Activating Chollas Creek
through Art & Sustainable Design
Prepared for Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation by Estrada Land Planning with funding from the Proposition 84 Urban Greening and Sustainable Communities Grant Program, California Natural Resources Agency and National Endowment for the Arts.
August 2014
The sounds of children playing along the creek, the smell of native sage, the sound of clean, clear water bubbling over creek cobble, a trio playing folk music next to the art shop and outdoor restaurant patio, a romantic couple slowly walking and reading interactive interpretive panels along the creek edge, and school children crossing the creek on their way to an incredible, beautiful and iconic pedestrian bridge; this is the vision for Chollas Creek. Furthering the 2002 Chollas Creek Enhancement Program, this project aims to transform Chollas Creek from a hidden and neglected waterway into a linear urban park, becoming a historic, geographic, symbolic and civic focal point. It will activate a key portion of Chollas Creek, located at the northwest corner of Euclid Avenue and Market Street in the Encanto Neighborhood of San Diego. Through this work, the Creek will once again become the Community’s heart and soul, restoring the inner energy and inherent need for nature in each of its residents. The following pages depict this journey....
project summary
Guymon st
ct
a
euclid st
Pr
e oj
e Ar
Market st
existing conditions
Northwest Village Market Street Hillside Commercial
Guymon Apartments
Northwest Village Creek Enhancement Project
Horton Elementary School
Northwest Village Commercial Office/Light Industrial Project
Elementary Institute of Science
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library BRYCO Business Park
Joe & Vi Jacobs Center
Market & 47th Southeast Corner
Themes expressed by communty and stakeholder participants
ART FORMS
Writerz Block
Through a brainstorming process community members and the project team compiled a collection of art forms that answer the question, “what is art?” These forms of art branch outside of traditional media and incorporate unconventional expressions of art such
Creek Terrace Townhomes
Tubman-Chavez Multicultural Center
The Old Globe Technical Center
Market Creek Plaza Marke
Chollas Creek Encanto Tributary Enhancement Project
Center for Community & Cultural Arts Gallery
Naranja Commercial
as sports, food, and story telling. The diagram below is not intended to limit potential public art concepts, but rather should be used as a starting point to inspire a broad view
West Village
of the potential for the arts to reflect and enhance this community.
the village at market creek art+design plan landscape architecture
PERFORMANCE
River Parkway
sound/ audio
Southwest Village
PAINTING
CRAFTS
art using recycled materials
MULTI-SENSORY ART
cultural performance
murals
TATTOOS
CLOTHING
dance/ movement
Mixed Use/Office Festival Park & World Courtyard Market k Creek C k Amphitheater A hi h
PHOTOGRAPHY
DIGITAL ART
GRAFFITI
music
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temporary art/ installations SCULPTURE
FOOD
Chollas Creek Villas
STORY TELLING
water element
ARCHITECTURE
22
writing
mosaics
ENVIRONMENTAL ART
Village Transit Hub
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Chollas Creek Enhancement Project
Transit Hub
Housing
Mixed Use
Community Resource
Retail
Park/Open Space
Office/Light Industrial
Complete
SPORTS
jewelry
The Village at Market Creek Master Plan updated 2012
the village at market creek art+design plan
the village at market creek cultural
natural
celebrating a unique cultural community
chollas creek as a symbol of natural history and a sustainable, caring revitalization process for the neighborhood
traditional + contemporary multi-generational experiences and expressions of beauty
the village at market creek art+design plan
inspirational an engaging arts district that inspires us every day to be creative and innovative
previous planning studies & concepts the village at market creek art+design plan
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draft october 2012
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Art Forms for Parks and Trails Potential art forms to integrate into parks and trails include multi-sensory art to create a story telling experience; art utilizing recycled materials; art that reects the natural context of Chollas Creek habitats and ecology; interactive art games for children; functional items such as benches, audio or written art
lighting and shade structures with sculptural forms; and performance art and art-making. art using recycled materials
P l ay ful Bri d g es:
;
Th e p e d e s t r i a n b r i d g e ac c ro s s C h o l l a s C re e k n e a r th e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l o ff e r s a c re a t i ve o p p o r t u n i t y f o r in t e r a c t i vi t y.
