Community Meeting (November): Housing Design

On November 7, 2024, Park City Communities and the City of Bridgeport hosted Community Meeting #3 at the gymnasium of Columbus School. Approximately thirty five participants attended; many were residents of Greene Homes and some were members of the community that live or work in The Hollow.

• The goals of this meeting focused on:
• Hands-on exercise about the future housing design for the Greene Homes.
• Review the feedback from previous meetings about Early Action Project, continue to add input and comments, and to sign up to get involved in the project.

The meeting format included open engagement activities through stations which displayed materials and prompts for resident input; it also included breakouts for small-group conversations and collaborative activities guided by a worksheet.

Early Action Activity: Residents were asked to provide specific feedback on a selected area of The Greenes for the Early Action Activity. They placed note cards with planning and design considerations for the project.

Community Voices: Residents were encouraged to share their memories, current feelings and future hopes for the planning initiatives.

Housing Design: Residents engaged in a design exercise to reimagine The Greene Homes. Using the current site as a base, they explored different possibilities for organizing open space, connections, amenities and buildings including types of housing with interactive blocks.

Some of the main insights from the meeting included:

• Need for improved infrastructure to enhance security, including better street lighting and safer street crossings.
• Locks on gates, restricted access to amenities, additional parking spaces, and a community room for residents.
• Desire to integrate residential spaces with commercial functions, such as grocery stores, for added convenience.
• Emphasis on creating more on-site parking to improve functionality and ease for residents.
• Desire of fostering a sense of community through programs and environments like community centers that support gatherings and shared activities.
• Increased access to healthy food options and medical services within walking distance of the site.
• Recommendations to address security concerns, particularly on the east side of The Greenes site, through targeted improvements and developments.

Kids were also engaged in hands-on housing design activity to imagine spaces, amenities, and resources they would like to see in the Greenes. Some of the most common ideas included having enclosed gathering spaces such as parks that could also act as a focal point within the community. The different designs also proposed mixed-use buildings combining commercial and residential functions, as well as on-site parking. Finally, many designs identified the southeast corner of The Greenes site as a strategic location for improvement.

Community Meeting #3 was a great success, bringing residents together to help shape a shared vision. Attendees actively participated in the activities, offering valuable insights and feedback.