the AIA and South Park

Yesterday, the second of three design "charrettes" was held at the Emerson School in the South Park neighborhood.  These design charrettes are the heart of the process that the American Institute of Architechts is using in helping South Park define its vision for the future.  We (the 75 or so neighborhood residents and other stakeholders, along with the 40 or so architects participating in the process) have divided up into five working groups:  residential rehab, new residential, commercial/public spaces, greenspaces and boundaries.  Each group has worked collaboratively to define a project.  At each design charrette, the architects present the members of the working group with the ideas they've developed to capture the discussions of the previous session.  Through three iterations, the knowledge of the architects combines with the imagination of the community members to create a vision that is broad and exciting, while remaining closely connected to how the community wishes to use and live in the neighborhood.

The ideas each group is coming up with are phenomenal.  From reconceptualizing Wayne Avenue as a "Craftsman District" with an enhanced traffic and pedestrian flow, to linking Woodland Cemetary, Blommel Park and South Park Green with a bike trail and significantly reconceptualizing and enhancing both parks, to developing templates for renovating homes with an eye toward universal design and combined-family units, the ideas are fresh, forward-thinking, and exciting.  The architects and the community clearly envision South Park as a place that young professionals, growing families, and empty-nesters will all find appealing. 

It was a little difficult for many of us in the neighborhood to understand the impact of winning this AIA grant before the process began.  Now that we are halfway through it, it has become clear that the "gift to the community" that the AIA has offered is its ability to translate the dreams, desires and needs of a community into actual pictures and plans.  Now that we know what our visions look like, we will be that much better able to find ways to make them a reality.

Comments

[metromark]

The template for past "urban renewal" was "what kind of government assistance can I get." What I'm seeing in the South Park renaissance is local empowerment. People at the local level are making things happen with help from public/private endowments. Bravo!

[Kevin Moran]

We'll be able to pursue grants afterwards to make the plans more of a reality. The ideas are great, the AIA teams are great, the contributing neighbors and businesses are great. We have one more meeting this Saturday, April 21 to get our final ideas together for the architects to be able to present the plans at the block party held in May at Blommel Park. Thanks for the post Maureen!