement the ideas they learned during the session.
The MICD will be partnering with the University of Maryland, the University of Texas, and the Massachusetts Institute on Technology to offer additional regional sessions in the fall of 2006.
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