Ed Blakely's Ideas For New Orleans' Recovery

In his new job as the executive director for recovery management in New Orleans, Ed Blakely brings decades of experience and a few potentially controversial ideas.

1 minute read

January 9, 2007, 9:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

"The man many hope will become a key leader in New Orleans' post-Katrina recovery spent Thursday packing up in Oakland, Calif., and preparing to start his new job -- determined, he said, to launch experimental rebuilding projects by summer to provide some relief to weary homeowners.

One possibility, said Ed Blakely, the city's new recovery czar: Let the city assemble vacant or blighted properties and offer them in swaps to homeowners -- preferably groups of neighbors -- who want to move out of sparsely populated neighborhoods and be closer to schools, shopping centers or other vital areas, while staying near their friends.

'What I'm suggesting here is not wide-eyed radicalism. It's been done before,' Blakely said. 'It works.' "

FULL STORY: New Nagin aide floats land swaps to aid recovery

Friday, January 5, 2007 in The Times Picayune

Community / Economic Development Urban Development Louisiana

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.