Northeast Los Angeles Placemaking Competition: Chapman Empty Lot
Project submitted by Ana Ochoa
Project designed for Glassell Park
Project Summary and Scale
Working on the empty lot in Chapman street we want to clean it up and make it a better place for people to enjoy their day. People don't want to see a dirty lot thats not clean, we want to be half community garden and a playground for the kids.
Why are you committed to this project?
Staying committed to this project can benefit the community. If we manage to stay committed it will bring a better aspect towards the neighborhood and community. So many people want to see a change and we want to be the ones that can make that change.
What are the most relevant characteristics of project site and scale?
The most relevant characteristics of this project site is that it is very dirty and there is a lot of littering. Little kids go inside that area and play. It is unhealthy for them and there is also a dead cat that has been there for weeks. The gates from the lot have been opened and gives teenagers and children a higher chance of getting in.
Describe how this project will reinforce a sense of place or enhance the built environment.
It will reinforce a sense of place because if we built something there we would make our community look better. It will gather people and they will benefit from what we build there. It will enhance the community because we would rather see something clean and not something dirty. It will also stop the stereotypes people think about the community. It would make us feel better.
Provide a description of the project's necessary planning activities.
We would need to contact a gardener, and a construction worker. We can contact and inform the community about a fundraiser to help build the community garden/playground. We need to contact the owner of the empty lot. We have tried to contact the owner but he has not gotten back to us and other people have tried.
What is a rough estimate of your project budget?
The benches cost about $300-400 per bench. We would like to have four benches. The fountain costs about $170. The playground is about 6,000. The tiles costs about $5 per square meter, and the soil is $8 per bag and we would need 30-50 bags. In total the estimate is $10,000.
How does this project leverage existing resources and efforts?
Another student group is working on the same empty lot and we have similar ideas.We did surveys around the neighborhood asking what they would like there and they all said a community garden would be nice. They would be willing to help in any way they can. All the people that live around the lot would want it to change and want it to be clean. They don't care what's there as long as the kids are safe. The adults want a community garden because they could plant fruits and vegetables.
What community need is your project serving?
Our community project is serving the idea to clean the empty lot and make it a better place for the people that live around that area. Our project wants to make people feel comfortable walking by or being around that area. We want children to play in a safe and healthy place because children now play in that filthy lot.
If your project is realized, what does success look like?
If the project gets realized it would look clean and nice because the lot would not be dirty anymore. Making that change to the lot would really help out the community because more people are going to go to the lot and enjoy a good day in the there. Making the change look good is going to be good for everyone because its going to bring the whole community together. Its going to look like half a community garden and a little playground for the kids and people.
