Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Street Reclaiming

[S. Kashdan (skashdan]

Jackson Place Cohousing is located in Seattle in the middle of an urban area
that has been generally neglected by the city government for a number of
years because most of the inhabitants are people of color, and immigrants
and refugees, and many are poor. There are a number of vacant lots, which
are overgrown with weeds. Some of these vacant lots have been squatted by
homeless people because Seattle doesn't have enough affordable housing. Also
some criminal types are around, who may or may not be homeless, but are here
to victimize the rest of us, the poor as well as the somewhat better off.

Thanks to the efforts of one of our members, Jackson  Place Cohousing
community has become involved in cleaning up the surrounding area. We are
signed up for a city-sponsored program that provides street cleaning
equipment and materials, such as gloves and brightly colored vests for
warning cars when working in the gutter, as well as things like shovels and
garbage bags.

Every few months many of our members, friends, and  local neighbors get out
and clean our block and the nearby blocks. When we are finished, we place
the collected garbage in large plastic bags on a designated corner, and the
city garbage collection people make a special pick up to take them away.

We are also involved in getting weeds cut and trimmed in the vacant lots.

In addition, we are now beginning a project to beautify a small traffic
island near our community. This means that we will plant one or two trees,
some shrubs and flowers, and take on the responsibility of caring for them.

We believe that all this contributes to a more livable neighborhood for
everyone.

Sylvie Kashdan
skashdan [at] scn.org
Jackson Place Cohousing
800 Hiawatha Place South
Seattle, WA 98144
www.seattlecohousing.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred H Olson" <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 3:05 PM
Subject: [C-L]_Street Reclaiming


David Engwicht's book _Street Reclaiming, Creating Livable Streets and
Vibrant Communities_ is not about cohousing but the aims are similar tho  he
does not write in the context of intentional communities but rather
conventional communities.  "David is regarded as one of the world's most
innovative thinkers in transportation, urban design, and community
development." (book jacket)  His concepts and point of view might be useful
to cohousing communities.  Retrofit cohousing communities might be
particularly interested.  See also his website http://www.lesstraffic.com

A few quotes.
" I defined a city as an invention to maximize exchange opportunities and to
minimize travel.  These exchanges may be of goods, friendship, knowledge,
culture, work, education or emotional and spiritual support."

"Historically, streets were not just for traffic.  They were the epicenter
of community life."

"The introduction of the car produced a double blow to the overall exchange
efficiency of the city. Firstly, it converted the dual function of streets
into a single function: that of movement.  Secondly, movement by car
demanded at least 70 times more road space to move each person than when
people walked. ... Destination (and exchange opportunities) were scattered."

"Imagine your street with 50% less traffic.  Imagine cars acting as guests
in your street.  Imagine your street now transformed into an 'outdoor living
room' with children playing, neighbors chatting, and people dancing."

Fred, who as list manager, wrote this message in part to test cohousing-L
since there have been no messages for several days.  Probably just a lull in
activity but decie to check.

 --
Fred H. Olson  fholson [at] cohousing.org    Minneapolis,MN   55411
(612)588-9532  Amateur radio: WB0YQM          List manager of:
Cohousing-L and Nbhd-tc (Twin Cities Neighborhood issues list)

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l



_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l