News Roundup

Plans for New Teaching Hospital Conflicts with New Orleans Master Plan, Consultants Say

“The mayor believes whether it’s the state government or federal government making an investment in the city, we welcome you,” Kopplin said, “but we expect developers, public or private, to operate within the scope of the city’s master plan … and we expect a seat at the table.” He added, “If we’re going to make billion-dollar investments in the city, we’ve got to get them right.”

Filed under: Community Input | Good Governance | Urban Design

Aug 13 2010

New Orleans Master Plan Approved by City Council

Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson, who took the lead in pushing for approval of the plan, said its adoption will provide certainty to both residents and developers. “The rules won’t change in the middle of the game,” she said. “You will not be able to just whimsy and whamsy change zoning.”

Filed under: Community Input | Good Governance | Rebuilding New Orleans | Sustainable Development

Aug 12 2010

New Orleans Streets, Sewers, Drains Are Deeply Underfinanced, BGR Reports

The report says the city’s sewerage, water and drainage systems need many billions of dollars in repairs and upgrades, but the S&WB is almost $1 billion short of being able to pay for even the $3 billion in projects listed in its five-year capital program.

Filed under: Infrastructure

Aug 11 2010

Pedicabs in New Orleans Endorsed After Contentious Committee Hearing

Several speakers who own or have operated pedicabs elsewhere said the vehicles are operating successfully in many large cities, where one said they have a “very symbiotic relationship” with taxicabs and other forms of for-hire transportation.

Travis Stowers, who owns a large fleet of pedicabs in Houston, said New Orleans is one of the last major tourist cities in the world without such vehicles.

Filed under: Transportation

Jul 23 2010

Claiborne Avenue Expressway Demolition Gets Support in Report

The new report sums up the criticisms of the Claiborne expressway this way:
“Once a thriving commercial corridor, the area defined by Claiborne Avenue suffered serious decline following the construction of the I-10 expressway in the 1960s. Pushed through over the wishes of the area’s largely disenfranchised African-American population, it was intimately tied to the overall decline of the neighborhood, replacing a lively strolling street, oak-covered neutral ground and business corridor with an eyesore that made Claiborne Avenue both a physical and symbolic barrier between the area’s neighborhoods.”

Filed under: Transportation | Urban Design

Jul 22 2010

Hospital Design Review Ordered

During his tenure as lieutenant governor and as a mayoral candidate, Landrieu endorsed a new state teaching hospital and showed no desire to join activists pushing for the state to gut and rebuild within the storm-damaged and shuttered Charity shell. But the latest moves suggest the mayor is willing to engage on the design of the hospital, which has drawn mixed reviews from various local planners.

Filed under: Good Governance | Healthy Communities | Rebuilding New Orleans | Urban Design

Jun 27 2010

“Vast Majority” of Gushing Oil in Gulf of Mexico Spill Being Captured, BP Chief Says

“I don’t want to create any undo encouragement, ” Allen said on Fox, referring to the 10,000-barrel capture rate. “We need to be on task and get this thing done. We need to underpromise and overdeliver.”

Filed under: BP Oil Disaster | Community Economics | Energy | Healthy Communities

Jun 7 2010

Giant Plumes of Oil Forming Under the Gulf

The plumes are depleting the oxygen dissolved in the gulf, worrying scientists, who fear that the oxygen level could eventually fall so low as to kill off much of the sea life near the plumes.

Filed under: Energy | Environment | Healthy Communities | Urban Ecology

May 16 2010

Environmental Attorney Speaks on Behalf of Gulf Oil Disaster Recovery Group

“BP needs to stop avoiding the truth and allow all public officials to prepare for a worst case scenario. We are at the door. Hopefully, a miracle will occur but we should plan for the worst, but without real information, that is impossible. We should have all learned from Katrina that rather than denying the worst case, we should be ready for it.