you build those sections of the city a little at a time, as fill is added. dredging the lake has the added benefit of lowering the water level. didn't Japan build an entire airport using this technique? I believe it even has a system to self-level the terminals on it.
I just rec'd an email from the UWashington president. Even as far away as Seattle, we will be opening our doors to displaced Tulane students. Generously, the UW will let the tuition continue to go to Tulane, so it can rebuild.
Sure, that would work -- but one problem is that when you're dealing with what used to be a major city, having "interim phases" in 5% increments isn't going to work. The economies of scale in urban development will dictate that it makes no sense to build infrastructure for a city of 150,000 people if your intent is to have it back to 1.4 million in a couple of decades, and it makes no sense to build infrastructure for 1.4 million people if you aren't going to reach that point for 25 years.
Didn't Japan build an entire airport using this technique?
Yes. One critical difference in Japan is that land is far more scarce there, so it makes practical sense to do things there that you would never even think of doing in other places. The Japanese government sure as heck didn't build that airport for sentimental reasons, which is really the only reason people here are providing for rebuilding New Orleans in its current location.