Broadway-Fillmore Studio

In this interdisciplinary studio of architects and planners, the class and I collaborated with many community members and neighborhood developers such as Stephen Karnath, the Executive Director of the Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services. Engaging with the community was an integral part of this studio. We had many site visits to analyze existing neighborhood conditions and many opportunities to meet with local residents to ask questions.

Residents argued that the neighborhood was once a busy and vibrant area. Despite this, the population has faced many hardships that come with living in a neighborhood stricken with discriminatory policy, demolition, and disinvestment. Local stakeholders and residents still show perseverance and a strong desire to make the neighborhood better than it once was, which is very admirable.

Quote from a Resident: "This is not a "hood". This is our "neighborhood"."

The planning process was divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 was to survey, map, read, and listen. Phase 2 was to develop a vision. Phase 3 was to develop a design.

In Phase 1, I worked with three other students to analyze public spaces. This included: existing/potential green infrastructure, road/transit structures, street typology, regional interconnections, city connections, land ownership, vacancy, community trust levels, activity, and sidewalk conditions.

In Phase 2, groups were switched, but information gathered in Phase 1 was synthesized. Phase 2 involved identifying challenges and assets that would lead to developing planning goals and a vision.

In Phase 3, groups selected a single block to redesign. Architects focused on redesigning housing on plots of land while planners mostly focused on redesigning the streetscape. A cost analysis was also conducted to estimate total costs.

See pages 86-110, 132, 136-164 to see my contributions to the project!