Hodiamont Beeline by Jacqueline Margetts

Hodiamont Beeline: A Design Ideas Toolkit Editor: Jacqueline Margetts Published: June, 2019

This publication documents the work of undergraduate architecture students within a landscape option studio in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St Louis. Available under a Creative Commons Attribution License 2.5 (see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by 2.5/). All work must be attributed to Washington University in St Louis. The publication of this work has been made possible by generous grants from CityStudioSTL and the Gephardt Institute.

Typeface: Garamond, Minion Pro & DIN

HODIAMONT BEELINE A D e s i g n I d e a s To o l k i t

Edited by Jacqueline Margetts

Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts Undergraduate Studio 312/412 2019

CONTENTS

introduction

west end neighborhood analysis

student proposals

conclusion

design team 02

INTRODUCTION Jacqueline Margetts

The old Hodiamont Line streetcar right-of-way which runs through St. Louisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; neighborhoods from the West End through to Grand Center is ripe for conversion into a greenway. Extensive surveys conducted by Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) staff have identified overwhelming support for a greenway from local residents who recognize that the creation of a bike path and walking trail within a natural systems corridor opens up many opportunities. Among these are landscape-based projects which not only provide key nodes for social engagement along the length of the greenway but also increase biodiversity within the urban area as a whole. Biodiverse greenspace within neighborhoods confers significant social and environmental benefits to communities. Social gains are said to include enhanced health and educational outcomes, augmented property values and business opportunities, while

environmental advantages range from wildlife habitat and corridors to carbon sequestration and decreased surface water runoff. The design of performative space is clearly of primary importance to the life and health of communities. Collaboration is a core value of Great Rivers Greenway as an organization and engaging the community and other stakeholders is a vital part of their greenway design process. GRG is partnering with existing neighborhood organizations to craft a communityengaged design strategy for the Hodiamont Track greenway but it also recognizes that the community will need assistance in this process as environmental design can be very challenging for those with little or no design education. This is where a group of Washington University undergraduate students step in. Informed by the data gathered by GRG through its extensive surveys and discussions with

the community, coupled with direct input from GRG staff and local community members, a group of 10 students, focusing on the West End neighborhood, worked to generate design ideas for key locations along the proposed greenway. The purpose of this work is to support GRG to facilitate discussion and engage community members with new ways of thinking about the design of the greenway. The work presented in this book explores ways in which landscape-based opportunities created by the introduction of a greenway can help support the ongoing revitalization of the West End neighborhood. Folded into each project is an implicit acknowledgment of the direct benefit that increasing biodiversity confers to residents within the neighborhood.

SITE VISIT

THE HODIAMONT TRACKS The Hodiamont streetcar commenced operation in 1875 on the tracks of a former narrow-gauge steam railroad. The #15 Hodiamont Line ran in city streets from Downtown St. Louis to just west of Vandeventer Ave where it entered its own private right-of-way that ran all the way beyond the West End, before again joining city streets, terminating at Wellston Loop. The streetcar operated for 107 years until 1966 when it was replaced by new, comfortable, rubber-tired buses¹. Streetcars had their heyday in St. Louis in the 1920s when there were 485 miles of tracks in and around the city and over 1,650 streetcars². After WWII the rise in popularity of the motorcar led to a rapid decrease

in streetcar ridership and an increase in complaints from motorists, reluctant to share the road with these cumbersome track-bound vehicles. Some would argue that additional insidious pressure from oil companies and auto makers played a significant role in reducing streetcar lines, forcing people into cars³. Be that as it may, in the 1950s and 60s the number of lines in St. Louis was greatly reduced and by 1964 the Hodiamont Line was the only one remaining. Eventually it too succumbed, and on 21 May 1966 ceased operation. The bus service, #15 Hodiamont MetroBus Line, which replaced the streetcar, was discontinued in 2009. While there have been significant changes in much of

the city since 1966 when the Hodiamont Line closed, the right-of-way it followed is still almost completely intact between Vanderventer Ave at Grand Center to Skinker Boulevard in the West End Neighborhood. The track mostly runs behind residential properties and, much like a rear alley, is tucked away with very little visibility. While the track operates as a service alley in some places, mostly it is disused, or is being exploited as a site for illegal dumping. In certain parts criminal activity is a problem. Naturally, communities along the tracks would like to see this change, and if effectively engaged, these residents can be instrumental in the transformation of their neighborhood.

