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The Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal
Report from the Mississippi Renewal Forum - From Tragedy to
Opportunity
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October 19, 2005 |
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Dear Connie,
Excitement is in the air in Biloxi this week! The Mississippi
Renewal Forum concluded a week long post-Katrina planning effort
unprecedented in its scope and intensity with a presentation to
Governor Haley Barbour, Coast officials and residents. The Forum,
a workshop which convened October 12-17 at the Isle of Capri
Casino, was organized by the Governor's Commission on Recovery,
Rebuilding and Renewal.
The forum brought in a task force of over 200 professionals,
consisting of New Urbanists from around the country who teamed
with local experts and officials to dream and design the Gulf
Coast of the future. The governor charged the group with creating
the framework to make the Coast better than it was before the
storm.
After the presentations were made, Barbour said, "My hat is
off... This charrette process, this Forum, has been everything I
hoped it would be and far, far more. "...At the end of the day,
local people are going to make the decisions... But I think this
has been a tremendous start."
Never before have so many resources been assembled so quickly to
aid rebuilding across a broad area. |
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The Forum Task Force
A team of highly qualified local and out-of-state professionals
Andrés Duany, founding principal at Duany Plater-Zyberk &
Company (DPZ) of Miami, headed up the prestigious task force of
over 200 professionals. DPZ first received recognition for the
design of Seaside, Florida, in 1980. The firm is widely recognized
as a leader of the New Urbanism, an international movement that
seeks to end suburban sprawl and urban disinvestment. DPZ has
since completed designs for close to 300 new towns, regional
plans, and community revitalization projects.
Participant expertise ranged from land planners, architects,
transportation specialists and environmentalists to economic
experts, code consultants and community engagement advisors. While
the logistics and some expenses will be covered in part by a $1
million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.,
the participants donated much of their time at greatly reduced
rates, or in many cases, at no charge.
Full story |
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What could the Coast look like?
Design teams collaborate to preserve and enhance
Gulfport's abundant land south of Highway 90 is envisioned as
an extension of Gulfport's downtown, redeveloped into a mixed-use
"docklands" district that includes not only industrial uses, but
also residential, retail, cultural, park, aquarium, and ferry
uses. Existing truck and rail lines are raised above the streets
on a European-styled, walled viaduct, with shops, offices, and
cafés occupying the spaces beneath it.
A new waterfront for D'Iberville is proposed, with waterfront
gaming and a French Quarter as its highlights. Biloxi's plan is
composed of a series of neighborhoods, each connected via a
reestablished street grid. Strategies for the historic downtown
include adding 500 new residential units in four- and five-story
buildings with retail and office on the ground floor.
Reviving the historic character of Moss Point begins with three
main project areas: downtown, Kreole neighborhood, and the
Escatawpa Village area. Downtown will benefit from a reworking of
its street network, plus the introduction of two- and three- story
live/work buildings, including restaurants and retail shops.
Full story |
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Taking action
The Rebuilding Begins
Jim Barksdale is no stranger to challenges. The appointed
Chairman of the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and
Renewal brings over 35 years of operational experience to the
table. As the former President and CEO of Netscape Communications,
he guided it through the merger with AOL in 1999. Prior to that,
he served as CEO for AT&T Wireless and earlier, for Federal
Express Corporation.He considers the Renewal Forum as "just the
first step...albeit an important and ambitioous one - in the
planning process.
What happens next is crucial. The Governor's Commission will
take ideas from the six- day charrette directly to local leaders
and citizens in town meetings in the 11 towns and three coastal
counties examined during the Forum (the town hall meeting schedule
can be found at www.governorscommission.com, filed under
"Events").
It will then be up to the mayors, aldermen, and county
supervisors to choose among proposals developed this week - or
not. "We want people to remember not the storm's damage, but to
remember the Coast for how great our recovery effort was." -
Biloxi Mayor A. J. Holloway
Full story |
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Habitat for Humanity Seeks House Designs for Gulf Coast Homes
With the urgent need for house designs for the Mississipi Gulf
Coast, participants in the Habitat effort will work with the
Mississippi Renewal Forum charrette architectural team to compile
a pattern book for the 11 coastal communities
A call for house plans has been initiated and will continue for
the next few months. After compiling the plans, the goal is to
work with local architects to use as new prototypes. This most
likely will include a full range of production methods:
pre-manufactured, panelized, locally built and the more
traditional volunteer-built Habitat house types.
Plans should be forwarded to Greg Weimerskirch at
Greg.Weimerskirch@urbandesignassociates.com or via mail to Gregory
A. Weimerskirch, AIA, ADG; Urban Design Associates, 707 Grant
Street, 31st Floor; Pittsburgh, PA 15219. For more information,
call 412-263-5200.
Full story |
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From tragedy springs forth hope
Though our state has suffered a devastating blow from Hurricane
Katrina, one can't help but get excited when catching just a
glimpse of the vision that Governor Barbour has for our beautiful
state and to see the steps he is taking to involve its citizens in
the planning process. If our communities will share the dreams
with these visionaries, we will see our state emerge even better
than before...as the jewel of the South and a place that we love
to call home.
Jennifer West - President, MarketOne Media, LLC
Full story |
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Connect with others
All Mississippi residents affected by Hurricane Katrina are
invited to come together on our emerging online community.
Share your story. Participate in discussions. Connect with
others.
Join Now
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