Community Meeting (February): Housing Concepts

About 40 people attended Community Meeting #4 which was hosted on February 6th, 2025 at the gymnasium of Columbus School.

The goals of the meeting focused on:

Reviewing refined Housing Concepts
Prioritizing People Strategies
Providing updates on Early Action Activities and recruiting volunteers

The meeting format included open engagement activities through stations that displayed materials and prompts for resident input; it also included breakouts for small-group conversations and collaborative activities. Amongst the different activity stations, there were:

People’s Bucks: Residents were asked to prioritize projects amongst 20 options related to four categories of the People section of the plan: Education, Safety, Income and Employment, and Health. Each resident received 10 bills of $1.000 and could distribute them throughout the projects after learning about them all. The results indicate what the community believes will generate the most positive impact and indicate which initiatives should be prioritized.
Housing Concepts Conversations: Residents learned about design proposals for redeveloping The Greene Homes through illustrated boards and could explore different possibilities of layout, housing typologies, and density with interactive models of the sites. They were also asked to prioritize design elements related to housing, amenities, services, and activities for open space, giving their feedback on why these elements are more important to them.
Neighborhood Key Projects: Community members were asked to prioritize strategies for neighborhood key project ideas highlighting what they found most interesting about them and identifying what improvements would benefit residents the most. Illustrated boards showed visual references for each of the projects, which were also indicated on a map of the neighborhood planning area.
Early Action Activities: Community members learned about updates regarding proposed Early Action Activities, and were encouraged to continue providing their feedback. They could also sign up to get involved in the implementation phase of one of the projects which includes murals in different locations of the Greene Homes.

At the neighborhood level, some of the main insights from the meeting included:

Install murals and wayfinding elements as landmarks in The Hollow.
Prioritize the Park & Washington Ave underpass project and repurpose the space by incorporating a farmers market.
Activate Lafayette Park with resident-led events and designated spaces, including a dog-friendly area.
Enhance neighborhood commercial corridors by introducing medical clinics, grocery stores, and restaurants.

For The Greene Homes:

Establish after-school and sports programs, an on-site technology hub for Internet access, and on-site child care services.
Ensure safe and clean play areas for children, including a basketball court.
Incorporate art and signage that reflect the cultural heritage of The Greene Homes residents.
Design housing around a central open space, primarily consisting of triplexes.
Prioritize accessibility at building entrances.
Enclose open areas to prevent unauthorized access.
Ensure adequate parking space for residents.
Develop mixed-use buildings that integrate retail and community spaces.

Park City Ball also led activities for children and youth engagement. Community Meeting #4 brought together residents of all ages, creating an engaging atmosphere that generated valuable insights and feedback and strengthened future involvement in The Hollow community. A big shoutout to our community ambassadors and everyone who collaborated on this event!