1. Patterson, Steve. (2012). ‘The End of the Hodiamont Streetcar Right-of-Way.’ Urban Review, Saint Louis. May 21, 2012. Accessed http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/2012/05/the-end-of-the-hodiamont-streetcarright-of-way/ 2. O’Neil, Tim. (2010). ‘A Look Back. Hodiamont Line streetcar closed out 107 years of service.’ St Louis Post Dispatch, May 23, 2010. Accessed https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/a-look-backhodiamont-line-streetcar-closed-out-years-of/article_3656e70d-0610-5592-90bc-7deebd14331f.html 3. For arguments summarizing this theory see ‘General Motors Streetcar Conspiracy’ accessible at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy. For arguments against see: Hendricks, Mark. (2010). ‘The GM Trolley Conspiracy: What Really Happened’ CBS News, Sep 3, 2010. Accessible at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-gm-trolley-conspiracy-what-really-happened/

Bi-State Development Agency

UrbanSTL.com

Waiting in line, Downtown STL

Dismantling streetcars, 1966.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Hodiamont Streetcar, 1963

MetroBus replaces the streetcar, 1966.

WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS

DEMOGRAPHICS Rebecca Shen and Michele Chen A study of the historic demographic patterns based on the National Housing Act and urban renewal projects

NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS Mikaela Gatewood and Graham McAllister A study of the current West End Neighborhood conditions and the surrounding area. Maps show maintained greenspace, landuse, transportation options and population density.

HISTORIC LANDUSE M a k i o Ya m a m o t o a n d To b i e S o u m e k h The change from prairie to farmland then its subsequent transformation to urban development is traced through time.

TRANSPORTATION Kai Smith

Hodia

mont T

rack

Historically streetcar routes radiated out from Downtown. The Hodiamont Line streetcar ran through the heart of the West End neighborhood, directly connecting it to the city center.

N AT U R A L H I S T O RY Helen Han and Tiffany Zheng

POLLINATORS

While the historic prairies have almost entirely disappeared, their component plants and associated insect pollinators remain vitally important. PRAIRIE TYPES Pre-settlement Prairie

PLANT SPECIES Demonstration Garden STL Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office STL Zoo Brightside STL MO Botanical Garden

Current Prairie

Bee collects pollen from flower

Original Prairie

Bee spreads pollen

Human intervention divides prairies

Prairie plants can reproduce

Pollinators are unable to travel outside their native sites

WA T E R I S S U E S Martine Kushner and Alex Riedel

Analysis shows that rainwater falling in the West End drains into the River des Peres. Capturing this water before it enters the sewer system will help alleviate some of the flooding issues plaguing the St. Louis region.

STUDENT PROPOSALS 01

A Streets cap e N am ed Rem em b r a n ce M i ch el e Ch en

Tur tl e T i m e Track M ar ti n e Kus h n er

B i o D ivers e B atway G rah am M cA l l i s t er

Freewh eel i n g Pl ace To b i e So um ek h

Ci cada G rove H el en H an

T h e N u tcr a cker Ma kio Ya m a m o to

C r a ckinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; U p Mika ela G a tewo o d

L aven d e r L a n d Tif f a n y Z h en g

Bir d s ca p e Reb ecca S h en

G a r d en In ter s ectio n K a i S m ith

Ski nk er B

lvd

Ten students undertook an analysis of the West End neighborhood conditions. Information (including vacant sites, surface water runoff patterns, bus routes, and existing community assets) was mapped and used to identify microsites that could act as active nodes along the track. The particular character and potential of each location was then employed to generate a design that capitalized on its specific attributes.

