Although many Gulf Coast buildings were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the regions infrastructure remains basically intact, and its generally high land values stable. The combination offers "a chance for a new beginning along the lines of the principles of urbanism," says architect-planner Andres Duany.
Duany and his firm, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., Miami., have been involved creating plans for more than 200 new and existing towns. His latest challenge is to create a regional plan for 11 towns along 120 miles of Gulf Coast, with a population of more than 150,000 people. His continuing aim is to wipe out sprawl.