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.
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.
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