The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development, will present a Tom Dent Congo Square Symposium this Friday, Nov. 9.
Discussions in the morning will focus on how to incorporate diverse communities into recovery efforts when areas are devastated in various ways. From the Lower 9th Ward being inundated after Hurricane Katrina, to the disappearing coastline in southern Louisiana to Treme being ravaged by demolition and neglect, many communities in our region and nationally are struggling to recover from massive disruptions. We'll discuss ways communities here and elsewhere are rising to such challenges.
In the afternoon, a series of presenters will provide the latest information on many of the real estate development projects that are either in process or under discussion in and around the historic Treme neighborhood. We’ll hear from the government officials who are leading the way, and from the developers who are investing the area. And we’ll look at how these many projects may provide jobs or other community resources.
A lunch-time discussion will look at the future of the Claiborne Corridor, the historic expanse of Claiborne Avenue. We’ll hear from some of those investing in the area, and their visions for how to revive a once-vibrant section of New Orleans.
Admission to the symposium free. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and a cocktail reception will follow. Seating is limited, so please register in advance here.
Schedule of Events
Recovering Disrupted Sites
Presented by the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Disrupted Sites: From Disaster to Recovery
Here and around the world, communities have been disrupted by disasters both natural and man-made. Especially in urban America, people of color often have not been able to participate in their own recovery. Our presenters discuss cities that have experienced massive disruptions – and share successful strategies for rebuilding the urban environment with dialogue and inclusiveness.
Moderator and Presenter: Glenn LaRue Smith, ASLA, Smith + Murray Studios, Washington D.C.
Presenters:
Diane Jones, ASLA, DesignJones LLC, New Orleans and Baltimore
Douglas Williams, University of Illinois
Philip Gallegos, University of Colorado Denver
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Losing Ground: Disappearing Coastlines – and Urban Centers
Louisiana is ground-zero for land loss both literal and figurative. We’ve got the highest rate of coastline disappearance in the nation, and our largest city has suffered one of the greatest disruptions in modern history. How can communities of color address catastrophic events and the opportunities that come with rebuilding?
Moderator: Happy Johnson, National Wildlife Federation
Presenters:
Charles Allen III, Director, Mayor's Office of Environmental Affairs and Coastal Programs, New Orleans
Matilda Tennessee, Director, Limitless Vistas, New Orleans
Rev. Tyrone Edwards, Zion Travelers Cooperative, Phoenix and Plaquemines Parish
Dr. Earthea A. Nance, University of New Orleans
11:30 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Opening the City: How to Design and Build the Place We Want for Living
How do we build the livable city of the near future? By including all of the people in re-imagining and rebuilding the urban environment. Ideals of the “open city” and the “just city” must be incorporated, along with the skills of design, architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning – which, if used wisely, can help us rebuild in ways that recover lost ground and renew our culture.
Moderator: David Lee, FAIA, Stall & Lee, Boston
Presenters:
Dan Etheridge, Associate Director, Tulane City Center, Tulane University, New Orleans
Lonnie Wilkinson, NOMA, AIA, Dean, School of Architecture, Southern University at Baton Rouge
Jacques Morial, Owner, Enterprise Strategies Public Policy Development & Analysis, New Orleans
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Luncheon Presentation and Panel Discussion:
Real Estate Development in the Claiborne Corridor
There are many projects to develop real estate along the Claiborne Corridor in various stages of completion. We’ll talk to some of the developers and hear their visions for how these projects will affect the surrounding community.
Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development
Co-sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Park Service
Moderator: Vaughn Fauria, President, NewCorp, New Orleans
Panelists:
Dwayne Boudreaux, owner, Circle Foods, New Orleans
David Amedee, developer, Inspire Entertainment & Retail Complex, New Orleans
Michael Valentino, developer, Basin Street Station, New Orleans
*This luncheon is co-sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Park Service.
Treme 411: The Future of Our Historic Neighborhood
Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Future of the Claiborne Corridor
The Federal and City governments are leading the way to a new future for the Claiborne Corridor, with projects that encompass green space, housing, retail and transportation. We hear from key public officials on what these projects are and where they stand currently.
Frederick Tombar, III, Senior Advisor , Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
William A. Gilchrist, Director, Mayor’s Office of Place-Based Planning, New Orleans
Maggie Merrill, Senior Advisor, Housing Authority of New Orleans
Moderator: Vaughn Fauria, President, NewCorp, New Orleans
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Major Projects, Community Development and Jobs
From the medical complex to the Iberville housing development to the Treme Community Center, several exciting developments are on track to bring jobs and new resources to the Treme.
Michael Valentino, Developer, Basin Street Station, New Orleans
Victor N. Richard III, Director, New Orleans Recreation Department
Allen Eskew, FAIA, partner, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, New Orleans
Andrew Baque, Studio Director- Urban Design & Planning, Manning Architects, New Orleans
Joshua D. Collen, Vice President of Development, HRI Properties, New OrleansModerator: David Lee, FAIA, Stall & Lee, Boston
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Basin Street Green: New Public Spaces and Recreation in the Treme
Armstrong Park and the Lafitte Greenway are at the gateway to the Treme. We look at how these public lands impact the community.
Cyril Saulny, Treme 4 Treme
Luther Gray, Congo Square Preservation Society
5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Closing Reception
Entertainment by the Treme Brass Band
Co-sponsored by the Urban League