Hodiamon

iam Hod

ont

Ave

Belt Ave

t Tracks

Union Blv d

Mall Trail Ruth Porter

Blvd Goodfellow

Hamilton A ve

Skin

ker B

lvd

Gwen Giles Park

All the projects were underpinned by an effort to increase local biodiversity, given its importance to the health and wellbeing of residents. Insects are a fundamental component of robust, biodiverse ecosystems, not only as plant pollinators but as a food source for birds, bats, turtles and other species. Therefore, all the designs intentionally support and strengthen insect life.

Delmar Blv d

A STREETSCAPE NAMED REMEMBRANCE Michele Chen

On May 21, 1996, streetcars rattled through the West End neighborhood for the very last time as #15 Hodiamont Line, the only remaining streetcar route in St Louis, ceased operation. Memory, however, persists and this intervention honors the Hodiamont service by creating an ecologically rich trailhead to the trackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new life as a greenway. Streetcars are celebrated through embedded track lanes, vertical pole-like insect hotels, and transformable furniture along tracks inserted into Gwen B. Giles park. Existing pavement cracks at the intersection of the Greenway and Hodiamont Avenue are seeded with Virginia mountain mint. As the mint spreads, the habitat it produces supports a variety of insects such as the harmless grass-carrying wasp, which, in turn, brings birds and other species. Seating facilitates encounters between people and this enriched ecology.

Map showing areas of potential activity along tracks. Trail head area is identified as having enhanced capability for social and ecological engagement.

Gwen Giles Park

IN PLAN

m dia Ho ve. tA on

Hodiamont Track

MICHELE CHEN

ack

nt Tr

iamo

Hod

Virginia Mountain Mint

CROSS SECTIONS Adjustable furniture is interlocked with the tracks and can slide into the park. They provide community members and visitors a variety of opportunities: sitting, reclining, conversing, bee-viewing and picnicking.

A STREETSCAPE NAMED REMEMBRANCE

Virginia mountain mint seeds are planted into the existing cracks on the asphalt/concrete pavement. The mint species can tolerate urban soil and prefers part shade. The flowers are white with purplish spotting, borne in summer, and are favored by many insects including honeybees, grass carrying wasps, wedge-shaped beetles, and pearl crescent butterflies. The mints have the potential to create a biodiverse habitat in collaboration with the insect hotels.

MICHELE CHEN

IN ACTION

Insect hotels offer habitats for a wide variety of insects, which, in turn, attract birds.

A STREETSCAPE NAMED REMEMBRANCE

MICHELE CHEN

IN TIME

A STREETSCAPE NAMED REMEMBRANCE

TURTLE TIME TRACK Martine Kushner

Gwen Giles Park, the victim of misguided urban renewal efforts, still contains evidence of its rich ecological history and the significant role it once played in the community. The installation of a mile-long jogging track with distance markers and outdoor fitness equipment takes advantage of the altered topography and the rich bottomland soil; the legacy of a once-thriving prairie ecosystem. The Catalpa tree, for which the park was previously named, is reintroduced, and a field of Goldenrod on the mounds becomes the catalyst for on-site biodiversity. Central to the proposal is the introduction of the Ornate Box Turtle. Shelters for these turtles are inserted into the mounds and areas of water collection are exaggerated through regrading in order to create an ideal habitat for this threatened species. A proposed partnership with the nearby Hodiamont House provides space for educational workshops, exercise clubs, and a range of after-school programs providing opportunities for community members to engage with the park.

MARTINE KUSHNER

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

CROSS SECTIONS

TURTLE TIME TRACK

The mile-long recycled rubber jogging path begins at the entrance to Gwen Giles Park, slightly north of where Hodiamont Avenue intersects with the tracks. It eventually merges with the greenway, encouraging parkgoers to continue on. Wooden footbridges connect the mounds at three different points, allowing runners to

easily cross over areas where water is likely to collect, and two seperate “fitness playgrounds” are placed between intersecting paths. Distance markers are combined with a way-finding and ecological information, allowing users to track their progress, find meeting points, and learn about the park’s diverse ecosystems.

MARTINE KUSHNER

VIGNETTE

DETAILS

TURTLE TIME TRACK

Turtle shelters are located near moist areas at the base of the mounds. The upper surface of the shelter can be used as a bench for sitting.

