URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE

Klaus Philipsen, AIA (Co-Chairperson), Archplan, Inc./Philipsen Architects, (410) 685-2002, kphilipsen@archplan.com.
Gilbert Thomas, AIA (Co-Chairperson), Marks, Thomas Architects, (410) 539-4300, gilt@marks-thomas.com

Serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas on urban design and architecture. Helps the public and private sectors deal with change brought about by Baltimore's renaissance.

Should New Orleans Be Old News to Us?

Boarded ruins	Ruins
FEMA trailer	Stilts
Brick	Restoration
Photos by Karen Lewand, Honorary AIA

Last year in March, R. Allen Eskew, FAIA spoke at our AIABaltimore Spring Lecture Series. As the founding director of Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Architects, New Orleans-based architectural and urban design firm, Allen has earned an impressive reputation for his ability to collaborate with designers, clients, and neighborhoods alike; to initiate progressive design that is not only environmentally responsive, but also creative and vibrant. With an extensive repertoire of urban planning and a passion for the rich architectural heritage of the Gulf South, he was a likely candidate to take a major leadership role in the Hurricane Katrina recovery initiatives in the town where he has lived for 35 years.

Allen is more than mildly committed. Last spring, he had us send his entire honorarium directly to the New Orleans SPCA for animal aid. He told our audience to come to New Orleans and witness -- the devastation, recovery inaction, experiment, and reinvention.

This March, while I was attending a funded AIA/CES workshop in New Orleans, Allen helped me to witness. As he does frequently when visitors take him up on his invitation, he spent a Saturday morning driving me around the city for the insider’s tour to see many communities – diverse socially, economically, and racially.

No national news coverage, photographs, or politicians’ words can express the loss and plight remaining 2 ½ years after Katrina struck. Although the downtown, French Quarter, and Garden District, home to most of the colleges and universities, were not flooded and are basically intact and active, 80% of the city is severely damaged. Of the 450,000 pre-Katrina residents, just over half have returned. The only economic engines are hospitality, the port, and higher education. Why should the other half of the population return? There are few jobs outside of construction, and that is limited by uncertainty in the area’s financial community.

Of 10 hospitals, only 2 have re-opened. Dozens of schools remain unrenovated and closed. The physical redevelopment challenge is enormous. There are miles of empty land pockmarked by, perhaps 5-10% scattered, surviving buildings. While every devastated community has a few die-hard residents determined to renovate, lift their houses on piers, or simply inhabit unsafe buildings, professionals like Allen have advocated that the government buy out all property owners and completely clear these areas, allowing them to return to the wild. No politician has admitted that there is not the economic strength to rebuild infrastructure and return services to the entire city. No politician will suggest that New Orleans must consolidate onto safer ground.

The governments -- federal, state, and local – and by extension, we, have failed and continue to fail the people of New Orleans. Although many private organizations and individuals have given generously of their time and money to help, New Orleans cannot be brought back one house at a time. This is one of our most important American cities – in history, culture and architecture, in seaport and transportation.

The problems are enormous. So is the potential for experiment and reinvention.

Go witness.

___________________________

There is no real evidence that governments throughout this country are now any better prepared for future natural disasters, industrial accidents, or terrorist attacks to protect and aid American citizens.

Karen Lewand, Honorary AIA
Executive Director

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