[ImaGraftedBranch]

why don't they rebuild using Venice as an example...

If you take your thought to the next step of critical thinking, Venice does not have to deal with 1 million+ people having to evacuate periodically before hurricanes. Imagine trying to evacuate a million people with their most precious possesions, pets, etc., on tiny little boats.

If you take the critical thinking a bit further, there are other obvious reasons that will come to you...

[Republic]

Venice isn't all canals...there are pathways... and sidewalks along most canals, sometimes only on one side, lots of connecting walkways via small bridges, sometimes larger ones, depending on canal, open plazas, etc.

(NO CARS THERE)

and I really wasn't thinking of the whole city...just the historic parts...with the major parts of the city built on HIGH GROUND, all buildings skanked with concrete pylons and steel placed into bedrock...beyond the silt base.

[Chickensoup]

If New Orleans is rebuilt as a water city, there will not be a million people living there. It will become a very different city.