MARTINE KUSHNER

LONGITUDINAL STUDY

TURTLE TIME TRACK

BIODIVERSE BATWAY Graham McAllister

The little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, is the focus of this intervention. Not only is this tiny insect-eating bat an intriguing creature in its own right, it is also an excellent pollinator and important contributor to the urban ecosystem; its droppings function as a superior fertilizer for plant growth. A series of bat nesting boxes is placed on the verge between the Hodiamont Tracks and Laurel Street. Oak trees are planted within the paved surface of the inaccessible section of Laurel Street that runs parallel to the tracks forming a shady plaza and an active node. The oaks provide roosting sites and a rich food-source for the bats. Gabion benches promote community gathering and new paths strengthen access between the neighborhood and the tracks. The bats offer educational opportunities, and local residents are encouraged to install additional bat boxes on their own homes.

H A M I L T O N AV E

LAUREL ST

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

New plaza area Swamp white oaks are planted in with seating the Laurel Street roadways.

HODIAMONT TRACK

Bat Boxes

CROSS SECTIONS North View Swamp White Oak planted in Laurel Street

GRAHAM MCALLISTER

Bat Boxes

East View

BAT ECOLOGY DETAILS Swamp white oak Bat

B I O D I V E R S E B A T WAY

Bats eat their body weight in insects every night and can pollinate over 300 species of fruit.

US Department of the Interior

Insects

FREEWHEELING PLACE To b i e S o u m e k h

Inspired by traditional BMX tracks, this site along the Hodiamont Track is transformed into a kid-friendly bike trail that offers an opportunity for local residents to gather and engage in fun, active recreation. Soil is redistributed to form mounds and valleys creating a whimsical, lively landscape for families to enjoy as an extension to the adjacent Russel Park. Beyond the social assets that this proposal provides, the landscape also works to mitigate pollution from surrounding parking lots. The re-contoured terrain directs water into areas planted with attractive phytoremediation species which absorb and degrade pollutants ensuring a clean environment for the community and allowing a biodiverse ecosystem to thrive.

Map showing water drainage patterns, vacant lots, vacant buildings and parking areas.

The selected site runs between the tracks and Cabanne Ave and is close to three large parking lots. Russel Park is opposite.

Cabanne Ave

Hodiamont Tracks

TOBIE SOUMEKH

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

Russ 37

ell P

ark

CROSS SECTIONS

Planted swales collect water from surrounding parking lots and cleans it.

FREEWHEELING PLACE

The newly formed topography enables opportunities for families to engage with the landscape in multiple ways. The bumpy track provides a space for recreation, while the prairie grasslands allow for moments of relaxation and passive spectatorship.

TOBIE SOUMEKH

DETAILS

C H A N G E OV E R T I M E

FREEWHEELING PLACE

CICADA GROVE Helen Han

The gentle throb of cicada song is an essential element of hot summer nights. Their annual performance not only reminds people of a carefree childhood, but also signals a rich ecosystem. The cycle of cicada emergence is emblematic of the natural cycles of growth and decay. This project proposes a neighborhood hub - an epicenter of cicada habitat and social activities. Located in the heart of the historical West End neighborhood and sited between apartment complexes, parking lots, and a playground, Cicada Grove is both a productive garden, a gathering space, and a place of repose where the song of the cicada transcends all other sound.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

Hodiamon

Goodfellow

Blvd

t Tracks

Cabanne A ve

Russel Park

HELEN HAN

CROSS SECTIONS

Old House Foundations

The Cicada Grove captures the ephemerality of the cicada but also inspires the residents to generate their own sounds. It does so by bringing people together through projects such as the communtiy garden, the cooking demonstrations, performances, and a sunflower field.

