So Scott Adams parting shot today (or was it yesterday already?) was the suggestion to not rebuild Rafah, a city in the Middle East, but to build a whole new (15 minute) city. 'just buy a few farmer's fields' IIRC.
He has no idea what the permitting and financing would do to the concept. As it turns out in the 1970s I worked with the Cerro Gordo community, who's intent was a new small town -- let alone a major city -- from scratch. There is an incredible amount of inertia to overcome.
They settled on a ranch above Dorena Lake. every morning on the way to work as I rose above the dam on Row River Road, the weather, sun and fog were never the same twice. There're 13 people living there today, maybe I should get in touch.