New Orleans on a concrete grid?
I feel mixed about rebuilding New Orleans. On the one hand, I hear it has a distinct character and rich cultural history. Also, the U.S. needs to have a port there to transfer cargo between river barges and ocean freighters, and the port workers need places nearby to live and shop, etc.
On the other hand, the water there is a toxic mess, with sewage, oil, mercury, hexavalent chromium (remember Erin Brockovich?), and reports of sunken bioweapons labs. In addition, Hurricane Rita reminds us it can happen all over again, at any time and at great cost.
Noticing the stilt-houses along the coast after Rita, perhaps New Orleans should be rebuilt on a grid of concrete. Then the water could flow under the city without a risk of flood. Seattle is rebuilt one to two stories higher than the original street level, after its own flooding problems. Maybe any trees that survive the New Orleans flood could be preserved, and salvagable historical landmarks could be hoisted up to the higher level.
If it’s too expensive to rebuild, maybe only essential personnel should inhabit that part of country. I know a lot of people have a strong attachment to historical New Orleans, but I’m just not sure it’s worth the risk.
posted by Tom Cleland @ 9/24/2005 02:29:00 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I wonder what it would cost to uproot the important buildings and haul them further inland to a safer location. Maybe find a some undeveloped area and just plop all the old buildings the same way they were in New Orleans.
You know, Ted has a point. I still think we should just create a tax for former Presidents with the last name of Bush--like 100% of their ownings. But then we can give them the same hurricane relief that the people from New Orleans are getting and tell them that they are getting such a sweet deal from the government.
Then we can all point at them when they collect their government checks and harass them for sponging off the taxpayers.
The mouth of the Mississippi has been a strategic port throughout U.S. history because barges can move grains and other goods so much more cheaply than trucks and trains. New Orleans was a military target as part of the War of 1812, the Civil War, and even World War II. It may be more expensive NOT to rebuild the port. There will be tough economic decisions no matter what. I agree that the U.S. is in rough economic shape.
P.S. Ted, any thoughts about the cost from an architectural perspective?
Hey, Tom. I haven't ben here in quite a while (I gave up political blogging, came back and gave it up again!)
I thought I'd drop by because you have my old weblog linked which now has been hijacked by someone/thing else! please delete it as it is no longer my musing's gbut those of some psycotic.
On the rebuilding, I beleive that the city is needed as you say. Perhaps we should look to the model of Japanese land reclaimation technology; it will definately need to be raised above sea level.
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