Bicycling & Google Maps

After last night's presentation one of the ideas the Jeremy brought up to me, was to look at the Bicycle layer of transportation. Being that it is my main form of transportation is it very easy for me to do this, but it may be harder for those who don't ride in the area.

Well now Google Maps now has a bicycle filter for directions. I just tried it and it seems to work well.

Here is the link:
http://maps.google.com/biking

sk

Very Soft Analysis

The soft analysis that I focused on last week came to fruition from multiple visits to the site. The data I collected was very soft because it came from conversations with people and my own interpretations of feeling in and around the site.

While sitting in from of site one for a couple hours (in front of Halal Meat & Grocery Store). I noticed that there was a lot of activity in and out of the residential portion of the building. The people entering were between 20 – 45 years old. The people that entered the building were a bit “sketchy” mainly because they spent about one to two minutes inside. It leads me to believe that there might be some drug deals going down inside. It may have been something else, but that activity opened up my eyes a bit.

I then spoke with a woman that worked inside the nick nack store called Ladies Handbags, Electronics, Ornaments and Fashion Wear. I asked her several questions but the highlight of the conversation was that she wishes the area was a little safer. She said that people were poor in the area and that she had been broken into several times. The store had absolutely no activity when I sat in front for two hours and she said that is pretty much the busiest it ever gets. It is a surprise to me how a store like this stays open. Another item that I found intriguing in our conversation was that this store used to be located in Davis Square. She said that the rent became too expensive in that area and they were forced to move to Union Square.

Along with this interview are the simple diagrams of my feelings around the site. The images are the highlights of my diagrams.

I actually just found this crime report website. Maybe it could be helpful moving forward with analysis:

http://www.crimereports.com/map/index/?search=400somervilleave+Somerville+MA

Design as Social Activism

I meant to tell you guys about the Friday, March 5, talk and discussion on "Design as Social Activism" at 955 Boylston. The topic is identical to our posted reading "Design as Activism".

Community Organiztions & Affordable Opportunities

The City of Somerville Site had a great deal of good information on the Affordable Housing front.
http://www.somervillema.gov/Division.cfm?orgunit=HOUSING

Some of the main pages that have good information were:
MA Affordable Housing Lotteries Site: http://www.massaffordablehomes.org/homeownershipu.aspx
City of Somerville Affordable Housing Page:
http://www.somervillema.gov/section.cfm?org=housing&page=894
Beacon St. Home Lottery: http://www.somervillema.gov/cos_content/documents/221BeaconStreet.pdf
Endicott Ave Home Lottery: http://www.somervillema.gov/cos_content/documents/EndicottAveNotice.pdf
List of Somerville Housing Organizations:
http://www.somervillema.gov/Section.cfm?org=OSPCD&page=1490


The Union Square Main Street Site http://www.unionsquaremain.org/ that is already linked to the blog, had some of the best information about Union Square itself: business, art, events, history, etc. Some of the history and architectural links:
http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us/CoS_Content/documents/ProspectHillTourWalkingTour.pdf
http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/UnionSquareSelf-GuidedTour.pdf
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19046717/A18-Union-Square-Tour-2
http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us/CoS_Content/documents/Union%20Square%20Revisited.pdf


Because of the art/design influence of the local community in Union Square, The Arts Council, http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/index.html is another source for what is going in the area. Fringe, http://thefringemovement.com/ is a group of artist and designers that currently work and live in the Union Square area. (I had a chance to talk with some of these people Monday night after the City Meeting). The main issue that I found in research and talking to people, is the abilty to keep the artistic and creative people in Union Square once the Green Line comes in 2014.


See everyone tonight.
sk

UNION SQUARE DESIGN PLAN MEETING

UNION SQUARE DESIGN PLAN MEETING, MON. 3/1, 6:30-8:30PM, ARGENZIANO SCHOOL: The City's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) will hold a community meeting to present and get feedback on options to improve Union Square. The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to voice opinions on how to enhance Union Square. Based on the comments received in meetings in October, the City is now ready to announce the locally preferred alternative plan. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact: Rob May, Director of Economic Development, OSPCD, RMay@somervillema.gov, (617) 625-6600 ext. 2500. For background more information click Union Square redevelopment

ISSUES

We have moved into the 'soft' and more elusive elements of urbanity. To help guide you inquiry I have compiled a shopping list of 'soft' elements to be investigated, please add to this list as you discover more opportunities and data bits:

Population Demographics: Age, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Religious Affiliation, Income
Historic Use
Employment
Affordable Opportunity
Transportation Access
Crime
Safety
Ownership
Funding Sources
Accessibility
Gentrification
Youth
Education / Enrollment / Graduation Rate
Sexual Orientation
Family Size
Immigration Status / Generation
Community Representation
Relevant Organizations
Commercial Revenue

Real Estate Development

Just a reminder, the Director of Real Estate Development for the non-profit Somerville Community Corporation, Jeremy Wilkening, will be presenting a introduction to the business of developing affordable housing in Somerville. Jeremy will expose the challenges that face developers, financing methods, and talk about design considerations from the developers point of view. I have posted some readings and a glossary of terms that will help to warm you up for what will be a rare look into the other side of making architecture, work.

