CONGO STREET GREEN INITIATIVE: 2008.09

9.29.2008

moving day approaches...

Frankie and her daughter Erika will be the first family to move into the Holding House this Thursday, October 2!

Way back when this started, the decision about who moves in first, second, third went solely into the residents' court. There are 5 families (some with 8 members, some with 2) and 5 houses (some in need of renovation, some in need of ground up new construction) leaving loads of details to consider. Those details and discussions with residents led us to believe that the family of 8 would go first, but things have shaken out in a way we feel will enable each family to get the best quality design and construction: with a crew of 6 and funding set to come in the new year, it is better to take on a renovation project than a new construction project.

Kenneth, Embrike and Michael are here!

We're 'Lucky' to have an incredible AmeriCorps office here in Dallas that always comes through so we can keep folks paid for the wonderful work they do.

Case-in-point: early last week Benje, Jevon and Steve were joined by Kenneth, Embrike and Michael Lucky - cousins who are helping to finish out the Holding House and will move on with the crew to renovate Franke's house. They'll post over the next few weeks, so check back in for the introductions!

9.19.2008

2008 AIA Dallas Design Awards

To all who swung a hammer, drew lines, cooked eggs, taped and bedded, blasted music, hauled lumber, poured concrete, bent re-bar, sat to visit...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Last evening, Thursday, September 18th, the Holding House / CONGO STREET INITIATIVE was honored with not one, but two awards at the 2008 AIA Dallas Design Awards celebration. The Holding House received both the Sustainability Award (.pdf) and the Community Design Award (.pdf). (Check out this video clip - Thanks, Curtis! - and mention in the Dallas Morning News)

Each and every one of you should be incredibly proud of your role in the project and the evolving process of the INITIATIVE - "your input is vital".

the story so far...

The CONGO STREET GREEN INITIATIVE is an effort to restore and/or reconstruct 6 owner-occupied houses along Congo Street in the East Dallas/Fair Park neighborhood of Jubilee Park.

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.

It has been an incredible process so far - please keep visiting to see how it evolves!!

CONGO STREET GREEN INITIATIVE

9.29.2008

moving day approaches...

Kenneth, Embrike and Michael are here!

9.19.2008

2008 AIA Dallas Design Awards

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