Abstract
Shrinking, slow-growth and fast-growth cities have different opportunities and constraints. This paper uses New Orleans following the severe flood damage from the 2005 hurricanes as a case study to investigate the challenges to developing equitable and effective plans in a city with significant population loss. By addressing four elements that are necessary for effective planning in depopulated areas—strategies for targeted investment and consolidation; alternatives for underused areas; mechanisms to reintegrate abandoned parcels; and plans for infrastructure and service provision—we argue that the lack of effective tools was a pivotal impediment to effective planning.
Notes
1. We do not discuss FEMA's ES-14 process. Additional plans were developed for Broadmoor and Village de l'Est. For an in-depth examination of the planning processes, see Olshansky (Citation2010).
2. September 2009 NORA Board of Commissioners meeting minutes and April 2009 NORA Board of Commissioners meeting minutes.