Williston, SC - Charette

This past Saturday was the culmination of our class this semester. We have talked about community participation, planning, and designs and needed to put that information into practice when we went to Williston. I felt more informed about and invested in the town because we had handed out surveys and spent real time walking around, experiencing the place and meeting the people.
We arrived without any trouble, this time. (On our last visit, we got a little lost, but this time was better.) It was raining, which did not bode well for the charette. We set-up pretty quickly and were ready for citizens, but we never got a large turn-out. There were enough people for two groups of citizens, which meant about eight to ten people. We had discussed the exercises with Harry, so when he introduced them, we felt prepared. We brought poker chips, so that we had visual aids for the “rankings” that we assigned to the internal and external factors for the future of Williston. The table that Thomas, Aaron and I were mediating was great. There were three men, and they were really cooperative and enthusiastic. They were the type of group that you hope to have in a session like the Saturday charette.
They provided us and Harry with information about Williston, which he will be able to use to provide planning ideas for Williston. However, the most productive aspect could have been that the men exchanged business cards and talking to each other about the things that they can work together or agree on for the town’s future. Overall, the residents were really positive and committed to Williston.
Harry talked about having a follow-up charette, since the turn-out was a little low. The people were great, and I’d be glad to go back.

Williston, SC - Surveys

A few weeks ago, our class time was partially devoted to discussing survey information that Harry needed to gather for the town of Williston. We didn't quite realize it at the time, but we were going to be the ones walking through town and hading out surveys. The questions are focused on finding out the positives and negatives of the place, as seen by the residents. After chatting with Harry about the basic idea, we set-up a day to meet him there and proceed.

With no set classes on Friday, it was good for the four of us in second year of graduate architecture. We picked a beautiful day to be outside and also a pretty good day to catch residents at home, as it happened. Since Harry is very organized, he had maps for each of us that showed our areas and had the number of surveys that we need to collect figured out. He gave us some tips on what to say and what to do and what not to do.

Each of us had an area with a particular character. My area included residential areas that were very close to downtown and some closer to the schools. Many of the people I spoke with were retied, but there were some younger residents that I met. The neighborhoods that I visited were well-kept and the residents were welcoming. There were some who were unwilling to fill out the surveys, but were generally pretty nice about telling me no. One lady inquired as to whether I was comfortable going door to door to visit people that I didn't know. I told her that it isn't something that I do very often, but that I believe in the process of community involvement and that that process can help rural communities is South Carolina, which I really care about. Also, I think that Harry works really hard and is really motivated, and with a little help, he can get a lot accomplished.

Additionally, I think that it was a good way for me to learn about information gathering and how that informs later stages of a community design or planning process. In other projects we've come in later in the game and missed some of the initial phases, but with Williston, we'll see the process from the start through the community workshop phase, which will happen in late April. I'll have to admit that I was initially skeptical about how much I could learn from handing out surveys, but I think I gained a lot. First, I understand Williston better because I met some of the residents and spent time walking around. Also, I have a better understanding of a portion of Harry's job and how valuable the initial information is for generating ideas and developing a direction.

Olanta Charrette II

Design week was hectic with the travel to Olanta and the long hours for the charrette. We put in about a 12 hour day, when it was all said and done. A one day charrette is really difficult to do, as Bill, our charrette leader, told us before we started. Of course, the main issue is time. We spent much of the morning collecting information through interviews with citizens and through a walking tour. That process is necessary, in order to understand the town and begin to form clear ideas and goals for the design and recommendations. The problem comes when there is little time remaining for actual production of those ideas. Again, it is mainly a time issue, which results from only a one day charrette. We were well organized and everyone was willing to talk with the citizens and produce images and information for the presentation, but there was just very little time.

While I felt like our ideas were good and the information could be beneficial to Olanta, I was disappointed in the number of people that attended to listen to those ideas. If more people hear the recommendations, then there are more people willing and available to act on them. In a lot of small towns, a large component of these charrettes is to deliver information that will prompt people to become involved in the right ways. The low turn out gave us the impression that the majority of the town is apathetic regarding the state of the town and a drive to improve the existing conditions.

An important point that Bill got across in the final presentation was the realization that Olanta does not need large chain stores that don't contribute to its unique identity. Rather they should look to the current citizens who may start their own businesses, which will keep the profits local. There seemed to be more and more people that believed that idea as the day went on, at least I hope there were.