Summer Vignette

C I C A DA G ROV E

Winter

Vignette 44

HELEN HAN

GARDEN MANAGEMENT

C I C A DA G ROV E

THE NUTCRACKER M a k i o Ya m a m o t o

A walnut orchard and shaded plaza are introduced into a large vacant lot to create a community resource. The site, strategically located near the B&B Supermarket and a church, is planted with walnut trees intercropped with soybean. These plants serve as the basis for the project. The soybean, a useful food crop, fixes nitrogen into the soil to increase the orchardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s productivity, while the trees provide nuts that can be gathered and sold. Eventually the trees can be milled for lumber. The gridded organization of the orchard is extended into a plaza area through the addition of recycled rail tracks, an homage to the Hodiamont Line. Low movable platforms are placed on the tracks to facilitate the occupation of the space, and infrastructural elements such as water collection units and walnut cracking machines are attached to them, allowing users to interact with the productive and commercial aspects of the site.

M A K I O YA M A M O T O

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

CROSS SECTION

THE NUTCRACKER

Infrastructural platforms lie along the newly installed rails and form a connection between the social space of the plaza and the productive space of the orchard. This relationship allows residents to participate in the process of cultivation and production of walnuts during the harvest season.

Over time, the walnut trees can be milled and sold for lumber and replaced by different species of fruiting tree such as apple or hickory. The space then becomes an educational resource for the West End where people can learn cultivation techniques and apply them to other vacant lots in the neighborhood.

M A K I O YA M A M O T O

NETWORK ANALYSIS

DETAILS

THE NUTCRACKER

Nutcrackers are built into platforms for community use.

Canopy has lights on each corner for night-time use and safety, but also collects rain water and funnels it into underground storage tanks for use in the orchard. The platforms can be used in many ways, from markets to casual gatherings.

M A K I O YA M A M O T O

STUDY THROUGH TIME

THE NUTCRACKER

CRACKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UP Mikaela Gatewood

Where the Hodiamont Tracks Greenway meets Goodfellow Boulevard there is a site with an old, cracked, concrete pad. This is reimagined to become a community gathering space. Oak trees and flowering dogwoods are planted around the perimeter of the pad to define and structure the space, create shade and further loosen the concrete through the action of their roots. Small flowering plants are seeded into the resultant cracks producing a pollinator-friendly groundcover. The new informal square becomes a hub for neighborhood engagement: a shady spot for the community to meet after church; a venue to host bringand-buy sales; a place to rest and chat with neighbors. As the space becomes more active, the low-growing vegetation may be replaced by more formal paving to better serve the increased usage by the community.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

CROSS SECTIONS

MIKAELA GATEWOOD

The initial intervention begins with planting swamp white oaks around the perimeter, and flowering dogwood and flowering vegetation throughout the interior of the space. The cracks of the concrete pad will be used as the natural planting sites for the vegetation. The introduction of vegetation and trees to the site will hopefully transform neighborhood perception of the space, from a broken decaying lot to a community hub.

As the plaza becomes more used by the community, built elements will be added. The second stage places a wooden deck through the middle of the plaza to create a more formal gathering space. The third stage incorporate the tracks into the plaza by replacing the broken concrete with smart new concrete pavers. Seats made from fiberglass and lit from within, provide a variety of resting spaces and appealing nighttime lighting for safety.

GROUND STUDY

CRACKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UP

MIKAELA GATEWOOD

V E G E TAT I O N A N D G RO U N D C OV E R S T U DY

VIGNETTES Daytime

Nightime

CRACKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UP

Glowing seats- lit from inside

L AV E N D E R L A N D Tiffany Zheng

Vacant land adjacent to the Hodiamont Tracks Greenway is activated through the production of lavender to provide economic opportunities for the neighborhood. Lavender can be incorporated into many different high-value products such as aromatherapy oil, soap, and lotions. Both the farming of the lavender itself and the associated expertise of harvesting and processing, provide jobs and skills training. In addition, a small cafeteria in the lavender field will become a gathering space for the local community and provide additional employment. Lavender production is the first crop tested in this proposal, but if successful, may be extended to other vacant sites where alternative flower crops, such as iris, sunflower or chrysanthemum could be trialed.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

Recaliming vacant lots adjacent to the Hodiamont Track through the production of lavender. Lavender would be orientated eastwest to receive the maximum amount of sunlight.

