Post-Katrina Restoration of the Port of Gulfport: Incorporating Sustainable Development Practices
The Mississippi Center for Justice is a non-profit public interest organization that pursues racial and economic justice through advocacy for systemic change. The Center has been working with communities along the Gulf Coast to rebuild after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. In particular, the Center has focused on the redevelopment of the Port of Gulfport and the inland area of North Gulfport to assure that the Port is developed in the most environmentally and economically sustainable manner and not just to provide another casino venue as some have projected.
The Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi State Port Authority have announced a redevelopment plan for the Port of Gulfport, using federal Katrina Recovery monies. The task of this project was to provide a comprehensive environmental report for the client organization that can be utilized during the planning and expansion phases. This report consisted of two components: port sustainability guidelines, and case studies. The guidelines were comprised of key categories that should be focused on during planning in order to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the port. The case studies involved examining five leading sustainable ports in Portland, Charleston, Savannah, Houston, and Rotterdam to serve as examples for the expansion of the Gulfport port. This report has been submitted to the client organization as a third-party evaluation, to be used during the planning and expansion process.