Community Design Workshop
Date: June 25th, 2022
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Tafolla Middle School
Number of Attendees: 36 Attendees
In the Community Design Workshop, Able City discussed what design challenges the design team will solve such as upgrading building amenities, increasing unit sizes, improving accessibility, and responding to the floodplain while preserving the history and culture of Alazan Courts.
After the presentation, attendees collaborated with other attendees in their table. Each attendee filled out a priorities worksheet where they were able to tell us what their top three priorities were, and wrote their own priority statement.
Each table was able to learn about each other's priorities. Here is what we heard from the attendees ....
Top 3 Most Picked Priorities
Key Themes in Priority Statements
44%
of attendees mentioned the "improvement of streetscape” in their priority statements.
"I would like to improve streets and preserve neighborhood because the public housing should benefit long term residents of SA."
"I would like to improve streetscape, additional accessibility, parking, & more homes because it would better serve the community & help improve the environment."
22%
of attendees mentioned "community” in their priority statements.
"I would like to preserve the way the community looks because more accessibility for the disable. Build more for the aging and disabled."
"I would like to know my neighbors because I work in a creative youth development program down the street and want to know all families love their home/neighborhood."
22%
of attendees mentioned "safety” in their priority statements.
"I would like to live safe because I don't want to live in danger."
We then moved on to the design activity where attendees designed two blocks of Alazan Courts between San Luis St. and San Fernando. Attendees were tasked with the challenge of adding 54 new homes to the existing buildings on site. Attendees had to work together with their team to figure out what was the best solution to accommodate for their priorities. We saw all different kinds of ideas from each table!
Attendees worked together with their team to figure out what was the best solution to accommodate for their priorities. We saw all different kinds of ideas from each table!
Here is what we heard from each table:
Table 1
Baseball Field
Alazan Courts
Key Ideas:
-
Adding new to all buildings
-
Green space on floodplain
-
Similar scale and plan of Alazan Courts on baseball field site
-
Interior courtyards
Table 2
Alazan Courts
Baseball Field
Key Ideas:
-
Preserving Existing Buildings
-
New Buildings on Floodplain
-
Similar scale and plan of Alazan Courts on baseball field site
-
Interior courtyards
Table 3
Alazan Courts
Baseball Field
Key Ideas:
-
Preserving existing building
-
Adding some new to existing buildings
-
New buildings on floodplain
-
Similar scale and plan of Alazan Courts on baseball field site
-
Interior courtyards
Table 4
Baseball Field
Alazan Courts
Key Ideas:
-
New buildings in interior courtyards
-
Similar scale and plan of Alazan Courts on baseball field site
-
Interior courtyards
Table 5
Baseball Field
Alazan Courts
Key Ideas:
-
Taller, newer buildings on Brazos St.
-
Preserve as many existing buildings as possible
-
Green space on floodplain
-
Bridge design to have shaded communal spaces underneath
-
Interior courtyards
-
Taller buildings on baseball field
Table 6
Alazan Courts
Key Ideas:
-
Taller buildings on Brazos St.
-
Adding new buildings on interior courtyard (right)
-
Preserving as many existing buildings as possible
-
Equal access to green space for all residents
-
Gated community
Before we wrapped up, each table had a spokesperson that shared their table's big idea that drove their Lego design. Each group had different priorities, while one group prioritized preservation, another group focused on green spaces.
Kids also participated in a design exercise. Each child designed their own park. We saw a variety of fun park designs!
