Le Corbusier Group 4
Group 4 (David Gurley, Katie Degroot, and Joshua Fish) decided to remake it's area without really destroying anything. Taking into consideration, the immigrant population and the assumption that the area will steadily become more residential, we thought, since section 4 is located in the middle of the area, it would be ideal focal point for the community. We mostly focused on children and young adults as there is a giant Warhouse on most of the property in section 4 and we came up with the idea of utilizing that as a community center It is big enough to house a gym along with many other creative outlets for kids. Computers could be brought in. An art area could be set up in a corner and actually, it is tall enough to add a second floor in the middle. Also, a graffiti wall that people could add to at will would be a nice addition. It would provide an acceptable forum for kids or adults to add to the neighborhood as well as provide people that used it with a sense of ownership over their neighborhood.
Also, there is an open plot of land that is not being used in between two buildings. It would be perfect for a garden. For that matter, I think the roofs of the buildings would be perfect for gardens too, providing cheap locally grown food to the community. But at the very least, they should be sustainable so the runoff doesn't pollute the city and the river, as we talked about in our group meeting.
The strip club, I don't really have a problem with, other than the fact that it is completely useless to the community and it would be located right next to our community center. So, my best thought, in conjunction with the community center is that it could be turned into low income housing, providing a stable environment for those families that are at a disadvantage.
Lastly, the abandoned weight station should be completely revamped. It is nothing but a cement slab that is not being utilized. We had first thought of turning it into a skate park and planting trees around its perimeter to block it off from the heavy traffic that surrounds it. But the more I think of it, and since the area is in desperate need of a grocery store, a grocery store would be perfect in conjunction with the other aspects of our area, letting people living there have easy access to food.
This experience relates back to our discussion on Jane Adams and her unique take on activism. She took on a social change in her community, just as we were asked to envision in this part of Grand Rapids. It made me think of how important space is to societal organization and what it would do for people if space were organized around the needs of the community. Not only is it creative to think about the use of space in that way but it also promotes creativity in the community by providing a conducive environment of conditions that allow people to live without constantly worrying about survival.
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