Well, this is going to be one of the easiest entries that I've had to write! For two reasons--first, the block party to view the final designs was so fabulous, such a wonderful coming together of energies, resources and dreams, that I could say lots and lots about it. Blommell Park was full, all afternoon, of people looking at designs, talking and arguing about them and expanding on them, eating pizza, listening to jazz, watching a bazillion kids chase each other around, and enjoying the fruits of our labors. Mayor McLin spoke in support of our efforts, Commissioners Lovelace and Williams also attended, representatives from UD and from Miami Valley Hospital were on hand, as well as some of our most long-time residents and people who are just moving into the neighborhood. It was a wonderful time to be a part of South Park.
The OTHER reason that this is such an easy entry to write is because--it's all done for me! Check out this Dayton Daily news video story by Eddie Roth: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/mplayer/news/17763 and send it to all of your friends! It does a terrific job of capturing the substance of the event, as well as the feel of it. I dare you to watch this and NOT want to move to South Park!!
Continue reading "South Park Loves the AIA" »
After all the meetings and all the work--now it's time to party! The Dayton chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the South Park neighborhood are throwing a block party this Saturday, May 12, from 11 - 2 in Blommell Park, at the corner of Park Drive and Jay Street. It's time to see what all of this hard work on the parts of the design teams and the residents has resulted in. There will be five different projects on display:
* a reconfigured Wayne Avenue business corridor, with ample parking, more attractive walk-ways, and better traffic flow;
* ways of better defining the boundaries and the visual identity of the South Park neighborhood;
* a catalog of new housing designs that fit with the neighborhood's historic character, but incorporate innovative, contemporary housing approaches;
* a dramatic new bike/walkway connecting Woodland Cemetary, Park Drive Boulevard, Blommell Park, and South Park Green, visible from 35 and connecting to the Oregon District and downtown, with enhanced recreational opportunities in both parks; and
* exciting, attractive architectural renderings of possible renovation candidates in the neighborhood, reminding us of the potential that continues to exist even in our most derelict housing stock
Come and see what architects and neighbors together can imagine and produce! Come and see what has made South Park such a special community for so long, and see how we can imagine it growing and becoming even more vital. Come and help us express our thanks to the AIA for providing such a wonderful gift to our Dayton community!
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.
Well, we've been waiting a long time for this here in South Park, but it's finally starting to happen. People are starting to notice what a great opportunity this neighborhood presents for them. Just had to share a couple of things that I've heard recently that demonstrate this. We have an active book club that meets regularly, and communicates through email. A couple of weeks ago, one of the members put out an email to the group saying--I'm looking for something to do this weekend--anyone interested? She found a whole bunch of takers, and they got together and had a wonderful time! To me, that says loads about what it means to live in a community, where you know and socialize with your neighbors. Secondly, not only did the first AIA session generate serious interest in the neighborhood from some of the outsiders who attended, but our organization just got an email from someone who doesn't live in the neighborhood, but wants to be part of our organization as we work on the AIA grant and on Rehabarama, and who is very interested in moving to South Park as soon as it's viable for her to do so! I couldn't be more pleased with the direction South Park is moving right now--it's very exciting to be part of something that's taking off the way this is.
What a great time it is to be living in Historic South Park! Two amazing pieces of news have come together for the benefit of South Park, through hard work, organization, and through people starting to realize what a wonderful place South Park is and can be.
A couple of weeks ago, we had the exciting announcement that South Park had won a highly competitive grant from the American Institute of Architects, in celebration of their 150th year as an organization. Starting with a kick-off meeting this Saturday, architects from firms throughout the Dayton region, together with significant input from neighborhood residents and other community constituents, will work over the next two months to envision a future for South Park: how we want it to look, feel and work, and how we can get it there. See the DDN story for more details.
And building on this story (and actually, helping to create the conditions that led to winning the grant), we learned yesterday that the City has authorized and agreed to promote a privately-funded Rehabarama in South Park this October! Two investors have independently made their way to South Park, determining that our neighborhood was well-positioned to take advantage of the kinds of resources they could bring to bear. They have been purchasing vacant properties in South Park and are working to restore them and make them home-owner occupied. Several of the properties that they are transforming will comprise the Rehabarama show. See more details here.
What is most exciting to me about these two events is that it feels like people are starting to understand what is so special about South Park. We work together, we address problems, we are committed to each other and to this place, and we keep focused on our long-range goals. And we even manage to have a lot of fun together while we're doing it!
Stay tuned for more details about the AIA process and Rehabarama!
Greetings from South Park! My name is Maureen, and I've been a resident of South Park since 1999. I'm looking forward to sharing the various reasons that my family and I have been so pleased with our choice of neighborhoods.
One of the reasons South Park works so well for us is that it is so close to the places we go daily. My husband teaches at UD, my children attend Holy Angels, and we try to patronize the businesses that are within walking distance as much as possible. With the development on Brown Street happening so close by, my neighbors and I speculate on the way the street and the business climate is changing on a regular basis. With the building on the corner of Brown and Stewart making rapid progress, and with planning underway for UD's 49 acres, we talk often of what kind of business establishments would contribute to the quality of life in South Park. The ideas that come up most often include an ethnic restaurant (Thai, Indian, Chinese, Mexican--ANYTHING other than a sub shop!), a wine shop and/or wine bar, a newsstand with broad national and international offerings, and a gallery and a bank. I'd love to hear other ideas about what would contribute to making this area vibrant and usable, things that would persuade others to give up their long commutes and rediscover what urban living is all about.
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