Living City Block

Community Garden at Dunbar Towers

By mespie, on July 14th, 2011

Rendering by dc greenworks

On July 23, Living City DC 14th & U launches a project on the grounds of the Dunbar Towers Apartments to create a community garden. The community garden will sit on what has been an underused shuffleboard site. The gardens will create a welcoming space for residents and the community to meet and will give the Dunbar Towers Apartments access to fresh flowers and hopefully even produce. To do this, Living City DC has partnered with dc greenworks, the One City Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), Jair Lynch Developers, and Paul Laurence Dunbar Resident’s Association.

dc greenworks is a non-profit organization that works to grow livable, sustainable communities here in the District. They have partnered with LCDC 14th & U and designed the gardens for the Dunbar Towers Apartments, which will be contained in raised planters to allow residents to grow and maintain the gardens while sitting, rather than bending down. dc greenworks is also a leading DC resource for green roofs and rain gardens, which serve to reduce hard surfaces around homes and other buildings.

LCDC 14th & U will also rely on youth from the SYEP. SYEP is open to young adults ages 14-21 every year, and provides temporary summer employment. SYEP offers youth a chance to earn money, gain skills, and expand interest in new careers. LCDC 14th & U has arranged for 12 youth directly from the from the community to assist with developing and maintaining the community garden at the Dunbar Towers Apartments for between now and August, where they will help with building and planting in the raised boxes. The SYEP programs is managed by Deborah Thomas, the LCDC 14th & U Director of Community Outreach and an ANC 1B Commissioner.

This community garden serves many purposes concurrently. At face value, as a garden, it is a convenient source of interaction with nature and plants for the seniors living in the buildings, as well as a source of fresh produce for residents of the Dunbar Towers Apartments. It also allows for young people in the community to build something of value within their own neighborhood, and bring people from parts of the LCDC 14th & U larger community into contact with the residents of The Dunbar Apartment.

In order to make this project a success, we need your input! Here is how to get involved:

Installing the Community Garden

Saturday July 23, 2011 at 10 AM

At Dunbar Towers

2001 15th St NW Washington, DC 20009

To sign up to volunteer with the community gardens, go to the Join Us – DC page on our website, http://www.livingcityblock.org/!

Thanks to dc greenworks, Jair Lynch Developers, and Paul Laurence Dunbar Resident’s Association for cosponsoring this community garden with Living City DC 14th & U!

To learn more about Living City DC, dc greenworks, or other programs in this blog, check out these websites!
Living City DC

dc greenworks

One City Summer Youth Employment Program

Jair Lynch Development partners

Designing Parklets Around Public Transportation Systems

By vvele, on July 14th, 2011

Since New York has been branded by insane taxi drivers, cross town buses, and a subway system that is constantly under construction, is it such a far fetched idea to think about designing NYC around its transportation systems? In particular public spaces and parks pose an interesting idea for a city that is connected by bridges, tunnels, and expressways. What if green spaces were created around the necessary forms of transportation that are already in place?

Gowanus, Brooklyn is just a stone’s throw away from the skyscraper-ridden mecca of Manhattan. Most who have passed by Gowanus on their way to Manhattan have probably been driving above on the Gowanus Expressway that connects to the Holland Tunnel. Under the Gowanus Expressway is where Living City Brooklyn Gowanus is located, right a long Court Street.

Residents and those who work in the area are definitely connected to the public transit system via buses and the F,G subway lines (as almost all New Yorkers are) as well as the Gowanus Expressway. This got me thinking, “Why not redesign old infrastructure with a new purpose in mind?” Watching the American Society of Landscape Architect’s video on designing public space along with Grist Reporter, Sarah Goodyear’s article on transforming infrastructure in cities, I was able to start envisioning what Gowanus could look like in the future.

Infrastructure for All from ASLA on Vimeo.

ASLA suggested we create parklets instead of large-scale green space investments. What are parklets you say? Parkets are small and sometimes removable forms of public space. They are simple and ultimately help to revitalize the surrounding area and provide a way for a neighborhood to interact. Parklets in San Francisco, New York, and other cities have started to transform underused space into a more functional and aesthetically pleasing areas that are either permanent or movable. A lot of these parklets are made of recycled material and pair together seating, greenery, and bicycle storage. Parklets are all about resourcefulness and transformation of useless space to useful space.

