Does anybody use this?
Last Thursday Caco, Alex, and I went to Jubilee to talk to the boys in Ty's after school program.
It was canceled, but we got to meet and interact with some of the kids anyway. I met a young boy named Anthony:
Anthony: Do you know Karate?
Me: A little bit.
Anthony: I bet I know more than you!
Me: Yeah, I bet you could beat me up. But, you wouldn't do that right? You look like a nice guy.
Anthony: [Stares away] No, I'm not nice. I get into a lot of fights...
And this disturbed me and it still does. Every time I think about it I feel all distraught inside. Here's a young boy not even 10 and he doesn't think much of himself. When he told me these things, he wouldn't even look me in the eye. He just kept staring away with a sad gaze. His eyes seemed so empty.
I keep thinking about it and I think the deeper we get into this and the more we learn about Jubilee... well, I don't mean to get "Disney" on you, but I think we become more responsible to these people. This is really bigger than all of us.
I've been thinking about it a lot and I ask, "Well what if we don't get something built in the end?" I know that's the goal and I agree and I understand. We want to have something manifested from our time here and the effort that we put into this. Even more, as Architecture students, we want nice portfolios and to go to Grad school and whatnot... I do too!
For me, I'm at a point where it's okay if that doesn't happen though. The deeper I get into this the more this bigger picture of us being able to help the community becomes clearer in my mind. That's all I have to say.
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project...
One street.
3 families.
6 homes.
Long hot days.
Big breakfasts.
Community preservation.
3 families.
6 homes.
Long hot days.
Big breakfasts.
Community preservation.
| Congo Street / East Dallas, TX |
where we're coming from...
The CONGO STREET GREEN INITIATIVE is a project of the buildingcommunity WORKSHOP, a not-for-profit community design center based in Dallas, Texas.
*University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture
*CDM AmeriCorps
*The Real Estate Council
director - brent@bcworkshop.org
constructor - benje@bcworkshop.org
*University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture
*CDM AmeriCorps
*The Real Estate Council
director - brent@bcworkshop.org
constructor - benje@bcworkshop.org
the story so far...
The CONGO STREET GREEN INITIATIVE is an effort to restore and/or reconstruct 6 owner-occupied houses along
This narrow street, with 17 single-family and duplex houses all built before 1910, was often referred to as the “all-colored alley" - a reference as much to its demographic as to its small scale. In 1933 the City of Dallas officially changed its name from Carroll Drive to Congo Street, an overt reference to Africa meant to ‘forewarn’ whites attending the State Fair just a few blocks to the South. Sixty years later, the Street's landlord deeded properties on the North side of the street to long-time residents, and many of those who live there now are the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of former renters, witness to multiple generations of its tight-knit community.
The process of restoring structural integrity to the Street developed out of a desire to preserve the pervasive sense of community and to respect the economic options available to neighbors as both land and homeowners. Each resident has expressed a desire to remain on Congo despite the need to repair their home, and have therefore deferred previous plans that sought to displace them, even temporarily.
The challenge, then, was how to redevelop without relying upon relocation or incurring steep financial burden. In early 2008 the bcWORKSHOP began exploring alternative solutions with Congo residents, and together developed the Initiative's process, kicked off by a residence that families have named the "Holding House". The 38’x56’ lot for the house was donated by Mr. Fred Bowie, a Congo Street resident, and stands as an example of the investment the neighborhood has in this project.
The “Holding House”, at 4537 Congo Street serves as temporary residence for each family during the time it takes to evaluate and renovate or rebuild their home. It has achieved LEED for Homes (Gold), 4529 Congo Street is slated to achieve LEED for Homes (Platinum), and each subsequent home will meet either USGBC REGREEN standards for renovations or LEED for Homes certification for new construction. In addition, utility and street improvements will be developed with specific focus on groundwater and stormwater management.
1 comment:
I think you have a great point Toan. I keep thinking the same way you are, asking myself if we are going to get anything built. But in the end, we will affect people whether it is cleaning up the neighborhood or building something. There is a cause that we have been sent to affect and we will do it in a positive and "dignified" way!
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