LISTSERV - BULLAMANKA-PINHEADS Archives

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Date:         Tue, 8 Aug 2006 21:41:32 -0400
Reply-To: New Discourse <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: New Discourse <[log in to unmask]>
From: Thom Shepard <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: A Nice Summer Day in New Orleans
Comments: To: Urbangeneration Miami U <[log in to unmask]>,
          Congress for New Urbanism UKY Listserv <[log in to unmask]>
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Interesting who you meet riding an electric scooter around New Orleans and w=
hat you see, especially when you exceed the range of the scooter, start to w=
alk, and inevitably talk.

Some folks were moving a triple stack of scaffolding around the corner of a=20=
house onto the sidewalk.  They needed a forth hand so I hoped off my scooter=
 and jumped in.  Turns out the contractor was Robert Tannen who has designed=
 and built the MODGUN.   His criticism of the Katrina cottage I have to agre=
e is warranted as none of the designs included in the book actually have a b=
lue print for the "grow house".   It is talked about but not actually design=
ed.  If I am going to place a Katrina cottage on a lot as part of a bigger h=
ouse, it would help, since I have never done this before to have a plan for=20=
the whole house so I know how to orient the first piece of this "grow house"=
.  I look forward to seeing these designs in future books so I can not only=20=
tell Robert about the grow house and that it is in the book but show him the=
 actual blue prints.  His designs are worth looking at:
http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/about/building_solutions.html

And by the way Robert said that the MODGUN sold this past weekend during the=
 White Linen Gallery opening in the Museum District which I have to say was=20=
a really great event that I personally enjoyed.  I still have heard no word=20=
from anyone from the listserv's of a Katrina cottage that is being lived in=20=
now that I can go photograph on my trip from New Orleans back thru Mississip=
pi this week.  I have a few leads on developers that I will contact but no s=
pecific houses yet.  I look forward to photographing the MODGUN in action so=
on.

Also today I got to sit in on the presentation prep of Jim Amdal, Director o=
f the University of New Orleans, College of Urban and Public Affairs, Transp=
ortation Center.  This presentation will be Wednesday, August 9, 2006 from 7=
p to 9p at the Holy Rosary Cafeteria, 3368 Esplanade Ave for those of you in=
 New Orleans.  It is generally for City Park/Parkview but it should be very=20=
interesting and has a focus on Districts 5 and 6 which the University is wor=
king with on planning efforts and should be a good intro/history of all of t=
he New Orleans myriad of planning efforts and who they are/can come together=
 for a common plan with different areas of focus.  Anyone who wants a great=20=
overview of what has and will be happening I would highly recommend this pre=
sentation.  It also gives a great description of the 5th districts neighborh=
ood/citizen planning structure which is quite fascinating.  It seems that th=
e total lack of leadership at the City and State level during the early phas=
es has lead to a rather positive outcome:  The citizens are taking charge of=
 planning and in district 5 as well as in other districts they are becoming=20=
quite educated and extremely sophisticated with their delegation and focus o=
f sub committees.  District 5 is definitely one to watch.

New Orleans Neighborhoods Rebuilding Plan: History of Planning in New Orlean=
s
http://www.nolanrp.com/index.php
Look under "your neighborhood" to find specific information on distinct neig=
hborhoods around New Orleans.

Mid City seems to be doing well also and is gaining some attention, they sur=
round Canal when you leave the CBD/French Quarter and include some beautiful=
 historic high ground neighborhoods surrounding the St John Bayou which as J=
im mentioned was successful early in New Orleans history because you could s=
ail a boat right up the Bayou from Lake Ponchatrain.  Many historic homes re=
main along Canal and it's historic streetcar's although as you approach Inte=
rstate 10 it becomes more commercial as they bulldozed a lot of the mansions=
 in this area to build modernist office buildings during a previous era.  Th=
ere is a great little bar in this area trying to do live music Thurs/Fri/Sat=
 called Chickie Wah Wah.  Music starts about 10 or 11 which is quite appropr=
iate in this area as the building is constructed so you can't hear the band=20=
outside and it faces canal in an area that is much more commercial to the ma=
in street and streetcars.  Many of the bars in New Orleans outside of Bourbo=
n street tend to have to deal with the noise issue with nearby residents.  T=
his area would make a great stip of great quality late night music venues th=
at are so convienent to the CBD, hotel district but have a little space from=
 some of the very touristy venues.  Oh interesting note on Canal Street, the=
y are tearing up a lot of the street to put down new sidewalks and fancy mar=
ble tiles and as well planting "I heard" $40,000 palm trees.  I tried to go=20=
by city hall and ask the councilperson for my prospective district if all th=
e fancy hotels were paying for this or the city or state but those I asked s=
aid that I was way too early at 7:50 and they wouldn't be there until 9 or 1=
0 am.  I asked if there was a big function last night or this morning and th=
ey said no, that was pretty typical.  I have not made it back down to ask ag=
ain, but...seems they could have cleaned up some of the storm debris from so=
me of the harder hit neighborhoods before stating on this and the 60+ billio=
n widening of Interstate 10 towards Metare for what people I am not sure.  I=
 guess they are tying to encourage sprawl commuting to the city instead of r=
ebuilding historic areas in way's that are properly protected from the flood=
s like the raised garden courtyard and raised boulevard with garages to the=20=
low side and houses handicap accessible to the pedestrian/streetcar boulevar=
d that are being discussed around New Orleans as an alternative to houses on=
 stilts that are elderly and handicap unfriendly.  Can you say ramps from he=
ll everywhere.
www.mcno.org