By combining these two ideas of parklets and transportation I feel that there are many spaces around Gowanus that could prosper. Under the Gowanus Expressway? Outside the new Smith and 9^th Street Station? These are all areas that could be transformed based on their necessity and proximity to public transportation.

To find out what vacant or unused areas are around Gowanus look no further than our office window where there is a 596-acre map that show all vacant lots around Brooklyn. From what this map shows, unused lots are scarce, which means that public space that takes up only minimal space will be the most efficient. Gowanus, let’s think big by thinking small!

Are You in the Know?

By QPregliasco, on July 13th, 2011

You are reading this because you have an interest in the 14^th and U area. Perhaps you have lived here all your life, or maybe only the last few years. Maybe you don’t live in the area but have some other reason to want this historically vibrant neighborhood returned to its former glory. LCDC 14^th & U is working to help make that happen. The question is, how can you stay up to date on ways to volunteer, or keep abreast of all of the work going on in the area?

There are a number of ways to be involved:

Fill out the form on our website to let us know how you want to volunteer your time and expertise. You can choose from many options: join our mailing list, volunteer, suggest ideas, become a partner, or assist with financing. You can find the form here.
Like us on Facebook to contribute ideas and spread the word about the work we’re doing at LCDC 14^th & U.
Follow us on twitter to stay up to date on events around the block.
Read our biweekly blog posts to learn about the many ways LCDC 14^th & U is involved in the neighborhood here .

If you would like to stay abreast of the progress in the various Living City Block projects be sure to check out: (these would all be hyper links)

● Living City Block’s Website

● Living City Block’s Facebook

● Living City Block’s Twitter

● Living City Brookly Gowanus Website

● Living City Brookly Gowanus Facebook

● Living City Brookly Gowanus Twitter

● Living City Denver LoDo’s Website

A Brief History of 14th & U

By QPregliasco, on July 7th, 2011

Dianna Ross

Living City D.C. 14th & U comprises two blocks made up of new development, older affordable housing structures, a large District of Columbia municipal government building, a dozen restaurants and night clubs, and a historic but diminished African American middle class neighborhood. The project footprint includes the areas between 13th and 15th streets and U and V.
According to Washington’s U Street: A Biography by Blair Ruble, U Street was once one of the richest African American communities in the country. In the early to mid 1900s, U Street was second in African American cultural renaissance only to Harlem. U Street’s history is filled with American greats such as Clara Barton, Duke Ellington, Dianna Ross, Langston Hughes, and Thurgood Marshall.

Thurgood Marshall

Langston Hughes

After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., riots burned down a great deal of the local businesses. The area was then in steady decline through the 1980s. According to Ruble, “Between 1984 and 1989, the proportion of arrested adults testing positive for cocaine increased by 43% […] A cocaine kingpin, Rayful Edmond III, ran the city’s most notorious gang of the era nearby.”

In the last decade, U Street has seen a true economic resurgence. Retailers are coming back to the community and it has an active hospitality sector. As U Street returns to its former glory, it is imperative that we remember its past. Living City D.C. 14th & U: once sustainable, sustainable again.

New Interns. New Office. Welcome to the Neighborhood LCB!

By vvele, on July 7th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Quality Intern

As some of us start our second month at Living City Brooklyn Gowanus it seems that the office has tripled in size. Yes, all the boxes and giant notepads have been moved out so indeed it does look more spacious, but since the workshop two weeks ago we have welcomed five new interns. Run by our fearless leaders, David and Vanessa, we “old-timers” (Katie, Ben, and I) are thrilled to see some new faces in the office every day. We just hope that this gender divide doesn’t make Ben and David feel too uncomfortable.

One intern isn’t technically new, she is returning to us from Nicaragua; Anna was recently teaching English in South America for a month in an elementary school. She is excited to be back, continuing her research on energy issues for LCBG. Eliza and Barbara just started their summer internships at the beginning of the workshop and were immediately thrown into responsibilities and tasks to create a smoothly run community event. Since then Eliza has joined forces with Alexia to spearhead our urban agriculture research and work. The final member of our team, Kristin, just arrived today from Vienna where she was studying abroad. Before traveling back to Europe in August, she’ll be researching water quality issues with Katie and myself. That’s our team!

