Shaping Our Square taking shape

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

Tuesday night, Oakdale Neighbors attracted 35 participants to a visual design charrette geared to furthering the Shaping Our Square initiative to create an area specific plan for the neighborhood. The plan strives to improve the neighborhood's walkability, increase its retail and restaurant options, and beautify its streetscape.

Isaac V. Norris & Associates and O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates led residents, business owners, members of the Grand Rapids Planning department, and representatives from various neighborhood associations through four exercises aimed at helping them pinpoint changes they'd like to see.

• Participants rated 40 examples of buildings, street corners, and residential properties according to preference.
• Using colored markers, they traced their everyday pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile routes through the neighborhood to determine heavy traffic areas.
• With an imaginary $740,000 budget, participants purchased would-be streetscape elements, such as, ornamental lampposts, trees, park benches, and a neighborhood gateway.
• Neighborhood maps were used to mark preferences for different elements, including residential, mixed-use commercial and public green spaces.

"The intent is to give Isaac and OCBA some indication of the neighborhood residents' dreams for the neighborhood," says Tom Bulten, Oakdale Neighbors executive director. "What emerged last night were some differing visions, but what we're driving for is developing a consensus around a neighborhood vision."

Bulten says the group will tackle the next step of the process—uniting around a common vision—at a public meeting where they'll most likely analyze the preliminary results of this week's charrette.

The meeting will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Morningstar Church of God in Christ, 1253 Ramona SE.

Source: Tom Bulten, Oakdale Neighbors

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].