Brad Pitt's got it right

Some of you may already know about this but I just discovered this and think it is a great example of the GreenZoneSolution in action...
Following Hurricane Katrina, Brad Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation with a clear vision:

...to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community's culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.

Several of the completed houses are Platinum LEED certified and are built with features to storm resistant features such as:

• Rooftop access for easy escape should storm surge become an issue again
• Hurricane window fabric that is a cost effective alternative to the traditional shutters but still offer a similar level of protection from flying debris
• A foundation that is raised up to 8 feet above grade to protect against flood
• Native landscaping designed to absorb storm water and reduce the impact of floods
• Porous concrete sidewalks that will allow water to pass through to the soil where it can be absorbed by plants rather than pool
• View a video news story highlighting the disaster resistant features here
  

 To top it all off, the homes feature innovative design elements focusing on flexibility, integration with the street to improve connectivity with community, landscaping as a design and energy element and affordability.

Brad Pitt and Ann Curry on the Today Show - 8/13/09

Very cool stuff indeed... Renewable, Reliable, Remarkable