nsit
archways over trail heads
audio story telling
art on crosswalks
audio or written art digital art boards colorful and illuminated bus shelters
42
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illuminated sculptures
the village at market creek art+design plan
previous planning studies & concepts
water features
grafďŹ ti art Note: Images are for inspiration and are not the exact art forms to be installed. the village at market creek art+design plan
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y
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d
Chollas Creek
e
old
g
o
on
y;
previous planning studies & concepts Walking Trail
Watershed Apostle the sky is bright but not blue blankets of cotton grey warm my rooms clear micro pellets that moisten rarely fall, rarely travel filter through my glands my grains then the pattern develops punctuating dry stones light becomes dark, mottled becomes solid dry becomes slow, becomes ripples carrying my edges, my vision speeding toward a flat fluid plain who has seen me? who has changed me? volumes grow, sections cross and constrict i carried life, then death now? edges are now cores curving my disposition, my spine weak, now central, to my energy, to my giving who will listen? how will you listen? i need you to listen to dance our song of change together -Vicki Estrada
site walk & community gathering
Future Gateway Art Element
Euc
lid S
Gu ym on
St re
et
Native Drought-tolerant Planting (typical)
conceptual design & renderings
tre
et
conceptual design & renderings
artist inspiration & concepts
Cobbles
Pavers
Stepstone, Inc. Sonorastone Pavers Color: Desert
Tumbled Ledge / Nottingham
Pedestrian Light
Decorative Stone Solutions Desert Select 4”-12”
Forms + Surfaces Trio Argento Texture Powdercoat
Tumbled Ledge / Dakota Brown
Seatwalls
Coronado Stone Veneer Tumbled Ledge Color: Chablis
Tumbled Ledge g / Chablis
Boulders
Decorative Stone Solutions Desert Select 4’-6’
Tumbled Ledge g / Sunset Blend
Seatwalls Coping
Square foot coverage is based onStepstone, installation Inc.with tightly-fitted joints. Sonorastone Wall Cap Flat Color: Kahlua
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Decomposed Granite
Decorative Stone Solutions Color: Carmel Apple
Bench
Forms + Surfaces Balance Backed, 6’ Argento Texture Powdercoat
selected site furnishings & materials
Fence Details
Custom Corten Steel Panels Galvanized Steel Fence Post & Rails with Stainless Steel Cables Stainless Steel Handrail where applicable
Trash Receptacle
Quickcrete / Custom Adhere negative corten steel cutout
Lighting of Panels Downlight: Microstar LED
Uplight: Bega 7010 LED Resistant to foot traffic
selected fence & trash receptacle
What are your thoughts on the overall design of the project? “I really like the whole idea and concept. If everything turns out as planned, I think it’d be awesome to restore it!” “Very nice and modern.” “I like the overall design because it brings the positive life from the area. It is like rebirth.”
What are your thoughts on the specific concepts (art, sustainability, accessibility, etc.)? “The specific concepts are incredible, I like the fact that art is being displayed and the accessibility is fantastic because it’s local.” “I feel very strongly about art and the environment so I like this project because it uses both of this.” “It would be great to see more emphasis on its waterwise features.” “Just make sure to have enought recycle bins and ample lighting at night for safety.”
How would you use the creek after restoration and enhancements are completed? “Lunch time and after work walks” “For relaxing & peace of mind; enjoying nature.” “Walking my dogs.” “I’d love to walk on the trails! A bike lane would be cool.”
lobby display for community input
Spring/Summer 2014
Next Steps 1. Finalize grant contract with State of California Urban Greening program. 2. Finalize technical specifications with the design team for solar lighting, fencing, furniture and trash receptacles. 3. Coordinate the creek restoration (all aspects of the approval and design process) with the City of San Diego . 4. Draft goals and objectives for design process, including the following: • • •
• • •
Use the Activating the Creek Vision Plan as a guide to incorporate public art into an emerging, lively, multi-cultural arts and entertainment destination. Honor a community that is proud of its unique cultural heritage and artistic traditions. Continue the art and design work that residents and community artists began working with residents of southeastern San Diego to transform twenty unused and underutilized acres – which later grew to sixty acres – into The Village at Market Creek, a vibrant cultural and commercial center. Contribute to the future development within The Village at Market Creek to help build the community’s economic strength and enhance its quality of life. Celebrate the creek as the spine of the community, as it’s heart and soul, restoring the inner energy and inherent need for natural beauty. Connect with and appreciate the value of Chollas Creek as an important functioning natural system.
5. Set timeline for Artist Team selection process. 6. Develop criteria for Artist Team Request for Qualifications; criteria may include the following: • • • • • • •
Create a design that is functional, creative, attractive, and responds to community and stakeholder concerns. Comply with established design themes and concepts in previous work efforts. Feature a sustainable and context sensitive design. Develop a design that is economically feasible, easy to implement and easily phaseable. Design for universal pedestrian access and safety. Maximize vandal resistance and ease of maintenance. Create a design that is truly unique, iconic and could only occur in the Encanto neighborhood.
next steps
partners & contributors