New Concepts Were Introduced. Shortly after Hurricane Rita delivered a 7 to 8 foot tidal surge that inundated the region with flood water, the communities of Delcambre and Erath began the planning process to rebuild. The planning process as it relates to Delcambre focused on the unrealized potential of the waterfront assets along the Delcambre Canal and focused on the marketing possibilities of the Delcambre community. Below is an outline of the architectural concepts and the marketing analysis that is guiding the redevelopment of Delcambre.

A New Architectural Design Was Explored. Several ideas are incorporated into the drawings and renderings provided by the University of Louisiana (UL) Community Workgroup Design. The ideas include the following:

• New construction with flood resistant design
• Water features, slips, and canals for easy water access and provides dirt fill to elevate surrounding land features
• Residential/vacation communities with direct water access
• Commercial retail and community centers
• Seafood and farmers market
• Boardwalks and beautification with access and viewing along the canal
• Marina and safe harbor vessel docking and storage

 

Marketing is Key to Redevelopment. The UL Marketing Department and students from its MBA program provided numerous reports and studies that outline the potential and strategies for the economic recovery of Delcambre. The studies show the following basic features of the marketing of Delcambre.

 

Housing Studies Show People Desire to Rebuild. The UL Sociology Department conducted a study of housing in Delcambre in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. It showed that nearly half of all homes underwent flood resistant renovation in one form or another. More importantly, most residents chose to stay in Delcambre and rebuild their homes. New ideas and designs for flood resident homes are being developed by the University of Louisiana BeauSoleil project and can be incorporated into Delcambre’s redevelopment.