T I F FA N Y Z H E N G

DETAILS

Harvesting and processing

Cafeteria in lavender field

TIME STUDY

L AV E N D E R L A N D

BIRDSCAPE Rebecca Shen

Birds are a charming yet vital component of the biodiversity within the urban realm. This intervention is designed specifically to encourage the purple martin, a bird species that almost exclusively prefers human-made habitats, to nest within the West End neighborhood. The Hodiamont Tracks Greenway is linked to the neighborhood through this birdscape. A metal-grated pathway between the KIPP Victory Academy and Hylton Point senior living home is lined with strikingly designed martin bird-houses creating a strong connection to the greenway. Underneath this pathway is a bioswale that gradually widens into a small wetland pond adjacent to the tracks. Gabion seating along the edge of the greenwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pavement provides opportunities for social interaction, and habitat for insects and plants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; food for the martins. Avian species provide ecological learning and social opportunities for the schoolchildren, the elderly, and the rest of the neighborhood.

REBECCA SHEN

PROPOSAL

VIGNETTES

BIRDSCAPE

A bioswale runs parallel to a metal-grated boardwalk. Smaller paths connect to the adjacent elementary school and senior home. The grated boardwalk allows water and bird droppings to seep through, benefitting the plants underneath and allowing them to grow through the grating.

Martin Houses (birdhouses designed for the purple martin species) are attached to tall poles that line the boardwalk. Together the existing utility poles and the bird house poles create a street-like effect along the boardwalk.

REBECCA SHEN

DETAILS

Martin Houses and Gourd Garden

NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIVITY MAP Map showing other possible species habitats which could act as links between the neighborhood and the tracks.

BIRDSCAPE

REBECCA SHEN

DETAILS

A pond and pickerelweed wetland adjacent to the Hodiamont Greenway is an intense area of habitat, water penetration, and social interactions of birds and humans.

Gourds are grown on trellises around tall â&#x20AC;&#x153;birdhouse treesâ&#x20AC;?, and gabion benches are placed between the wetland habitat and the tracks.

BIRDSCAPE

GARDEN INTERSECTION Kai Smith

The intersection of the new Hodiamont Tracks Greenway with Union Boulevard is redesigned, prioritizing the free and frequent movement of people, on foot and on bikes, along the Greenway. The focus on people is further supported by the addition of benches lining the area near the intersection, offering places to rest and meet neighbors. Supporting all is the introduction of a rich variety of plants. These not only increase the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biodiversity, but are also chosen to maximize the capture of atmospheric carbon, sequestering it in soil and vegetation, in an effort to begin to offset carbon pollution within the neighborhood.

KAI SMITH

PROPOSAL 2

The foot traffic brought in by the greenway may result in the restoration of the bus stop that used to be in front of the currently empty lot on the site. Bus stops with covered shelters are used more heavily than the exposed alternatives.

Planted medians in the center lane on either side of the intersection help create a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pinch pointâ&#x20AC;? that forces cars to pass through more slowly, making it safer to cross the street.

By extending the curb, the distance across the street is reduced. Curb extensions also deter people who might be tempted to park in front of the path opening.

A raised intersection slopes the road up to the height of the adjacent sidewalk. This makes people in the crosswalk more visible to drivers, and forces vehicles to slow down as if it were a speed bump. It also makes crossing the street easier for wheelchair users, cyclist, and people with strollers.

A raised planter protects greenway users from wayward vehicles without interupting the flow/aesthetic of the path itself.

Small planters placed along the path on either side of the intersections facilitate the carbon capture function that all urban greenspaces have the potential to fulfill. Their shape is derived from the form carbon molecules adopt when bound into the soil.

The addition of benches along the greenway allows the area to be used as a gathering place for community members to meet, relax, talk, and simply enjoy being outside.

GARDEN INTERSECTION

KAI SMITH

BUS STOP DETAIL

New bus stop with shelter and raised, safe crossing for the Greenway. New Bioswales collect and clean surface water from the road, and capture atmospheric carbon.