If you come to visit you must know that substantial parts of the city are st=
ill a total disaster area, neither torn down nor rebuilt.  Actually the Lowe=
r 9th ward is in the best shape of the hardest hit communities as this is wh=
ere most people seem to want to go to help even though this might be the las=
t place to really be rebuilt.  Ironically as the volunteers gut houses in pl=
aces very few are living, houses remain without roofs and burned out houses,=
 homes with doors off the hinges, debris piled on the street in areas that m=
any people are fixing other houses and living.  It is a bit of a strange sys=
tem where volunteers might be gutting the homes of absentee landlords while=20=
the residents trying to come back to areas better suited for rebuilding and=20=
homes already raised to appropriate or close levels sit in total disrepair.

But you should also know that a lot of the moderate to high ground parts of=20=
new Orleans are open for business, from Guest Houses, to music clubs, shops,=
 etc.  But especially this time of year a lot of them are really hurting for=
 business, the triple whammy of the Hurricane, the slower time of hot summer=
, and the general perception among many that a lot of New Orleans is not ope=
n yet for business.  A lot of people with no help from the city have scrappe=
d together their place and opened clean and professional and then whacked wi=
th huge tax bills while the city seems to only care about promoting the Fren=
ch Quarter and tourist districts.  A lot of these places could really use yo=
ur business and in a lot of ways some places are better than before the hurr=
icane as there is little to know traffic unless you head to the suburbs.
www.mcno.org

Thom Shepard
[log in to unmask]
Community Advocate/Citizen Planner/Rural Urbanist
NPU-X, Mid City, New Orleans

member: www.cacno.org
Contemporary Arts Center
member: www.ogdenmuseum.org/
Ogden Museum of Southern Art, University of New Orleans

fan: Katrina Krewe www.CleanNO.org
fan: Mid City Neighborhood Organization, mcno.org
www.mcno.org/newsletter/mcno-summer-06.pdf

founding member: (I don't think we have a website yet)
Atlanta Chapter, Congress for New Urbanism

For more on the New Urbanism see:
www.cnu.org
www.newurbanguild.com

Need real estate services in Mid City, call Walter King 504-245-0061 email:=20=
[log in to unmask]
3100 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 700119
This is also the future address and temporary headquarters of NPU-X

To get daily updates or pics from Mid City
email: [log in to unmask] w/subject header SUBSCRIBE

I recommend the www.StCharlesGuestHouse.com

The New Discourse List is a temporary forum for the discussion of progressiv=
e and new ideas in support of traditional architecture and urbanism. Please=20=
direct enquiries to the listowner, Dr Richard John ([log in to unmask]).

