Optimal City Planning

A remarkable transformation of a city with limited resources and explosive population growth is documented in Chapter 14 (Human Capitalism) of Paul Hawken's book Natural Capitalism. He tells the story of Curitiba, a southeastern Brazilian city with the population of Houston. Under the guidance of Jamie Lerner, their mayor, architect, city-planner, and humanist, the city restored the vibrancy and diversity of its street life. A team of architects and engineers, utilizing vigorous feedback from the community, gradually solved aesthetic, economic, transportation, housing, ecological, educational, nutritional, crime, and even flooding problems, with imagination, cooperation, and breath-taking speed. He infused all of the solutions with a sense of dignity, hope, and respect for all of the city's inhabitants. Curitiba represents an inspiring "symbol of the possible." One wonders what he could do with the restoration of New Orleans.