1 minute read
RECLAIMING AN ANCHOR
601 Studio| Instructor|
Coatesville, PA Molly Bourne
Advertisement
Coatesville, PA is a town rich in history and pride. It once was home to Lukens Steel, one of the oldest steel plants in the nation. Ever since the closure of the Luken’s Steel Plant in 1998, Coatesville has lost the former anchor that once held the town together. Since then, Coatesville has followed a similar trajectory to many former steel towns. As one of the last strongholds of affordable housing, and the largest Black population in Chester County, Coatesville is at risk of gentrification. Development pressures such as a new Amtrak station, and a velodrome have already begun to reveal themselves in the landscape. I believe Coatesville’s biggest asset against gentrifying forces has been there all along: their youth. The revitalization of Coatesville does not begin with economic & commercial investment, it begins with youth investment. Despite significant challenges, there is a strong community desire and resilience to shift the narrative of Coatesville. The key to this revitalization resides in uplifting the youth base. As the former heart of Coatesville, the Lukens Steel Site has the opportunity to be reimagined as a youth hub. By celebrating and breathing new life into the steel plant, the Coatesville community can reclaim a historical anchor to carry the city’s past into its future.
Analysis of public space utilized by kids based on a youth mapping activity done by the Coatesville Growing Greater Organization. Having spaces for youth in a community helps to foster empowerment and social capital, ultimately strengthening communities in the long run. Through mapping, the necessity for the creation of these spaces was revealed.
Phase One
1. SAFE PLACES TO WALK
2. SAFE PLACES TO BIKE
ADD BIKE LANES TEACH KIDS TO BIKE
INCREASE STREET LIGHTS
Phase Two
STORMWATER GARDENS
STREET TREE PLANTINGS
3. IMPROVE & MAINTAIN PARKS
4. IMPROVE REC PROGRAMS
POP-UP YOUTH EVENTS
PROMOTE SPORT PROGRAMS
STORMWATER GARDENS
NATURAL SPACES/ ECOLOGY ZONES
IMPROVED MAINTENANCE
SIDEWALK EXPANSION
COMMUNITY WORK DAYS
ESTABLISH GATHERING SPACES
Buildings at Lukens Steel are repurposed in a variety of ways to support Coatesville youth population. These include, tinker spaces, community centers, basketball courts, gardens, and flex spaces. Plantings break down the scale of the structures and filter in creating outdoor porches. Additionally, the Brandywine Inlet allows for residents to engage with the Brandywine, one of only two places to do this within Coatesville.