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Interesting who you meet riding an electric=
 scooter=20
around New Orleans and what you see, especially when you exceed the range of=
 the=20
scooter, start to walk, and inevitably talk.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Some folks were moving a triple stack of=20
scaffolding around the corner of a house onto the sidewalk.&nbsp; They neede=
d a=20
forth hand so I hoped off my scooter and jumped in.&nbsp; Turns out the=20
contractor was Robert Tannen who has designed and built the MODGUN.&nbsp;&nb=
sp;=20
His criticism of the Katrina cottage I have to agree is warranted as none of=
 the=20
designs included in the book actually have a blue print for the "grow=20
house".&nbsp;&nbsp; It is talked about but not actually designed.&nbsp; If I=
 am=20
going to place a Katrina cottage on a lot as part of a bigger house, it woul=
d=20
help, since I have never done this before to have&nbsp;a plan for the whole=20
house so I know how to orient the first piece of this "grow house".&nbsp; I=20=
look=20
forward to seeing these designs in future books so I can not only tell Rober=
t=20
about the grow house and that it is in the book but show him the actual blue=
=20
prints.&nbsp; His designs are worth looking at:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A   href=3D"http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/abo=
ut/building_solutions.html">http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/about/building_soluti=
ons.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>And by the way Robert said that the MODGUN=20=
sold=20
this past weekend during the White Linen Gallery opening in the Museum Distr=
ict=20
which I have to say was a really great event that I personally=20
enjoyed.&nbsp;&nbsp;I still have heard no word from anyone from the listserv=
's=20
of a Katrina cottage that is being lived in now that I can go photograph on=20=
my=20
trip from New Orleans back thru Mississippi this week.&nbsp; I have a few le=
ads=20
on developers that I will contact but no specific houses yet.&nbsp; I look=20
forward to photographing the MODGUN in action soon.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Also today I got to sit in on the presentat=
ion prep=20
of Jim Amdal, Director&nbsp;of the University of New Orleans, College of Urb=
an=20
and Public Affairs, Transportation Center.&nbsp; This presentation will be=20
Wednesday, August 9, 2006 from 7p to 9p at the Holy Rosary Cafeteria, 3368=20
Esplanade Ave for those of you in New Orleans.&nbsp; It is generally for Cit=
y=20
Park/Parkview but it should be very interesting and has a focus on Districts=
 5=20
and 6 which the University is working with on planning efforts and should be=
 a=20
good intro/history of all of the New Orleans myriad of planning efforts and=20=
who=20
they are/can come together for a common plan with different areas of=20
focus.&nbsp; Anyone who wants a great overview of what has and will be happe=
ning=20
I would highly recommend this presentation.&nbsp; It also gives a great=20
description of the 5th districts neighborhood/citizen planning structure whi=
ch=20
is quite fascinating.&nbsp; It seems that the total lack of leadership at th=
e=20
City and State level during the early phases has lead to a rather positive=20
outcome:&nbsp; The citizens are taking charge of planning and in district 5=20=
as=20
well as in other districts they are becoming quite educated and extremely=20
sophisticated with their delegation and focus of sub committees.&nbsp; Distr=
ict=20
5 is definitely one to watch.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>New Orleans Neighborhoods Rebuilding Plan:=20=
History=20
of Planning in New Orleans</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A   href=3D"http://www.nolanrp.com/index.p=
hp">http://www.nolanrp.com/index.php</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Look under "your neighborhood" to find spec=
ific=20
information on distinct neighborhoods around New Orleans.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mid City seems to be doing well also and is=
 gaining=20
some attention, they surround Canal when you leave the CBD/French Quarter an=
d=20
include some beautiful historic high ground neighborhoods&nbsp;surrounding t=
he=20
St John Bayou which as Jim mentioned was successful early in New Orleans his=
tory=20
because you could sail a boat right up the Bayou from Lake Ponchatrain.&nbsp=
;=20
Many historic homes remain along Canal and it's historic streetcar's althoug=
h as=20
you approach Interstate 10 it becomes more commercial as they bulldozed a lo=
t of=20
the mansions in this area to build modernist office buildings during a previ=
ous=20
era.&nbsp; There is a great little bar in this area trying to do live music=20
Thurs/Fri/Sat called Chickie Wah Wah.&nbsp; Music starts about 10 or 11 whic=
h is=20
quite appropriate in this area as the building is constructed so you can't h=
ear=20
the band outside and it faces canal in an area that is much more commercial=20=
to=20
the main street and streetcars.&nbsp; Many of the bars in New Orleans outsid=
e of=20
Bourbon street tend to have to deal with the noise issue with nearby=20
residents.&nbsp; This area would make a great stip of great quality late nig=
ht=20
music venues that are so convienent to the CBD, hotel district but have a li=
ttle=20
space from some of the very touristy venues.&nbsp; Oh interesting note on Ca=
nal=20
Street, they are tearing up a lot of the street to put down new sidewalks an=
d=20
fancy marble tiles and as well planting "I heard" $40,000 palm trees.&nbsp;=20=
I=20