Before- Mid Painting and Renovations

After: David, Eliza, and Alexia working against our newly painted green wall

Anna, Vanessa, Katie, and Ben work around the conference table

Dedicated to getting to know the interns we posed the question:

Interns, what is your favorite part of Brooklyn?

“I love the small-scale architecture. It’s gives off a more intimate neighborhood feeling.”

- Eliza

“The tree-lined streets promote a walkable neighborhood for so many families here in Carroll Gardens. It seems like every other person here or in Park Slope is a baby or a pregnant woman.”

- Alexia

“I appreciate how each neighborhood has its’ own distinct personality.”

- Anna

“I like the multicultural diversity in Brooklyn. It’s a really interesting place to work.”

- Kristin

“Of course I would have to say the bike culture is my favorite aspect of Brooklyn.”

- Katie

“I love the main street-like feeling that Court Street gives off at night in the summer. There is such a sense of community.”

- Victoria

“My favorite part is the young people that live in downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Dumbo.”

- Ben

How We Work

By mespie, on July 6th, 2011

Living City Block commits to communities for the long term. Each “block” is a 6-10 year project, and we are planning to be in DC a long time! Living City DC 14th & U has a wide range of goals for the coming years, which are built on community involvement, experts in the field, and enthusiastic interns.

From the December kick-off workshop, three key focuses emerged: hospitality, because of the vibrant restaurant scene; a community narrative, because of the rich history of the area; and a Core Work Group to help Living City DC 14th & U with goals, strategies and challenges. To assist, Living City DC (LCDC) works with a team of interns from several universities around the city, all collaborating to help move the project forward.

The Core Work Group brings together members of the community from various backgrounds, restaurants, nonprofits, and people involved in local governance. This group brainstorms ideas and methods for Living City DC 14th & U. They talk about goals, strategies and challenges, and help us to move forward. Our goals is that this group will be come a resource for both LCDC and each of the member organizations.

The hospitality industry formed a work group that was already functioning before LCDC began. Several restaurants in the block recently launched a joint waste management program, which will include single-stream recycling and composting. The solar powered compactors will be installed any day now, and when they are, the member restaurants will have one location where they dispose of waste, recycling, and compost, clearing up the alley and reducing waste pickup from 15 trips a week to one every other week.

The Community Narrative Work Group will develop the story of 14th & U. The community’s history was an important topic at LCDC’s workshop in December 2010. During the workshop, community members explained that at one time this community was self supporting. The goal of the Community Narrative Work Group will be to define where 14th & U has been, and where the community would like to see it go. This is a great way to become involved in Living City DC! Be sure to let us know if you are interested in being a member of this work group.

As Living City DC enters the summer, we have several intern teams drawn from universities around the city. The community outreach team has three interns from UDC and American University. They are helping with community gardening and composting this summer. Other students from American University are working on green roofs and social media, while urban planning interns from Virginia Tech are finding ways to feature more urban art and improve public spaces. A GW Law intern gets the unique challenge of working on regulatory mapping to find good ways to implement community goals within the legal framework of the city, and soon interns from Howard University will join us to help on architectural goals for the block. These interns, together with the Core Workgroup, will be working throughout the summer to make 14th & U a more sustainable and more connected community. Follow our blog to learn more about Living City DC and to find ways to participate!

To Bike or Not to Bike…Is That Really the Question?

By vvele, on July 5th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Intern

The history of New York as a cycling city extends back to 1884 when the first bicycling path in the country was developed: the Ocean Parkway bike path in Brooklyn, which begins near the southeast corner of Prospect Park and ends in Coney Island. In the 20^th century, however, parkway and bridge construction increased while the construction/use of bicycle lanes decreased. The truth of the matter was that automobiles were becoming a more popular option due to their affordability and timely convenience. Transportation was completely reinvented at this time and it can be assumed that since new transportation projects on highways and bridges did not allow for cyclists that their popularity dwindled in New York. However, there is still a strong cycling community today including commuters, delivery services, and messengers. New York, it turns out, has always been a bike town (Coyle 2010).

