Cherokee ComEuniTY HUB

Cherokee ComEuniTY HUB
Open-Space Infrastructure
for an Interactive Plaza
“We need common (s)pace!”
!
Common
space
Novel opportunities to meet and connect with
neighbors and visitors to Cherokee
Common
space
Novel opportunities to meet and connect with
neighbors and visitors to Cherokee
&
Common
pace
Changing the speed we live life -playing more, exploring more . . . . . . .
in ways that are better for our bodies &
the environment
WHY ?
FOR
WHO?
“What attracts people most,
it would appear,
is other people.”
–william h. white
A Case Study for Community Commons:
“The Acknowledge Lot”
SE corner of Cherokee St and Texas Ave
* Cinco de Mayo Interactive Mural 2006
* Dia de los Muertos Vigil 2007
* (Park)ing Day Celebration 2007-8
Cinco de Mayo Temporary Community Mural 2006 Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrenda 2007
Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrenda 2007
Dia de los Muertos Community Vigil 2007
Dia de los Muertos Community Vigil 2007
(Park)ing Day Celebration 2007
(Park)ing Day Celebration 2007
(Park)ing Day Celebration 2007
(Park)ing Day Celebration 2008
(Park)ing Day Celebration 2008
Mucca Pazza at APOP - Spring 2008
Mucca Pazza at APOP - Spring 2008
Mucca Pazza at APOP - Spring 2008
Dia de los Muertos “Must be on Wheels Parade” 2008
What is the Cherokee Community Hub?
Community-based design will transform a strategicallylocated intersection into a plaza atmosphere. This built
environment will include shade structure, seating, and green
space. On-site programming will encourage community
interaction through music, dance, art, and play. By developing a vibrant, energetic gathering place open to
all, the Community Hub will facilitate pedestrian traffic to
local businesses and conversations with neighbors in a safe,
open locale. Visitors will invited to join in!
As accessible opportunities to connect across cultures
increase, mutual respect will grow and preserve the diversity
that is the hallmark of the neighborhood. Move-meant will become the nature of Cherokee.
How do we do it?
> assemble a work team and hold a project-specific design charette
>research, choose, and secure a centrally-located LRA lot
>create and community-approve a design
>innovative, green >historically-informed
>old—meets-new- reclaimed/recycled alongside sustainable/experimental
elements
>commission an artistic element:
“a visual invitation” could be signage, kiosk, mural, ceramic sculpture, >build! integrate community volunteer teams with professionals
with “New Pace” Programming >experiment
> live music sessions
> dance lessons: hiphop, salsa, squaredance
> weekly themed walking tours
What will it cost?
The IW $25,000 Seed Grant would:
secure the lot, implement simple infrastructure and greenspace, and provide for a short event series. With the seed grant in place, we would intend to secure matching funds to allow the project’s
elaboration for ‘state of the art’ design, potentially looking to: >Gateway Foundation, >NEA Fast-track grants for public art >Private donors
to land at a target budget of:
$ 50,000-75,000 which would pay: >Project coordinators >Architectural planning/ Landscape design
>Purchase lot
>Building & plant materials and labor costs
>Commission public art/signage
>Design and print street-long “walking map” >Interactive Programming Series & Publicity >Maintenance
Where will it lead?
Wouldn’t it be nice…
****
To have an interconnected series of community hubs: sites
that take over formerly abandoned lots and transform them
into alive sites for gathering . . . Including flea markets, playgrounds, community gardens, places for thought….
****
To develop a festival series that “links” the various hubs, by
closing down the street between them ****
To collaborate on a permanent, indoor “welcome center” and movement studio that can host continued Community
Hub activity even during inclement weather The twins prepare the ‘hub’ for (Park)ing Day 08.
“Sidewalk contacts are the
small change
from which a city’s
wealth of public life
may grow.”
–jane jacobs