GARDEN INTERSECTION

CONCLUSION Jacqueline Margetts

The purpose of this study was to develop design ideas that can help focus discussion on factors critical to successful community open space. The investigations show that it is possible to achieve quality open space while simultaneously expanding and supporting local biodiversity. The unique outcome of this studio is the identification of 8 microsites and ideas for their individual development. Critical factors in microsite development 1. The strategic location of each microsite is the key to success. Proximity to community assets such as churches, parks, stores, and bus stops, enhances opportunities for strengthening social connections within the community and links between the new greenway and the neighborhood. 2. Careful attention needs to be paid to the existing physical conditions of a site selected for design. Soil conditions, water accumulation patterns, vegetation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the tallest tree to the smallest creeping plant are all important and can offer clues to appropriate design strategies. 3. The history of a microsite is also vital. Most lots which are now vacant once hosted a building. Often the foundations of that structure are sitting, invisible, under the surface, and while out of sight, need to be accounted for in the design process, especially if they are backfilled with building debris tainted with lead. History, however, is also social, and it is important to celebrate the people, places and events which form the heart of this community. 4. Opportunities exist for economic development within these sites. For example, some of the work shows how fruit or nut trees can be incorporated into open space, or how vacant lots can be transformed by flower production. 5. Finally, the work demonstrates that, since everything is interlinked, it is important to attend to the whole system. For example, in order to attract birds to the neighborhood a thorough understanding of their habitat and food requirements is necessary. If a particular bird eats insects then what do those insects require in order to thrive? A recognition of the interconnectedness of living systems is essential for the development of robust, biodiverse systems within the neighborhood.

Rebecca Shen

81 Martine Kushner

Helen Han

Mikaela Gatewood

Michele Chen

Jacqueline Margetts

DESIGN TEAM

Tiffany Zheng

Makio Yamamoto

Tobie Soumekh

Kai Smith

Rebecca Shen

Graham McAllister

Michele Chen

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work showcased in this book was produced by undergraduate architecture students in the landscape option studio, spring semester 2019. This was the students’ first exposure to landscape architecture. The work they produced would not have been possible without the help and support of a small group of special people. I’d particularly like to thank Elizabeth Simons of Great Rivers Greenway and Tonnie Glispie-Smith of Cornerstone Corporation for their enthusiastic embrace of the student involvement from the first moment the studio was mooted. My sincere thanks goes to Gordon Carlson, Angela Newsom & Adrienne Gaines of the West End Community who were generous hosts during our visit to the neighborhood, showing us around and sharing their experience and knowledge. In addition, they gave us valuable feedback during the mid-term and final reviews. GRG Mark Vogl’s thoughtful critique at the mid-term reviews was also greatly appreciated. As always, I’m grateful to Liz Kramer, Associate Director, Office for Socially Engaged Practice in the Sam Fox School, for her consistent support of the studio and her assistance in securing a grant from CityStudioSTL. I’m also indebted to Washington University’s Gephardt Institute for the Course Development Grant, and to Cassie Power for her help with the application process. The publication of this book would not have been possible without the generous support of these two groups. Studio assistant Dongzhe Tao ably guided the students through the rocky shoals of the semester, advising on project development and graphics. Other thanks are due to Igor Marjanovic, Chair of undergraduate architecture, for his recognition of the importance of landscape thinking within the architecture program, and his willingness to embrace landscape’s messy systems. Lastly, a special thanks goes to the students within the studio. Their passion and willingness to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the process was extraordinary. It was a real joy to work with them all. Sincere gratitude goes to Nona Davitaia for her expertise producing the hand-make books and to all the students in the book production team, especially Yin Li who stepped in at the last minute and put her shoulder to the wheel. This book couldn’t have been done without them.

D E S I GN TE A M Junior and senior undergraduate students: landscape architecture studio

STUDIO I NS TR U CTOR / E D I TOR Jacqueline Margetts

BOOK D E S I GN & P R OD U CTI ON Yin Li Rebecca Shen Tiffany Zheng Makio Yamamoto Nona Davitaia

COVE R I MA GE Yin Li

5 800135 452034