Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Eastlake Building - Thesis & Intent

Images taken from Seattle Department of Planning Website

Eastlake Plan Vision Statement:
To enhance the diverse character of the Eastlake neighborhood while ensuring the responsible stewardship of our natural and constructed environment, and cultivating a strong sense of community.

Hypothesis & Issues:
Too often new housing in up-and-coming neighborhoods is designed only for the production of capital which results in rapid gentrification and a loss of historic culture. While rejuvenation of aging buildings and infrastructure is encouraged, existing historic neighborhood institutions are often disregarded as being too run down and/or insignificant to preserve. What would happen if, in an up-and-coming community that was formerly blue-collar like Seattle’s Eastlake Neighborhood, developers preserved the existing institutions of the “lower class” while also working meet their own financial needs and those of the newer white-collar tenants? Key issues would be as follows:
  • Anti-Gentrification techniques
  • Some affordable housing, some high-end housing
  • Shared utilities and spaces like laundry rooms and lounges
  • Street Life through mixed-use and live/work
  • Retaining Zoo Tavern, a market & a restaurant
  • Good design... not necessarily expensive materials
  • Sustainability meeting “SeaGreen” standards
Links:
Department of Neighborhoods, Eastlake Plan - Seattle.gov
Department of Planning & Development: Research - Seattle.gov
Office of Housing - Seattle.gov


1 comment:

Edward Ott said...

Good luck with that. here in baton rouge, most of the places i hung out as a teen ager and in my early 20's are gone. wreaking ball gone.