I continue to be concerned about the library that is planned for Olanta. The location is going to be more of a suburban model that will place it on a larger highway, as opposed to downtown. The location will remain close to the school, which is positive; however, it will focus more attention on what could be characterized as strip development. Apparently the owner of the land that would have been the best location downtown increased the price of the plot when talk of the library began. Its hard for me to believe that someone would do that to a small town that needs assistance and could use the library as a catalyst for future development. I also feel that the entity purchasing the land could offer to pay more for the optimum site.

Also, I feel that Olanta needs to capitalize on their location near Wood's Bay (a Carolina Bay) and the rural character of the surrounding area. As we discussed at the charrette, they probably need both local and regional approaches to their issues.

Olanta Charrette

This week will be design week for the Mayor's Institute, which is another component of our class. This portion began last semester with the planning process for the five towns selected here in South Carolina. We compiled information to be presented at a colloquium, to start generating ideas and getting the towns prepared for deign week. The colloquium was a chance for the leadership from each towns to hear the opinions of a variety of professionals, on their situations, as well as input for the other towns. Several members of each community's team were also at the colloquium to here the initial concepts and have a chance to further develop those this week.

I'm on the team for Olanta, SC, which is in lower Florence County and is very close to my home. I feel especially invested in the area because I'm familiar with the Pee Dee region and want to see the area thrive. During the class this semester, we've talked about the rural areas of South Carolina and how specific and important their character is. As we watched "Corridor of Shame," we discussed that if the education system is not strengthened, it could mean that the areas are weakened and that the cultures have less of a chance of surviving. With the community planning involved with the Mayor's Institute, we try to address many issues, including education, as well as economics, marketing, and design. It will be a combination of many components that result in a sound community plan. Realistically, a comprehensive plan will not be reached in a day long charrette, but as with Denmark, it's important to give Olanta a starting point, so that they can visualize what's possible and begin to generate strategies to move forward.

The component of our "Design Day" that I think will be most beneficial to Olanta is the portion of the day that will be a collaboration with Johnsonville, which is a neighboring community that has been through the Mayor's Institute. I think the Olanta leadership will benefit most from having neighbors that can offer suggestions and help them prepare for the process that they'll need to go through to reach real solutions.

Denmark Docs II

The process of preliminary planning for Denmark has been an educational and interesting one. I've found most community planning projects positive and enjoyed the ideas and hope that they've generated. With this project in particular, I wish that we had more time to put towards the process. I think that the ideas that we generated and the graphics that we designed to communicate those ideas are good. I just think that we have had other ideas that could be applicable, only we haven't had time to do the research necessary to test those ideas and make sure that they're sound. I don't mean to blame the issue of time on anyone. It's just the way that the schedules have worked out. It's just hard to stop the planning process when we know there's a lot more to do, but it's also not realistic for us to complete a master plan in a semester. I do think that the graphics will act as catalysts for more ideas and more involvement, so that a more comprehensive plan can be generated, hopefully very soon.

Denmark Docs

Over the last couple of weeks we've been focused on the first of our two main projects for the semester, which has been Denmark, SC. Our visit was very informative, as we were able to walk through town and experience the downtown at a scale that helped us understand what the issues are and what some solutions may be for encouraging more activity in the core of the town.

Having gathered the information, it was time to put it to use. We had information from the citizens from the charrette in December, big ideas that had been generated in response to the community input, and more specific locations and implementations for those big ideas. So the challenge became organizing that information, so it would tell a story that the town could use to spur future ideas and development, and eventually lead to a much more comprehensive master plan.

Some of the main focuses were the issues of safety and connections and how we could address those through preliminary design ideas. We pointed out locations that would be prime for multiple groups to gather and share space and locations that could be made safer with added lighting and a presence of activities and people ("eyes on the street") could create better places. Also, we wanted to provide the community with the information that they gave to us in a form that can be compiled and reused for future planning initiatives.

Denmark, SC

Our trip to Denmark, on Friday, was a positive one. I was. honestly, more optimistic about the possibilities for the future of Denmark, following our trip. I had heard a lot of statistics about the crime and unemployment in the town and the area, but there also seemed to be opportunities in the dowtown area and citizens who were willing to participate.

We tried to, first, take in as much as we could through a walking tour, questions for Harry, and photos and observations. Through last semester and this one, I understand more and more that the best way to develop a personal understanding of a community is to visit it and come up with your own opinions about the place. This, of course, does not take the place of the participation and opinions of residents, but it is important to have your own base information.

We also tried to come up with a series of goals and specific areas to focus on, which will be further focussed in class on Monday. It will be important to formulate our goals, so that we have something to work towards and so that we deliver information that will compliment the work that has already been done.

