I wish special thanks to all of the following: C.L. Bohannon for your leadership, guidance, and always being there to point to true north. The Landscape Architecture faculty for your advice, commentary, and ability to bring out the best in your students. Bruce Phipps, Jackson Green, Jodi Henrickson, and the Goodwill Industries family for your patience, generosity, and vision. Mark Powell and the Roanoke Community Garden Association for your coordination, caring, and drive. Arthur Hill, Pete Johnson, Ezekiel Nance, and the many many more who contributed their time, knowledge, and voice to this project. My classmates and studio family: without your ears and support, I’d probably still be blankly staring at a sheet of trace paper. And that wouldn’t be much fun.
Serge 3
Cultivation 1.
The action of cultivating land, or the state of being cultivated
2.
The process of trying to acquire or develop a quality or skill
3.
Refinement and good education
Community 1.
A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
2.
A particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants
3.
A similarity or identity
Introduction 06 Community Engagement 14 The Garden 26 The Urban Guild 34 Conclusions 40
Serge 5
Growing Goodwill :: Cultivating Community is a project about the act of community engagement, the process of being engaged, and how food can strengthen the relationship between people and the landscape. The project addresses the reality of the modern food desert through the practical applications of urban agriculture and investigates how an increased sense of food security can empower a community through local food production. Questions brought to light through this exploration include: What is food justice and how can food access effect it? How does community participation shape the design process? Can a localized food system become a catalyst for growth in a community? The image on the following page shows an mind map that helped form the process and structure of the project. It addresses the initial steps and questions faced at the project outset.
Introduction
Serge 7
On Food Insecurity
Food insecurity is prevalent in areas known as food deserts: a geographic area where affordable and nutritious food is difficult to obtain. By examining automobile access, proximity to grocers, and concentrations of obesity and diabetes, the Deep South and Appalachian regions are revealed as the most severely affected regions. Though agriculture is one of Virginia’s leading economies, regionally sufficient food production becomes difficult due to dynamic topography, limited transportation routes, and generally harsh climate. Roanoke acts as an urban transit and industry hub in Appalachian Virginia. Despite it’s comparative development, over half of the city is food insecure. The majority of the Northwest quadrant of the city is a food desert. This area also has some of the highest concentrations of poverty and minority populations in the city. Convenience stores and groceries are located near major roadways and along the fringes of the city. For people who lack sufficient transportation, finding the time to get fresh food and produce becomes increasingly problematic. Source: Food Environment Atlas, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Analyzing Roanoke, Virginia
Cloverdale
Cloverdale
Hollins
Hollins
BOTETOURT COUNTY
Roanoke Regional Airport
ROANOKE COUNTY
ROANOKE COUNTY
BEDFORD COUNTY
§ ¨
§ ¨
581
Percent African American by Census Block Group
Lansdowne Park
Percent Households Below the Federal Poverty Level by Census Block Group
Melrose Towers
Salem
Lansdowne Park
> 53%
> 50% 41 - 50%
43 - 52% Vinton
0.5
1
2
3
Vinton
33 - 42%
4 Miles
21 - 30%
13 - 22%
11 - 20%
0 - 12%
0 - 10%
COUNTY
COUNTY
Town or Census Designated Place
Town or Census Designated Place
Open Space
[
31 - 40%
23 - 32%
Loudon-Melrose/ Shenandoah West Choice Neighborhoods
Loudon-Melrose/ Shenandoah West Choice Neighborhoods Downtown Roanoke Central Business District Postal Quadrant Boundary
Cave Spring
0
BEDFORD COUNTY
581
Melrose Towers
Salem
BOTETOURT COUNTY
Roanoke Regional Airport
Downtown Roanoke Central Business District Postal Quadrant Boundary
Cave Spring
0
0.5
1
2
3
4 Miles
Railroad
LOUDON/
Open Space
[
Railroad
Source: US Census American Community Survey 2007-2011 5-Year Estimates
Source: US Census American Community Survey 2007-2011 5-Year Estimates
Roanoke 6: African AmericanCONCENTRATION Population FIGURE MINORITY
Roanoke 7: Poverty Rate CONCENTRATION FIGURE POVERTY Poverty Concentration
American Community Survey, illustrating that the majority of
CRIME
this part of the Neighborhood is 19.55 per 1,000, still
the housing stock is aged. (See Figure 5)
Both the perception and the reality of crime are challenges
more thanHollinsthree times the City-wide rate. The property
Cloverdale
BOTETOURT
in the neighborhood. The website NeighborhoodScout.
COUNTY crime rate is 63.49 per 1,000, significantly lower than in
Roanoke Regional Airport
Housing types are almost equally divided between
com collects detailed crime data from both the FBI and
single-family detached homes (49%) and multi-family
local police departments. This website gives the Loudon-
units (51%). Home values are low in comparison to the
Melrose neighborhood its lowest rating--1 (100 is safest).
City of Roanoke and are dropping. The median home
The annual violent crime rate in Loudon-Melrose is 27.05
value in 2013 was $68,400, compared to $126,328
per 1,000 residents, which is moreSalem than four times the
in the city as a whole, and $74,851 in 2009. Owner-
6.09 per 1,000 rate for the City of Roanoke overall. The
occupied sales are infrequent. The majority of sales are
property crime rate in this neighborhood is 118.79 per
to landlords and increase the proportion of renters. The
1,000 versus 47.96 for the City as a whole.
crime, rehabilitate non-violent first-time drug offenders 13 - 22%
median rent in 2013 was $331 compared to $506 for
The Shenandoah West neighborhood receives an 8
0 - 12% and contribute to a transformation within the community.
the City overall. Median rents are low in comparison to
rating from Neighborhood Scout, still an indication of
The Police Department reports that, to date,Townthis initiative or Census
the City of Roanoke because of the high proportion of
significant public safety issues. The violent crime rate in
has resulted in a 35 percent decrease in Loudon-Melrose/ crime in the Shenandoah West
Loudon-Melrose, but still higher than Roanoke as a whole. ROANOKE
COUNTY Because of significant and persistent drug trafficking in BEDFORD COUNTY
the neighborhood, Loudon-Melrose has been one of the recent § ¨targets (along with the adjacent Melrose-Rugby 581
Melrose Towers
Percent African American neighborhood) of the Roanoke Police by Census Department’s Block Group
Lansdowne Park
targeted Drug Market Intervention Program43 -designed to 52%
Vinton 33 - 42% eliminate overt drug markets and the associated violent
23 - 32%
COUNTY
Designated Place
rent-subsidized units in the neighborhood.
entire northwest section of Roanoke. Cave Spring
0
0.5
1
Salem
> 53%
2
3
4 Miles
Choice Neighborhoods Downtown Roanoke Central Business District Postal Quadrant Boundary Open Space
[
23 0
0.5
1
Railroad
Source: US Census American C
Source: US Census American Community Survey 2007-2011 5-Year Estimates
Food Insecurity & Access
Roanoke 6: African AmericanCONCENTRATION Population FIGURE MINORITY
Source: Roanoke City GIS, image created by author
American Community Survey, illustrating that the majority of
CRIME
the housing stock is aged. (See Figure 5)
Serge 9 Both the perception and the reality of crime are
Minority Concentration
Roanoke 7: Poverty FIGURE POV
in the neighborhood. The website Neighbor
Introduction to Block
Since 2007, the Roanoke Community Garden Association has been adamant about providing accessible fresh food to neighborhoods affected by food insecurity. The latest garden is located in the Shenandoah West neighborhood of Northwest Roanoke.