Jeremy Wilkening, Somerville Community Corporation, Director of Real Estate Development

Studio 505, The Boston Architectural College 320 Newbury Street
7:15pm

Made in Somerville

Royal H. Cycles of Union Square was nicely profiled by the Lovely Bicycle Blog. Somerville has gained a reputation as an incubator for design related boutiques. Also check out Design Annex a small design cooperative space located above Precinct Bar in Union Square. A March 2009 article in the Somerville Journal reported that, "Somerville is increasingly the center of design in Massachusetts with 124 design-related businesses, making the city number two in density of architectural and engineering service firms and design service firms in Massachusetts. Twenty creative industry businesses are active in the central business district of Union Square alone."

SNOW DAY MAKE-UP CATCH-UP SCHEDULE

Site 1: Friday 6pm Bloc 11
Site 2: Saturday 1pm Bloc 11

I will present Exercise 2, we will talk about Exercise 1. I will have my computer, so bring a disk/jump-drive or load any images to the 'Studio Documents' site. And we will ofcourse walk around and visit the sites. I cannot require that you join us but I know we could all use the time to catch up and get some direction. I have tried to accommodate everyone who articulated there schedules. Look for more postings about Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 as this is a cumulative effort.

Image was taken from www.bloc11.com

STUDIO DOCUMENTS POSTING PROCEDURE

On the right side of this screen you will see a column of information. Included in this column is a link section. These are links to interesting sites, other relevant blogs, and perhaps most importantly our 'studio documents' folder managed by google docs. The following is the steps need to upload/edit/manage/ download to and from this folder.

To view and download files: click on the 'studio documents' link / click on the folder to see the files the contents / click on your desired file (google will attempt to show you a preview) / click on the 'download button at the top left

To upload and manage files: you will have to sign into your google account. If you do not have one you can create one using your current email (ie: you do not have to create a gmail account to use google account sites)

Now that you are signed in to your account, you should have the right to edit/upload and manage files in the UIS folder. The UIS folder is actually listed under my (N.Chelko) folders but I am technically sharing it with the team. You will also have space that is 'yours' to upload and store documents on google docs however, this is not visable to everyone. Only the files you upload to UIS and its subsequent folders is visable and down-loadable to the group.

From the UIS blog main page click the 'studio documents' link / then click on the edit/manage button under the UIS folder icon

You will be brought to your google docs page / on the leftside of the screen you will see the column of titles used to help you manage your files / to see the UIS folder click on 'Folders shared with me' at the bottom.

Now to upload a file / click the upload button at the top of the left column / click on the 'Select Files to Upload' button  / Select files from you computer / then you must select a place for the file to go by click on the 'Destination folder' button at the bottom of the screen / Select an appropriate folder in the UIS folder / Press 'OK' at the bottom of that menu / Then click 'Upload' at the bottom of the screen next to the 'destination folder' button.

Play around with this stuff, you'll get the hang of it

DOCUMENTATION

So what is it that we need to document again?
Everything
What? really? How about puting that in to more specific terms.
Ok lets start a shopping list, please add to it...

Dimension: Footprints, Height, Features/Form, Parcel Size. Circulation: Pedestrian, Traffic, Bicycle, Public Transit. Infrastructure (points and lines): Sewers, Lighting, Telephone Poles, Wires, Cables, Roads, Sidewalks. Land Use: Zoning, Floor Area Ratio, Grandfathered uses (goodyear tire) vs. current intended use, Commercial: Design Boutiques, Food Markets, Restaurants...Retail: Convenience, Clothing, Art Supplies... Housing: One family, Three Family, Multi-Family, Senior, Affordable, Luxury...

BAC CLOSED

I would like to meet sometime this week, perhaps weekend. I would propose that we make some time (1-2 hrs) to meet at bloc 11 in union square (we can also meet at the BAC I just thought it might be nice to meet in union square and maybe walk around a bit too), I can bring my laptop and give a short blog and file transfer tutorial and others can post there documentation efforts and take us through your work. I would also like to talk about the readings and lastly we should organize the production of a union square sketch up model, scope. This stage of our studio will take alot of coordination, and though I image you can all continue working through to next week, we really need to get together and stay organized.

Please comment on this post with suggested times for meeting, let me start by suggesting Friday 6 or 7pm

Site 1 Measure

I went to Union Square today to take quick measurements of site 1. I hope to have site plan for Wednesday, 2/10, class.

Reading List

I have just uploaded an updated reading list in studio documents/readings folder

Site 2 Drawings

Just wanted to let everyone know that I got some drawings for site 2 and uploaded them. Not sure if I did it correctly? If someone can try to open them just to let me know that they are uploaded here correctly that be great.

Also got some images from the interior and the basement of site 2 that is gutted right know, with a breakdown on the structural system, I will bring that to class and share.

Was told that the reason that many of the buildings in Union were lowered (or had the upper stories removed) was due to taxes.

sk