"Corridor of Shame"

Prior to watching "Corridor of Shame," I thought that I had a good idea of the state of public schools in South Carolina. However, I was surprised at the conditions of the schools that were shown. It gave me a new perspective on the schools that I had previously classified as bad. In some cases, it was hard to believe that children were expected to focus on learning in those environments.

I saw the problem as a whole set of factors that were both public and private issues. The state needs to address the conditions that exist in those school districts and find more funding for them. If the children who are currently in school are not provided a better education, the cycle of low wage or no jobs, and thus, a low tax base will continue. I know that there are other school districts, particularly in the upstate, that have much more funding and are able to address facilities needs and are able to attract experienced teachers who will remain, two items that are issues at the school districts in "Corridor of Shame." South Carolina needs to be sure that all of the school children in the state are on an even playing field.

Besides the role that the state plays, there are issues that exist within the communities. One is a disinvestment in the public education system, which is partly a result of schools being removed from communities and becoming so large that no group of people feels that they have ownership of the school. Community schools are sources of pride and places that people feel a part and are willing to invest in. People also show disinvestment by supporting private schools, which often become community schools, in that parents are willing to volunteer in order to improve the school because they feel an ownership of the place and that they have a voice and a stake in the future of the schools.

Other private issues that exist were pointed out by the teachers and administrators in the video, including teenage pregnancy and single parent families. The teachers explained that they were often parental figures for their students. It seemed that some children had issues at home that, unfortuantely, outweighed the need to be focussed on learning at school. Some counted on school for a meal more than for spelling or math.
Both the public and private issues seem to go back to the lack of jobs and opportunities that exist in many of the rural areas of South Carolina. The education system can't fix every problem, but it can help with many and can begin to break the hopeless cycle that many people are trapped in.

Someone made the point that the rural areas of South Carolina are such wonderful places with such particular cultures. Improving the education system is a start in the preservation of these places and the ways of life of the residents.

Week Two: "Four Little Girls"

I had heard of the Sixteenth Street Church bombing that was the subject of "Four Little Girls" but it was very different to hear the personal family accounts rather than a summary of the facts. It was difficult, at times, to listen as the parents related the lives of their daughters and the events of the day. I was disturbed by the fact that children became martyrs for the cause of equality, and disturbed by the observation, from the film, that it took an event that horrible to get the attention of "moderate white Americans." Along with the personal accounts of the bombing, I gained a better understanding of the climate of the times and learned that children and young adults were a large contingency in the Civil Rights Movement. Several of the people, who were interviewed and were adults at the time of the bombing, talked about staying away from the marches and demonstrations, while younger people were willing to go. Many adults, both black and white, were dealing with the social situation and were less willing to provoke change. On the other hand, children were less willing to allow the situation to continue and were more active in demanding change. It seems that the deaths of the four girls made it evident that children were being affected by segregation and would continue to be, unless something was done. The deaths also got the attention of moderate adults of any color, who began to realize the levels of hate and intolerance that were active in their own community and the urgency for the change that had to happen.

I know that attacks like the one on the Sixteenth Street Church still happen today, but it is hard for me to imagine hating someone enough to plan an attack on a religious site, where people are peaceful and probably feel the most secure. Obviously, any attack on peaceful civilians is wrong, but for me, the targeting of a church is especially appalling.

Week One: Community Participation

As we begin our participation in class, we are beginning to understand the dynamics of community participation. It's great to hear so many opinions and ideas about involving citizens in the development of their own communities. As each person offers his or her view, I'm reminded that there are as many or more views in a community. While I listen to every and offer my ideas, I realize that the class should be a lot like a community planning session or a charette. We should be able to presnt issues that arise in communities and be able to discuss them and come to some understanding. I'm sure as the class continues, there will be areas that we do not all agree on. However, the differences should give us a wider range of knowledge and should prepare us for working with communities that are not familiar to us. As we have discussions, listen to each other, and take the time to understand each opinion, we should also learn ways to assist groups within communities in listening to each other and developing methods of compromise.

"Walking in Another's Shoes" was an article that gave me some peace of mind about going into communities that are new to me. I appreciated the "outsider's" view and the willingness to admit that mistakes were made. It's difficult to know everything about a place and a group of people. In most cases, we can research and interview, but it may be impossible to know everything at a first meeting or planning session. It seemed that both the "professionals" and the residents were anxious to develop the community and were willing to have a dialogue about the positives and negatives.