resilience district

Examining Gentilly Projects by Applying A Stormwater Management Approach.

How we Got There and What is Next

The Resilience District in the 6^th ward of New Orleans is about to become a model for future cities and areas fo forming a water-resilient city and a way of living and working that is open-minded to be in physical contact with water. The need of a model like that is currently as needed as in 2005, when the devastating hurricane Katrina struck the coastal Louisiana and New Orleans.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of risk reduction measures in terms of urban resilience and how communities can turn water into an asset in coastal Louisiana. Mainly, the focus lies on the years between 2005 and 2023. The description and discussion of the development aims for a coherent introduction of the Gentilly Resilience District.

Master Plans composed and measures undertaken in the last years respond to the diverse tools and views in an overall appropriate way. The biggest challenge for all experts, authors and governments that build up those plans is to communicate the purpose, result and necessary actions to affected communities.

New Orleans is, as part of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, on its way to become the American Water City after European examples as Amsterdam or Venice. The Gentilly District is currently the biggest contribution to that development. Up to date, that development is mostly conceptual and not yet constructed. It will remain a challenge to which extent the planned paradigm change and identity change will work among communities.