tried to go by city hall and ask the councilperson for my prospective distri=
ct=20
if all the fancy hotels were paying for this or the city or state but those=20=
I=20
asked said that I was way too early at 7:50 and they wouldn't be there until=
 9=20
or 10 am.&nbsp; I asked if there was a big function last night or this morni=
ng=20
and they said no, that was pretty typical.&nbsp; I have not made it back dow=
n to=20
ask again, but...seems they could have cleaned up some of the storm debris f=
rom=20
some of the harder hit neighborhoods before stating on this and the 60+ bill=
ion=20
widening of Interstate 10 towards Metare for what people I am not sure.&nbsp=
; I=20
guess they are tying to encourage sprawl commuting to the city instead of=20
rebuilding historic areas in way's that are properly protected from the floo=
ds=20
like the raised garden courtyard and raised boulevard with garages to the lo=
w=20
side and houses handicap accessible to the pedestrian/streetcar boulevard th=
at=20
are being discussed around New Orleans as an alternative to houses on stilts=
=20
that are elderly and handicap unfriendly.&nbsp; Can you say ramps from hell=20
everywhere.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A   href=3D"http://www.mcno.org">www.mcno.=
org</A></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If you come to visit you must know that sub=
stantial=20
parts of the city are still a total disaster area, neither torn down nor=20
rebuilt.&nbsp; Actually the Lower 9th ward is in the best shape of the harde=
st=20
hit communities as this is where most people seem to want to go to help even=
=20
though this might be the last place to really be rebuilt.&nbsp; Ironically a=
s=20
the volunteers gut houses in places very few are living, houses remain witho=
ut=20
roofs and burned out houses, homes with doors off the hinges, debris piled o=
n=20
the street in areas that many people are fixing other houses and living.&nbs=
p;=20
It is a bit of a strange system where volunteers might be gutting the homes=20=
of=20
absentee landlords while the residents trying to come back to areas better=20
suited for rebuilding and homes already raised to appropriate or close level=
s=20
sit in total disrepair.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But you should also know that a lot of the=20=
moderate=20
to high ground parts of new Orleans are open for business, from Guest Houses=
, to=20
music clubs, shops, etc.&nbsp; But especially this time of year a lot of the=
m=20
are really hurting for business, the triple whammy of the Hurricane, the slo=
wer=20
time of hot summer, and the general perception among many that a lot of New=20
Orleans is not open yet for business.&nbsp; A lot of people with no help fro=
m=20
the city have scrapped together their place and opened clean and professiona=
l=20
and then whacked with huge tax bills while the city seems to only care about=
=20
promoting the French Quarter and tourist districts.&nbsp; A lot of these pla=
ces=20
could really use your business and in a lot of ways some places are better t=
han=20
before the hurricane as there is little to know traffic unless you head to t=
he=20
suburbs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A   href=3D"http://www.mcno.org">www.mcno.=
org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thom Shepard<BR><A   href=3D"mailto:thomshe=
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A><BR>Community=20
Advocate/Citizen Planner/Rural Urbanist<BR>NPU-X, Mid City, New=20
Orleans</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>member: <A   href=3D"http://www.cacno.org">=
www.cacno.org</A><BR>Contemporary Arts=20
Center<BR>member: <A   href=3D"http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/">www.ogdenmuseum.=
org/</A><BR>Ogden Museum of=20
Southern Art, University of New Orleans</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>fan: Katrina Krewe <A   href=3D"http://www.=
CleanNO.org">www.CleanNO.org</A><BR>fan: Mid City Neighborhood=20
Organization, mcno.org<BR><A   href=3D"http://www.mcno.org/newsletter/mcno-s=
ummer-06.pdf">www.mcno.org/newsletter/mcno-summer-06.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>founding member: (I don't think we have a w=
ebsite=20
yet)<BR>Atlanta Chapter, Congress for New Urbanism</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>For more on the New Urbanism see:<BR><A   h=
ref=3D"http://www.cnu.org">www.cnu.org</A><BR><A   href=3D"http://www.newurb=
anguild.com">www.newurbanguild.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Need real estate services in Mid City, call=
 Walter=20
King 504-245-0061 email: <A   href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">walt=
[log in to unmask]</A><BR>3100=20
Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 700119<BR>This is also the future addre=
ss=20
and temporary headquarters of NPU-X</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>To get daily updates or pics from Mid=20
City<BR>email: <A   href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">StoriesFromMi=
[log in to unmask]</A>=20
w/subject header SUBSCRIBE</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I recommend the <A   href=3D"http://www.StC=
harlesGuestHouse.com">www.StCharlesGuestHouse.com</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></H=
TML>
The New Discourse List is a temporary forum for the discussion of progressiv=
e and new ideas in support of traditional architecture and urbanism. Please=20=
direct enquiries to the listowner, Dr Richard John ([log in to unmask]).
--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html

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