In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, communities all over the state galvanized themselves to articulate and explore needs and visions for the future of their built environments.
Community-developed plans are important opportunities for the people affected by re-developments in disaster areas to come together and create visions for their neighborhood and city at large. Community planning and input sessions can help inform and shape policy and decision making at the city level.
Plans for communities have occurred at several different scales and are usually guided by an organization, a private firm or a group of organizations. Types of organizations that may run charettes are Community Development Corportations (CDCs), non-profits, as well as state and cities agencies and private firms.
Planning for the future of a community relates not only to the physical spaces and buildings that make up an urban area, but also to infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity and amenities such as schools, hospitals and parks. Planning relates as much to the sustainability and growth of communities over time.
Plans can help thriving communities plan for the future and protect their resources.
In addition to city and parish-wide planning and brainstorming efforts, many extant and newly-developed community groups began to plan roles in neighborhood recovery efforts. These groups identify themselves as advocating for cultural, educational, or safety issues, among others.
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