After the ramp + lot meeting, Lindsey and I decided that we needed to map out the imagined lines and spaces of what the lot could be in its physical, future space. So today, armed with some string, a hammer, and some found sticks, we did. Some images follow, and hopefully it will still all be up tomorrow for us to all see.
There are several things that we learned while on the lot for just a few hours today:
1.) The lot is, after all, not that big. Also, there is alot of concrete in and just below the dirt.
2.) There are actually a whole bunch of big grape vines all throughout the property line of the lot/601 tully, and 601 tully and the next door neighbor... wrapped all through the chain link fence. We don't know if they are edible, but Lindsey is on the case. If they are, this could be very interesting. Group Grape? We used the trimmed grape vines as our "sticks."
3.) There is a very very noisy dog one house down that barked the entire few hours we were out there. This, in my opinion, is reason enough to put up a wall.
4.) According to Jessica, a kid who lives around the corner (and who's father owns the loud dog) people cut through the lot all the time. Something else to think about, especially as far as reclaiming the lot for what we want (and not just a short cut), and controlling the space. another reason for a wall?
5.) Light. According to Raul, another neighbor we met, brightness in the neighborhood is important. He complemented our efforts to bring brightness into the lives of kids in the West Side. This comes in many forms, but also simple forms like street lights (which there aren't many-- if any), to ward of darker activities with which this site, street, and neighborhood are fraught. A victim of violent crime himself, Raul's words and story only added to the gravity and importance of bringing light, in all forms, to this project.
images from our psycho/spatial exercise:
beautiful work
ReplyDelete