Although, paltry in numbers compared to other cities those who bike in New York are very strongly opinionated when it comes to advocating change in transportation laws, regulations, and a more integrated transportation system. It is this vocal group that is passionate about changing the way one can conveniently and efficiently travel through New York. Here is an example of what some envision as a safe and reliable design in a densely populated and built city such as New York. This improvement project on Allen and Pike Streets as presented by the National Association of City Transportation Officials shows just how New York can change in order to promote more cyclists.

Taken from NACTO.org

New York needs to work on not only includes having more reliable biking lanes, but also creating a more inclusive cycling community. Cycling should attract all different age groups and experience levels as well as a more respectful dynamic between automobiles and cyclists. The notion that there is tension between cyclists and drivers is a battle that has been aggravated due to less then consistent bike lanes. Streets are dominated by cars and parking and bikers can be seen as an independent group that refuses to conform to the most popular form of transportation. Is it then possible to change driver’s mindsets by changing the transportation plan and design of a city? Drivers react to their ability to safely navigate from one location to another without stressful scenarios that could potentially cause accidents. In that sense, New York drivers not only need to navigate around pedestrians and reckless taxi cab drivers, but also “unpredictable” cyclists.

“To drivers, cyclists are seen as outcasts, miscreants of the community.

But really, we’re just trying to pave the way for a more sustainable New York.”

Katie Murphy, Cyclist

There is evidence to suggest that just putting down paint to create bike lanes next to fast moving traffic may not get the job done when it comes to changing driver’s opinions. In fact, a few low biking cities did have extensive bike lanes on major arterials, however, these cities have not been successful and never saw the biking numbers, or the safety benefits (Garrick, Marshall 2011).

Cities, including New York, have experienced recent success in increasing bike use – have often taken steps to reduce motor vehicle speeds and volumes on streets with bike facilities or bike facility crossings (Garrick, Marshall 2011). They have done this by reducing space for cars and adding space for bikes, and focused on providing safe opportunities for people on bikes to cross the busier roads.

As a cyclist and a driver I am sympathetic to both sides of this argument, but I also feel that even though a city may adopt bike friendly policies and more reliable bike lanes, that does not automatically make that city bike friendly. It’s something deeper then just policy; it’s the total mindset of a society. Drivers, pedestrians, and commuters a like need to realize that biking is not just another mode of transportation, but a transformative tool promoting public health, safety, livability, and a more environmentally friendly urban environment.

Some Articles of Interest:

Big Easy Bike Boom

Emily Bahr, Metropolis Magazine

Health Dept: New Yorkers Get Their Exercise By Getting Around Town

Noah Kazis, Streetblog.org

Not Pedaling Can Kill You

Alan Durning, Grist

Beyond Safety in Numbers: Why Bike Friendly Cities are Safer

Norman W. Garrick & Wesley E. Marshall, Planetizen Blog

The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street

Robert Hurst

Workshop Montage

By vvele, on June 29th, 2011

The Headline Game

By vvele, on June 29th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

One of the fun, idea generating activities that Llew (LCB Executive Director) facilitated towards the end of day one was the Headline Game. This was a time for people to take what they had talked about throughout the first day and create newspaper headlines around that. Some were funny, some were serious, but all of the headlines imagined a better, more livable Gowanus.

What do you see…5 years from now…10 years from now?

5 years

- Green Brooklyn Inspires New Delhi, India Plan

- Dream the Possible

- Model Community Continues to Innovate

- Gowanus Middle School Expands to 12^th grade

- Resilient Community Turns Storm Surge into H₂O Recycling System

- New York’s Most Livable Neighborhood Still Affordable

- People Seen Swimming in the Canal and Still Alive

- Sustainability Finds a Home in Brooklyn

- Last Car Leaves Gowanus

- Raw Oyster Bar Opens in Gowanus

- Bike Lanes Change Mobility in Gowanus

- Gowanus Small Businesses Alive and Well; Wal-Mart Very Disappointed

- Gowanus – Red Hook Commuter Ferry Implemented

- Glide Down the Gowanus in a Green Gondola

10 years

- Brooklyn Green Plan Restores Fisheries

- Brooklyn Neighborhood Model for Fighting Sea Level Rise

- All Energy Used Is Locally Generated

- Triathlon in Gowanus

- Revolutionary War Graveyard FoundTurning Place on Earth

- Spongepark Generates $1 billion in Revenue for Gowanus

- Gowanus Granted Special Designation from Historic Council

- Gowanus Green Roofs Provide Produce for All of Brooklyn

- Gowanus Top Green Destination

- Gowanus Resident Since 1950 Still Feels at Home

- Mayor Bloomberg Says His 6^th Term Saved Gowanus

INSERT YOUR HEADLINE HERE!

