"In city streets, parks, and neighborhoods, territorial dramas between women and men, rich and poor are enacted daily. Each group "appears" in public and claim and uses public space according to its socially prescribed roles. Those with power, for example 'street gangs', control the street and the people on them. Those without power, like the 'street dweller', and the 'street walker', are relegated to the streets where their private lives are on public display. Though they are at 'home', 'home' means something very different to each" (Weisman 67)
- Westwood Heights and Court, previously known as the Roxbury House and Village in Seattle, Washington, was one of the city's most unpleasant places to live. It was a dreadfully unappealing apartment complex plagued with crime and drugs.
- Its imperfect design and deficient construction led to rot and asbestos contamination. Over a decade ago Roxbury House and Village was unsafe, unstable, and uninhabitable.
- Change was needed, and in 1998 the neighborhood was granted a $17million Hope VI grant. This allowed the people of Roxbury to take their first steps to refine and reshape their community.
- In 2007, the Roxbury House was rebuilt as Westwood Heights, a Low Income Public Housing building for seniors 62 and up.
- Roxbury Village had also been renovated and renamed Westwood Court and Longfellow Court.
- The Seattle Housing Authority decided to take the initiative in revitalizing the surrounding area as well.
- Prior to redevelopment, the four-acre site included the seven-story Roxbury House with 150 apartments, and 60 town homes spread among 15 buildings in Roxbury Village.
- More than 200 units of low-income housing have been replaced.
To the people of Westwood Heights and Courts, the reconstruction of their community allowed for them to have a second chance. They were granted suitable living at an affordable cost, something that wasn't always in their range. Home to them means safety and refuge. However, restored with new housing units and places of recreation, such as small parks and a billiards room, the community still had to devise a plan to clear our unwanted theft and narcotics. After the redevelopment, Seattle Housing Authority joined with several City of Seattle departments and neighborhood organizations in a concentrated effort to stop drug activity through stepped up police presence and enforcement of Housing Choice Voucher contracts against the absentee landlords of some of the properties.
CASE STUDY [Community]
Baha’i’ Houses foster community in the way they bring all people together regardless of race, religion, sex and age. The Baha’i’ Houses suits all demographics.
• There is currently a Baha’i’ house of worship located on every continent
• All Baha’i’ houses are different architecturally except that they all have nine sides and a central dome
• Hold up to 2500 people at once
• One of the worlds greatest attractions, attracting 2.5 million people every year
• The Baha’i’ faith hope that one day these houses of worship will become the focal point for all communities spiritual life and expression of its humanitarian concern.
• These Houses of faith are in some ways like a church or temple but are open for all religions and faiths to pray, worship and meditate. There are no bibles, statues or sermons.
• The Baha’i’ faith are focused on unifying all people as one, establishing peace, order and justice for all. [A]
• The Baha’i Faith aims at creating a new race of men free from all forms of prejudice and man-made limitations. [A]
• A worldwide community of some five million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth. [B]
• Around the world, more than 120 sites have so far been set aside for future Houses of Worship. [C]
• Hold up to 2500 people at once
• One of the worlds greatest attractions, attracting 2.5 million people every year
• The Baha’i’ faith hope that one day these houses of worship will become the focal point for all communities spiritual life and expression of its humanitarian concern.
• These Houses of faith are in some ways like a church or temple but are open for all religions and faiths to pray, worship and meditate. There are no bibles, statues or sermons.
• The Baha’i’ faith are focused on unifying all people as one, establishing peace, order and justice for all. [A]
• The Baha’i Faith aims at creating a new race of men free from all forms of prejudice and man-made limitations. [A]
• A worldwide community of some five million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth. [B]
• Around the world, more than 120 sites have so far been set aside for future Houses of Worship. [C]
[B] http://info.bahai.org/
[C] http://info.bahai.org/article-1-6-0-7.html
No comments:
Post a Comment