200 ft
Goodwill Industries
Melrose Library
Local Grocer - Food Giant
Horton Park
The Shenandoah West Neighborhood
The Growing Goodwill Garden - View from South
Introduction to Site
The garden was developed in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Valley to provide accessible fresh food to residents. The garden is located at the corner of Salem Turnpike and 24th Street, and is adjacent to Horton Park, an underutilized city park, and the Melrose Library, a community resource center and anchor. The Growing Goodwill Garden was dedicated in the summer of 2014, and currently houses a quarter acre garden area, providing plots for 30 people. The garden is sited in the natural floodplain of the site, and as elevation increases to the west, meets a stand of mature canopy trees.
The Growing Goodwill Garden Site
60 ft
Garden conditions in September 2014.
Serge 11
Identifying the User Group
The primary user group for this site is the Lansdowne Park Community. Lansdowne Park is sited just south of the garden, was built in 1951, is owned by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and is Roanoke’s largest public housing complex. 77% of the population is African American, and 50% live below the poverty line. Food insecurity is a prevalent issue to this community.
Typical Lansdowne Park Residence Upon surveying residents, it was learned that: - 50% own no vehicle, are heavily reliant on public transport
- 55% desire a new grocery store in the neighborhood
- 46% are interested in owning their own homes
- 50% feel there isn’t a sufficient grocer within walking distance
- 53% of residents walk to local businesses, 41% bike
- 60% of residents plan to stay in the neighborhood
- 60% feel that local grocers don’t provide fresh produce
- 59% of residents eat fast food twice a week
- 52% of neighborhood residents utilize social services
- 59% use food stamps for groceries
- 46% report periodic inadequate food supply
- 58% of residents are employed part time
Source: Transformation Plan & Author’s surverys
The Lansdowne Park Community - SIte Plan Source: RRHA
Housing conditions: minimal stoop and barred doors
US H.U.D. Choice Neighborhood Grant Transformation Plan Community partners worked together with residents over the past 2 years to develop a Transformation Plan for the Shenandoah West Neighborhood. This plan was a part of the US Housing Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods Grant program.
Melrose Tower: De-densify - new community garden Horton Park: New construction Goodwill Community Garden Lansdowne Park: New construction
Center Ave: Infill
Loudon-Melrose: Infill & Acquisition-Rehabilitation
Master planning efforts, community development, and site scale concepts were generated. These provided a comprehensive framework to begin the initial design process. The Transformation Plan design intervention is divided into five phases of implementation. The first two phases focused on developing Horton Park and re-developing the portion of Lansdowne Park adjacent to Salem Turnpike.
New Community Park
EPA Brownfields Area N 0
250
500
Because of the proximity and potential impact this development could have on the Growing Goodwill Garden, it was decided that this project would encompass two layers: - A primary site design for the garden that followed the framework established by the Transformation Plan and fulfilled Goodwill Industries and the Roanoke Community Garden Associations mission, values, and goals, and - A master plan that acted as a supplement to Phases 1 and 2 of the Transformation Plan, responding to the proposed conditions and needs while drawing inspiration from the Growing Goodwill Garden
Main takeaways from the report:
1,000
Feet
FIGURE 23: HOUSING TRANSFORMATION PLAN 71
- a need for accessible fresh food, - a desire for homeownership - preffered single family homes, townhomes, and senior cottages - a need for basic community amenities like a local grocer and community center - expanded library services - strategic open space - a community garden with social spaces, greenhouse, and edible forest garden elements
Goodwill Industries and the Roanoke Community Garden Association were interested in further developing the Growing Goodwill Garden. The question that remained was how to develop a community garden that utilized food production as a means to strengthen the relationships between the community and the landscape. Housing Transformation Plan - Phases 1 and 2 Courtesy of RRHA and WRT
200 ft
Conceptual Framework for the Goodwill Garden
Serge 13
Engaging the community in a participatory process was the only option for this project. Three meetings were held over the course of the year: the first to introduce the project and gather initial data, a second to present conceptual designs and get feedback for refinement, and the last to present the finalized design and discuss implementation strategies. In addition, a select design team met every two weeks to clarify and refine the project vision. This team was inspired by Christopher Alexander’s The Oregon Experiment and was composed of eight people including Goodwill officials, RCGA representatives, horticulture and permaculture experts, as well as residents and current gardeners. When needed, specialists were invited to join the meetings to provide their expertise on specific questions that arose. This process created a constant dialogue amongst collaborators that enabled a more holistic understanding of how the Growing Goodwill Garden design would function, and led to a greater knowledge base to draw form from. The initial meeting involved note taking and brainstorming on trace paper. Participants worked at two scales: the master plan and the site scale. These notes were the basis for initial concept developments, and the image on the following page is an example of these notes.
Community Engagement
Serge 15
Engagement & Participation
Introducing the community to the project
By engaging community members and gardeners in a participatory process, we were able to gain insights into desired uses, existing problems and preferences, and how to best focus design efforts. Initial concept designs were generated and presented to the community for feedback and comment. The community was a critical voice in refining these concepts. Preferred programmatic elements, siting, and project vision emerged through a continued engagement and conversation with the community. Surveys, community mapping, and questionaires were used to gather valuable data from the community.
The first meeting began with a community mapping exercise that asked participants to place a blue, green, yellow, and red sticker on an area in the neighborhood they respectively cared about, enjoyed, would change, and worried about. Opportunities, constraints, and areas of value were revealed through this exercise, and it served as the foundation for the initial dialogue that helped to bring shared community identity, vision, and goals to light.
Presenting Concepts
We learned that the community wanted to preserve the natural wooded area between the Growing Goodwill Garden and Horton Park. Horton Park was used as a gathering and recreation area, but was isolated from the neighborhood through the vast open space surrounding it. Establishing connections between the Melrose Library, the Goodwill campus, and the garden was critical. Residents were concerned about the crime and condition of Lansdowne Park, but were optimistic about redevelopment possibilities and strengthening the neighborhood. The Growing Goodwill Garden was seen as a community space to bring people together.
Themes & Vision
Connections To Melrose Library & Goodwill campus To our cultural heritage (history, art, etc.) To the Roanoke local food system Site Health Stormwater quality Erosion Control Soil nutrient
Accessibility
Create a place that is Rooted within the community it serves and acts as a model for future gardens in Roanoke.
To fresh, local produce Parking & pathways ADA & Raised Beds Education Gardening – hands on training Food and health Visibility
Attractiveness Retain interest Relevance within community
Increased safety Getting started – seeing progress
Serge 17
Structure
The foundational structure of the forest garden is a plant guild, which is a set of companion plants that provide essential functions for one another. One may provide shade, another fixes nitrogen, and another acts as a living mulch. The whole becomes stronger than the sum of its parts. This relationship helps to inform a framework for the Shenandoah West Neighborhood. By designing a master plan that is based in Permaculture Ethics, conforms to the Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan, and engages community entities in symbiotic relationships, the Shenandoah West Neighborhood transforms into an Urban Guild. The Growing Goodwill Garden, Melrose Library, and the Goodwill campus become connected through intertwined programs, shared spaces, and a united community.
Upper Canopy
Lower Canopy Climbing & Vining
Shrub Ground Cover Herbaceous
Underground & Roots
Goals and Objectives
Seperate sets of goals and objectives were developed for the Growing Goodwill Garden and the Shenandoah West neighborhood. These were developed through conversations with the community, and were meant to keep the project vision in line.
Growing Goodwill Garden
Shenandoah West
To design based on Permaculture Principles
To facilitate the transformation of the Shenandoah West neighborhood into an engaged community.
-by planting native plants and heirloom varieties -by educating growers on proper garden technique and practice -by creating spaces for congregation and celebration within the garden -by creating pathways that enhance circulation and connection with the neighborhood -by expanding slowly and steadily to communicate a sense of continued growth -by using environmentally conscious practices to regenerate site systems
-by building lasting relationships and partnerships between Lansdowne Park, Goodwill, and the Melrose Library -by providing a network of critical public spaces that increase connection, walkability and recreation -by diversifying residential development to accommodate various housing types, income levels, and family backgrounds -by forming a village center that responds to the basic needs of the community
To establish Shenandoah West as an up and coming local food hub for the city of Roanoke -by creating a major local food production area to enhance accessibility and aim induce surplus production -by integrating food production space within institutional and residential areas -by establishing a market where surplus fresh produce can be exchanged -by providing knowledge and educational opportunities about regional and local agriculture
Serge 19
Lens
The design for the Growing Goodwill Garden is based on Permaculture Ethics. They are Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. These ethics examine the interconnectedness, and inherent value found within Environment, Community, and Society. The concept designs for the Growing Goodwill Garden drew heavily from this layered relationship. In order to design a compatible master plan, the Shenandoah West neighborhood was examined through this lens as well. The Permaculture diagram was adopted to develop a working concept.
Earth Care Earth Care: All life forms have their own intrinsic value, and need to be respected for the functions that they perform. By reducing our consumption of stuff, we reduce our impact on the environment.
People Care: Begins with ourselves and expands to include our families and wider communities. The challenge is to grow through self-reliance and personal responsibility. We can work with others to bring about the best outcomes for all involved.
Fair Share: Taking what we need and sharing what we don’t. We need to focus on what is appropriate for us to do, rather than what others should do. By finding the right balance in our own lives we provide positive examples for others, so that they can find their own balance.
Fair Share
People Care
Permaculture Ethics
Concept Diagram
Landscape
City
The existing condition of the Shenandoah West neighborhood is separated. There is a large Community presence surrounding the site and City elements to support this community, but they are inaccessible due to the vast under utilized open space Community
Growing Goodwill Garden
Melrose Library & Horton Park
Lansdowne Park
Nestlebrook Forest Garden
Melrose Prosperity Center
Lansdowne Hills
A dialogue between the community, city, and landscape entities begins as they begin to be connected through a pedestrian open space network and traditional street grid network. The Growing Goodwill Garden, Melrose Library, and Lansdowne Park become intertwined and feed off of one another.
The result is a set of community anchors that are engaged in symbiotic relationship and serve the essential functions for the Shenandoah West neighborhood. These places represent an Urban Guild.
Serge 21
Community Voice & Garden Concepts
What do you see this garden bringing to your community?
Residents saw the Growing Goodwill Garden as a multi-use space. They wanted to make a space for learning and community building that would be valued by the entire neighborhood. By providing fresh food, this garden could symbolize community resiliency to food insecurity.
How would you use this garden in your everyday life?
This question identified that the residents envision this garden as a true community space. Words such as “participate, support, offer, connect” suggest the desire to use this garden to build stronger ties within the community, bring people together, and work towards the common good.
What features would you like to see in the garden?
Programmatic elements and themes were identified by participants through this response. Retaining a connection with nature and native wildlife was an important element to consider through the garden design. Several responses included words such as “accessibility, paths, flow” so it was clear that the garden would need ample circulation and connections to its surroundings.
Concept A focuses on a central communtiy shelter surrounded by garden plots. Two paths guide gardeners through the layered forest garden and lead to gathering space and a greenhouse. Communtiy lawn space and a children’s garden are placed in the rear of the site, which communicates a sense of ownership for the gardeners. The greenhouse and existing Cistern House on site remain highly visible from Salem Turnpile.
Serge 23
Concept B creates a direct connection between the street corner and the gathering space uphill. This promenade-esque walkway is the edge that defines the community garden and forest garden, and becomes the social space that binds the two. The garden remains in the floodplain, and the shelter is sited closer to the street corner, welcoming visitors and gardeners alike.
Concept C treats the community garden and forest garden as a single element, binding them with a series of curved mulch paths. Shelter, lawn, and storage are sited in the back of the garden. The forest garden mimics the existing canopy in form to create dialogue between the two and to establish views to the Cistern House gathering area and greenhouse. Raised ADA beds are present, but seperate from the garden; residents wanted the two to be more connected.
Serge 25
A finalized design was drawn together from the community participation process. Though this process was more focused on developing a design for the Growing Goodwill Garden, it equally effected the master plan for Shenandoah West. The garden and neighborhood were developed in tandem: cycling back and forth between scales became a natural part of the design process. Each decision informed the alternate scale, and the two designs grew stronger together. The following page shows an image of a working drawing for the Growing Goodwill Garden. Basic design moves were plotted on basemaps and changes were sketched out on trace layers. This method enabled constant refinement of the garden design.
The Garden
Serge 27
will Community Garden The Growing Goodwill Garden Goodwill Industries
H
A
D
I
C E B
24th S treet
Existing Canopy
F
G
Salem Turnpike N 16
0
16
32
The community garden retains a strong presence on the street corner, increasing access and visibility. A shelter is central to the design, providing gathering and resting space for gardeners. An edible forest garden flows uphill with the existing topography, further aiding its visual presence and providing room for exploration and education. Community lawns and open space connect various areas of the garden and provide space for relaxation and recreation.
A. Greenhouse
- 32’ x 48’ polycarbonate structure - 900 s.f. patio with mobile raised beds or workstations - Rain barrels attached to structure - Vehicle access for deliveries - Direct connection to historic stairs and sidewalk
B. Nestlebrook Lawn
- Apx. 3,200 s.f. of open space - Frames Cistern House - Enclosed by orchard
D. Community Lawn
- Apx. 3,200 s.f. of open space - Connections to forest garden and stream bank - Vehicular access for shelter and garden
E. Garden Shelter
- 24’ x 24’ structure with storage sheds and central chimney - Adjacent to 1,000 s.f. children’s garden - Opens to six 4’ x 8’ raised beds - ADA accessible from sidewalk - Rain barrels attached to structure
C. Nestlebrook Forest Garden
F. Community Garden
- Apx. 16,500 s.f. - Pear, Cherry, Persimmon, Apple, and Hazelnut guilds - Three swales cut along hillside - Permaculture multi-cropping
G. Bus Stop
- Trellis structure and benches increase appeal - Draws visitors into the forest garden
H. Parking Area
- Four parking spaces - Four handicap spaces - Access garden via sidewalk
I. Pocket Park
- Apx. 2,500 s.f. of open space - Demonstration garden and swale construction - Stream bank revitalization
- Apx. 7,200 s.f. - Visible from Salem turnpike - Bound with 42” wooden fence and pollinator plant strip - Thirty-six 30’ x 3’ garden plots - Accessible water and central seating area Serge 29
Shelter and Children’s Garden
A community shelter serves as a focal point. It is flanked by open lawn, raised plots, community garden, and children’s garden. The shelter provides a place to produce, prepare, and enjoy food amongst gardeners and community
The Nestlebrook Lawn
As the forest garden reaches the hilltop, the canopy opens up to reveal the Nestlebrook community lawn. This place is for gathering, recreation, celebration, and provides views through the forest, into the garden, and into the Lansdowne Park neighborhood. Just beyond the lawn is the Goodwill Greenhouse, which hosts edication classes and grows produce year round.
Serge 31
The Nestlebrook Forest Garden
What’s growing in Nestlebrook:
Asian Pear
Chinquapin
Cherry
Persimmon
Dwarf Apple
Dwarf Cherry
Euro. Pear
Hazelnut
Blackberry
Blueberry
Chokeberry
Strawberry
Elderberry
Raspberry
The Nestlebrook Forest Garden is Roanoke’s first experiment in urban permaculture design and agroforestry. A forest garden is a low-maintenance food production system which mimics a woodland ecosystem. Typical trees, shrubs, perennials, and ground covers are substituted for edible counterparts. Swales cut into the hillside slow and capture rainwater, and minimize the need for additional irrigation. The forest garden recreates habitat for native wildlife while providing food for human and fauna use.
Jostaberry
Red Currant
Cranberry
Oregano
Comfrey
Lemon Balm
Wild Ginger Serge 33
The forest garden became the element that connected the Growing Goodwill Garden to Shenandoah West. As the forest garden matures and grows, it can spread through the neighborhood becoming a living example of a Permaculture community. This urban orchard would provide for the community, revitalize the environment, and strengthen the societal ties within the neighborhood, thus symbolizing the transformation of Shenandoah West in an Urban Guild. The following sketch shows a preliminary concept for how this urban orchard could connect various elements throughout the neighborhood.
The Urban Guild
Serge 35
Master Plan The master plan for the Engaged Shenandoah West neighborhood provides a mixed-income community of single family homes, townhomes, and duplex cottages. Essential community needs are addressed through a village center on the corner, housing a co-op grocery and the Melrose prosperity center which provides library resources, community kitchen space, and educational and event spaces. Horton Park retains its presence in the community, providing open space, recreation, gathering, and connections to the Growing Goodwill Garden and residences.
A. Lansdowne Hills
D. Melrose Prosperity Center
- Mixed Income Housing Community - 10 single family homes - 20 town homes - 24 duplex cottages - Adequate street parking - Connections to adjacent neighborhoods
- Youth and Senior Lounges - Community kitchen - Central atrium & rooftop reading garden - Classroom space, resource center, & library - Outdoor basketball court & cookout plaza - Access from bus stop
B. Community Park
E. Urban Orchard
- Garden space for residents - Playground area - Fitness trail along sidewalk - Picnic tables adjacent to Prosperity Center
- 1.10 acres - Connective gesture for community - Fruit and Nut trees, open harvest - In line with Roanoke Urban Agriculture Initiative
C. Melrose Natural Foods Co-Op
F. Horton Park
- Accommodates local and regional growers - Potential for Cafe or Grab & Go meals - Accessible fresh, local food - Seed sharing distribution center - 40 parking spaces
Lansdowne Hills
G. Goodwill Industries of the Valley
- Direct connections to site and community - Beautification and improved parking lot - Display orchard as gateway to site - Entrance Allee softens facade
H. Growing Goodwill Garden
- 2 acre production area - Permaculture multi-cropping system - Structured by swales and guilds - Recreates habitat & healthy ecosystem - Reconnects community with food source
- Half acre open space area - Surrounded by urban orchard - Connects areas and elements of site - Access from bus stop
The Melrose Prosperity Center & Horton Park
The Nestlebrook Forest Garden & Growing Goodwill Community Garden
el M e
s ro e nu
e Av t. -R 0
46
A
B
24th S
treet
G
E
C
D
F H
Salem Turnpike
100 ft Serge 37
Engaged
The Melrose Prosperity Center becomes the heart of this neighborhood, representing the Urban Guild and joining city, community, and landscape.
The Urban Orchard becomes the over-arching element that flows between and connects the revitalized Shenandoah West neighborhood, and leads to a stronger, engaged community.
The Engaged Shenandoah West
Serge 39
Conclusions
I learned a vast number of things throughout the course of this project. Some of the main takeaways were: The value and power of community engagement: By involving residents and community members in the project, I was able to utilize their local knowledge of the site, neighborhood, and history to create a more informed design. The constant dialogue with the community enabled me to find out what the garden should be, as well as how and why it would be used. I believe the main focus of a designer should be to help others realize the vision they have for a project, and engagement allowed me to do that. The ability to shift roles when needed: As the landscape architect and primary design leader, there were times when I had to act as a manager, facilitator, expert, and others when it was more suitable to be a listener, scribe, or drawer. Engagement happens when a designer shifts back and forth between being a leader to being led. How urban agriculture can be a transformative element for a community: The Growing Goodwill Garden provided Shenandoah West with a place to grow local produce. It now acts as a social gathering space, and once the Nestlebrook Forest Garden begins to mature, will provide even more for the neighborhood. Several residents have stated interest in bringing their excess produce to the local farmers market to supplement their incomes. Urban agriculture can beautify an area, has economic incentives, and can create places for community building.
Serge 41