Closing the Workshop and Collecting the Sticky Notes

By vvele, on June 29th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, sponsored, and supported the inaugural Living City Brooklyn Gowanus workshop, kicking off our efforts to make Gowanus a unique example of sustainable urban transformation. In the whirlwind of speakers, breakout discussions and exuberant snacking that took place Wednesday and Thursday, over 60 workshop participants were encouraged to think deeply about the future of the built environment and generate a catalog of challenges, opportunities and ideas to drive our initiative forward. The diversity of perspectives and backgrounds among the participants was terrific. We were especially lucky to have a great roster of experts in their field mingling with local residents to exchange ideas and break up conventional thinking.

The workshop activities generated over 25 three-foot pages plastered with hundreds of stickynotes and lots of exciting jumping off points for future work. The workshop brought to life a fascinating mental map of community interests covering Urban Agriculture, Green Infrastructure, Community Based Planning and Design, Resource Efficiency and Community Identity. We’re all exhausted and gratified to have our first successful event completed and an exciting beginning to a community based process.

Kicking off the summer at 14th & U

By bstucky, on June 28th, 2011

Living City Block (LCB) officially launched Living City DC 14th & U with a workshop in December 2010, and our focus at 14th & U is to bring building owners and community members together on the blocks between 13th to 15th and U to V Streets to build community around deep energy and resource savings.

The theme of our work in DC is “Once Sustainable, Sustainable Again.” This community has a rich history, and there was a time when the community was self-supporting. By working with local experts and modern technologies, we will help the community continue to thrive while returning to its roots of economic and community leadership and environmental stewardship.

Our summer initiatives are driven by the feedback we gained at the December workshop and are focused on building community, reducing waste, and understanding the block. We are working with Dunbar Apartments, Jair Lynch Developers and dc greenworks to build an urban garden on the Dunbar grounds; initiating community art projects; and providing a pick up point for community composting at the 14th & U Farmers’ Market (starting soon!). We will have a group of young people from the community working with us on the garden and other projects through the District Summer Youth Employment Program and managed by LCDC 14th & U Community Director Deborah Thomas. Deborah is also the ANC Commissioner for the area.

Several waste initiatives will also be implemented throughout the block. Restaurants along the east side of 14th are about to install solar powered compactors to collect recycling, compost, and trash for all restaurants involved. This is the culmination of an initiative that was started long before Living City Block came to DC and is pioneering the way for more projects in the area. Local leaders on the project include Marvin’s, Busboys & Poets, Jin, Eco Coach and the Mid City Business Association. Living City DC (LCDC) is also partnering with the DC Department of Public Works’ Materials and Resources Sustainability Internship program. Through the summer, these interns will look at waste issues throughout the blocks, with a focus on how buildings can come together to create impactful solutions.

“Understanding the block” is a large undertaking that includes analyzing the building systems, architectural styles and utility consumption, as well as understanding the public space, transportation access and the community’s hopes for the future. We are working with students from Virginia Tech, Howard, George Washington Law, UDC and American University to begin the work on these topics. Keep an eye out for Living City DC 14 & U throughout the summer and check our blog throughout the week for more information on our initiatives, interns, partners, and the community!

Speakers Challenge #2: Can You Guess Who?

By vmeer, on June 17th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

As the Living City Brooklyn team works tirelessly on renovating our office, the countdown to the Community Innovation Workshop continues (5 days from today!). With speakers sending in bios and last minute questions, the anticipation of next Wednesday is pushing everyone to work just a little bit harder. The excitement from the community is also becoming more apparent.

