FTB07: delayed 8.29.12

So, since the storm named Isaac is planning to visit town this Wednesday, let's say no class... we will resume on next Wed, Sept 5, covering the readings from last class (Liberia, etc... see last post) If missing class really gets your goat, join up at the New Orleans Community Print Shop's work day on Saturday at noon (each week, Thurs at 6 + Sat at noon). Its in a warehouse at 1201 Mazant.  They have done a rad job building out the space, and its a fun time with a killer crew of folks (plus they always have food + coldcold h20 +beer).

A new slum at Mourne L'Hopital, Haiti, comprised mainly of T-Shelters (temporary shelters) donated by NGOs.  Many Haitians are living without sufficient housing or infrastructure such as sewage or water. (photo from Haiti Grassroots Watch)

On the anniversary of Katrina, remember people who still haven't recovered from a disaster.  Folks still are displaced here in the US, unable to return to New Orleans for various reasons, much based around exclusionary changes to NOLA's built environment (rent increases, public housing demos, loss of housing, et al).  Isaac just swept through Haiti, where some report 500,000 people are still internally displaced.  President Martelly, along with Bill Clinton, recently put forward the 16/6 plan to close 6 internally displaced persons' camps and provide money for housing, for a small number of them.  Many criticize this as purely putting the problem of tent camps "out of site, out of mind."  The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti recently surveyed many Haitians as to how well this 16/6 plan is working.

FTB06: 8.22.12

Liberian civil war broke out in the 90's.  This led to many people being displaced, problems with public infrastructure, and a mass migration towards urban areas, leading to "unplanned development" which is now, in some cases, being bulldozed to make way for "planned development." The Norwegian Refugee Council has been working to resolve land disputes in Liberia, which is broken down in the following reports (in chronological order):
 
"Confusions’ and Palava: The Logic of Land Encroachment in Lofa County"
“Comparative Analysis of Land Conflicts in Liberia: Grand Gedeh, Lofa and Nimba Counties"
"Searching for Soap Trees: Norwegian Refugee Council’s land dispute resolution process in Liberia
Beyond Squatters' Rights: Durable Solutions and Developmentinduced Displacement in Monrovia, Liberia

displaced, but to where?  how does this compare to Section 8 voucher use? (from T-P article on CJ Peete redevelopment)

 Iberville redevelopment's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative plan and design overview. The Iberville redevelopment is inextricably tied to the Canal Street Redevelopment, which seems to be purely tied to economic development.  According to Kelo v. the City of New London, economic development is considered in the public interest. 

"residents remember thriving local businesses" -HANO Choice Neighborhoods Initiative proposal

The above readings are pretty long.  Discussion from last class led to some topics to further explore, so if you'd rather, research these issues on your own!

• More info on the Joe Slovo redevelopment and protests against the N2 Gateway evictions.

• Columbia University's expansion/other eminent domain situations + ensuing pushes for alternate plans

• Eminent domain time/expediency/accountability requirements

 

FTB05: redevelopment 8.15.12

Affordable Housing Institute is a group that works to increase affordable housing ecosystems worldwide by providing financial advice and other resources to small localized housing groups, policy makers, and other "pro-poor entities."   AHI tells the story of the Cape Town, South Africa's Joe Slovo township and its redevelopment after a 2009 fire destroyed 500 shacks and left 1500 people homeless (also see parts two, three, and four).

In a storyline relevant to our recent discussions of New Orleans' and St Louis' public housing approaches, AHI also recently posted a 4-part article on public housing post-Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas.   The Cape Town, Galveston, and New Orleans situations are all tied together in that they were all prefaced by large disasters.

Palace Hotel being imploded in New Orleans: eminent domain in

Lower Mid-City for greenspace within the LSU/VA hospital footprint

The 2005 supreme court case of Kelo v. City of New London comes up often as setting precedent for eminent domain used in redevelopment, urban renewal, or whatever you'd like to call it.  The Kelo case redefined "public purpose" for eminent domain as including economic development, based on precedents set by Berman v. Parker and Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff.