New Orleans Digest

Like Chocolate cookies with vanilla chips.

the same down home cooking, crime filled one it was before.

Well, we can only speculate at this point, but there is something of a parallel in the rebuilding of California cities after an earthquake.

First, everything historical that survived will be that much more precious. Second, the city will be much more modern, because a lot of the old places were destroyed, and I think few would want to build a fake old building. But hopefully, the architects and planners will give some thought to the unique flavor that was New Orleans, and not just build a lot of big glass and steel boxes.

As to affordable, I think someone will have the smarts to realize that small, simple homes are going to be needed, both free-standing and apartment houses. If most architects love the thrill of designing something large and ostentatious for the wealthy, there have got to be smart cookies (perhaps female architects?) who realize that good, simple designs for the middle and lower-middle class will be needed, and will be needed in large enough numbers to be profitable. And small gives an interior designer a chance to experiment with things like modern kitchens and bathrooms that do not waste space, but make maximum use of the space (which is, after all expensive) to be fully functional, and perhaps even attractive.

The city represents a fascinating challenge for all sorts of designers and builders, and I hope they use the opportunity to develop designs that are then used elsewhere. Like the space program, there will be lots of spin-offs from creative problem-solving. One important problem to solve, of course, is how to make homes less vulnerable to flood and storm damage, just as Californians have been forced to think in terms of earthquake damage resistant buildings.

As to the poor, I suspect they will end up in the trailers and portables and “temporary” housing that is being used as emergency shelters now.

But you are right about one thing: it’s likely to take ten years, and even longer.