As I sat outside yesterday painting planters to decorate our windowsill, I was greeted by curiosity from local residents – many of whom were interested in learning more about our purpose in the community. One piece of information that I always find myself repeating is: “you have to check out some of the presentations- the speakers are going to be amazing!” These amazingly talented speakers, presenters, and facilitators will inspire workshop attendees to think outside the box and gage what changes should occur for the future of the Gowanus Canal

Let us begin the Guess Who game. Again, the rules are quite simple and this game is skewed in your favor. (The answers are at the bottom of this post). I will give you 5 facts about three different speakers and you will make an educated guess about which facts describe which speaker. Don’t worry, no grades will be given out and everyone is a winner!

Your Choices:

1. Thomas Jost

2. Kate Zidar

3. Jessie Feller

Mystery Speaker #1:

1. Majored in Hispanic Studies and Urban Studies

2. Earned his/her Masters at the London School of Economics

3. Is originally from San Rafael, California

4. Selected as a Sustainability Fellow

5. Worked on a project with the UNDP in Turkey!

Guess Who?

Mystery Speaker #2:

1. Worked on projects for the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and the High Line

2. Involved in “The Central Park of the 21ST Century”

3. Explores the drivers that influence urban development

4. A Senior Urban Strategist

5. LEEP AP

Guess Who?

Mystery Speaker #3:

1. Assistant Professor at Pratt

2. Environmental Planner

3. Spent his/her undergrad in Colorado

4. Collaborated with the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project

5. Often states that s/he is over qualified for a job that does not exist

Guess Who?

Answers:

1. Jessie Feller

2. Thomas Jost

3. Kate Zidar

Dare To Take The Speakers Exam: Volume 1

By vmeer, on June 14th, 2011

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

One week from tomorrow Living City Brooklyn will be hosting our first Community Innovation Workshop. For the past month staff and interns have been counting down the days in preparation of this event. Finding a location, refreshments, and designing flyers and post cards were all components; however, the most important part of this whole process was inviting speakers that Living City Brooklyn felt were the most engaging and relevant to the Gowanus neighborhood. So we scoured the country looking for individuals who were experts in their field and dynamic and engaging public speakers. This week, blog posts are dedicated to these extraordinary people that we’ve invited to present and lead discussions with the Gowanus community. Now its time for the guessing game to begin, the rules of the game are simple and all you will need is your thinking cap and possibly a web tab to google for instant capability.

Speaker #1: Llewellyn Wells

1. Recently lectured in:

a. Brazil

b. Berlin

c. Belize

d. Budapest

2. Is most known for producing which television show:

a. Gilmore Girls

b. Family Guy

c. The West Wing

d. Brothers and Sisters

3. This speaker is also affiliated to Living City Block as:

a. President

b. Founder

c. Board Member

d. Both A & B

4. This speaker attended Loretto Heights University and studied:

a. Environmental Science

b. Modern English Literature

c. Theater

d. Both A & B

5. This speaker is described as:

a. An Exceptional Manager

b. A Dynamic Public Speaker

c. A Jack of all Trades

d. All of the Above

Speaker #2: Gregory B. Stark

1. Gregory Stark works in which state:

a. New York

b. Oregon

c. California

d. Colorado

2. This speaker currently works at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as:

a. Senior Engineer

b. Senior Analyst

c. Center Director for Energy Analysis

d. Internet Developer

3. This speaker is a part of his home state’s chapter of the:

a. ACLU

b. Nature Conservancy

c. USGBC

d. National Audubon Society

4. Which country did Greg Stark work in when he was a part of the USAID program?

a. Estonia

b. Nigeria

c. Lithuania

d. France

5. Our speaker has also worked in:

a. Management Consulting

b. Entertainment

c. Architecture

d. International Human Rights

Living City Brooklyn is excited to welcome residents to the Gowanus Studio Space for the beginning of a neighborhood-wide movement towards a more sustainable and livable community.

Remember to RSVP to either

Vanessa Meer (vmeer@livingcityblock.org); or

David Krieger (dkrieger@livingcityblock.org)

Stay tuned for more profiles on our amazing speakers and facilitators!

Preparing for the Community Innovation Workshop

By vmeer, on June 9th, 2011

By: Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

As June presses on, the Living City Brooklyn Gowanus team is working tirelessly on the Community Innovation Workshop. This workshop will be taking place June 22nd and 23rd at the Gowanus Studio Space. As an introduction to the neighborhood, Living City Brooklyn Gowanus will be facilitating a two-day event – exploring topics that the community finds important to address. In the weeks approaching our first workshop, we have been juggling a wide variety of tasks ranging from the mundane to the sublime; finding catering and housing for the out-of-town LCB staff, designing invites etc. as well as refining our workshop themes, dialoguing with amazing speakers and broadcasting our messages to community about the workshop. This is an exciting and busy time for us as the workshop comes together.

Finding a venue was a top priority this week and we could not be happier with the Gowanus Studio Space. With its bleached white walls, natural lighting and a productive artsy vibe, the space provides a clean slate where the community can come in, participate in discussions and presentations, and envision what the Gowanus can aspire to become. The participation of community members is imperative! We need local insights to define and begin the work to transform Gowanus into one of Brooklyn’s most livable, sustainable, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Every morning this week I have updated our community contact sheet. I’m amazed at all the people here! Although some may find it a tedious activity the names, and businesses and backgrounds culled from my research tell their own stories and illustrate the evolution of the local landscape. I quite enjoy getting to know the neighborhood, its quirks and the industrial, commercial, and residential spaces around the Gowanus Canal. Like the space we’re conducting the workshop in, Gowanus is full of industrial studio space as well as preserved brownstones that line the side streets. It is really a unique location that has preserved the small-scale buildings and shops along Court Street even though just miles from the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan.

Victoria Vele: Social Media Intern

As Ben contacts caterers, Katie works on fundraising, Vanessa works on the agenda, David starts canvassing the streets with our workshop postcards, and Llew helps us pull everything together, we are all eagerly preparing for the first ever Living City Brooklyn Gowanus Community Innovation Workshop.

We hope to see you there!

RT @rileyllc: new article on @livingcityblock "greening the whole block" ... http://t.co/qWiGNGJN #sustainableurbanism 05:18:22 PM April 23, 2012 from web Reply Retweet Favorite
"From MUSH To The City of Tomorrow: Taking District Energy To Urban Neighborhoods": http://t.co/IK3KpIgq 05:44:42 PM February 06, 2012 from web Reply Retweet Favorite
RT @gfriend: RT @rockymtninst: Great piece about LCB via @grist. How sustainable neighborhoods could reshape cities http://t.co/0H8gM9g6 04:16:48 PM December 20, 2011 from TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite
#LCB President Llewellyn Wells keynoting at Virginia Sustainable Building Network in Richmond, June 29: www.vbsn.org 02:33:30 PM June 28, 2011 from Mobile Web Reply Retweet Favorite
RT @RockyMtnInst: If you're in Richmond, VA on June 29th, be sure to catch @LivingCityBlock's Llew Wells at VSBN annual meeting. http:/ ... 02:29:55 PM June 28, 2011 from Mobile Web Reply Retweet Favorite
RT @rileyllc: New UN-HABITAT report - the world's cities are the battleground for clmate change ... http://bit.ly/ftR9HX 03:32:18 PM March 31, 2011 from web Reply Retweet Favorite

@LivingCityBlock

Community Garden at Dunbar Towers

Installing the Community Garden

Designing Parklets Around Public Transportation Systems

Are You in the Know?

A Brief History of 14th & U

New Interns. New Office. Welcome to the Neighborhood LCB!

How We Work

To Bike or Not to Bike…Is That Really the Question?

Workshop Montage

The Headline Game

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

What do you see…5 years from now…10 years from now?

Closing the Workshop and Collecting the Sticky Notes

Kicking off the summer at 14th & U

Speakers Challenge #2: Can You Guess Who?

Dare To Take The Speakers Exam: Volume 1

By Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

Speaker #1: Llewellyn Wells

Speaker #2: Gregory B. Stark

Living City Brooklyn is excited to welcome residents to the Gowanus Studio Space for the beginning of a neighborhood-wide movement towards a more sustainable and livable community.

Remember to RSVP to either

Stay tuned for more profiles on our amazing speakers and facilitators!

Preparing for the Community Innovation Workshop

By: Victoria Vele, Social Media and Water Research Intern

LCB on Twitter

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