chicago avenue urban farm - site study & charrette proposal

Chicago Avenue Urban FarmFourth Presbyterian Church and Growing Power

CHICAGO AVENUE URBAN FARM

Preliminary Site Planning andCommunity Charette Program

Prepared for:

Fourth Presbyterian ChurchGrowing Power, Inc.

Prepared by:

AIA Chicago - Bridge Program

Michael Burlando, Associate AIA, LEED APDan Roush, AIABetsy George, AIAMatt Dumich, AIA


Table of Contents1. Project Background & Participants2. Site Information

a. Location & Surveyb. Size Comparison

c. Solar Shading Studiesd. Zoning Information

3. Site Planning Proposala. Program Requirementsb. Timelinec. Concept Narratived. Year 1 Site Plane. Year 3 Site Planf. Year 10 Site Plan

4. Community Charette Proposala. Charette Scope & Structureb. Precedent Studyc. Materials Palette

5. Conclusion


Site LocationThe Chicago Avenue Community garden is located on the Near North Side of Chicago, approximately one mile from the Chicago Loop. Chicago Avenue de-fines the south side of the site, with Hudson Avenue to the east. A cul-de-sac (formerly Cleveland Ave.) defines the west edge of the property.

The site was formerly part of the Cabrini-Green public housing project. Once home to more than 15,000 residents, Cabrini-Green is currently being recon-figured, with old towers being demolished and replaced with town houses and mid-rise, mixed-income buildings. The low-rise buildings immediately to the north of the subject site are part of the original Cabrini-Green project. Before becoming a community garden, the parcel was home to outdoor basketball courts.

The area just to the south of the site has seen considerable development in recent years, with the construction of primarily residential towers, townhous-es, and mid-rise developments. Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile is located just over half a mile to the east.


West Silver Spring Drive Site - Milwaukee, WI West Chicago Avenue Site - Chicago, IL


Solar Shading StudiesOne of the key inputs for agriculture is sunlight. Farming on an urban site requires condi-eration of the impact of adjacent structures on the amount of sunlight received on site. The images below show the shadows cast by existing structures around the site at differ-ent times of day. The top row shows the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, when shadows will be the least. The middle row shows the condition on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, when the day and night are of equal length. The bottom row shows the Winter Solstice, when shadows will be longest. These drawings reveal that shadows cast by the Montgomery Building on the 500 block of Chicago Avenue will limit sunlight on all or some of the site for portions of the fall, winter and summer. This information will be incorporated into planning of the site.

6:00 AM 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM


Zoning InformationThe following analysis assumes (per conversations with Natasha Holbert) that 4th Presbyterian Church intends to build a structure providing storage, cleanup and washroom spaces on the property at Chicago Avenue and Hud-son Street. For the purposes of this analysis, the proposed structure would measure approx. 8’ w x 16’ l x 10’ h. The analysis assumes that the Owner will seek approvals from the Departments of Zoning and Buildings. This is a preliminary look at the zoning district and allowable uses and setbacks.

Zoning District

The property located at 434 West Chicago is part of Planned Development 447. Our understanding is that properties within a planned development are usually subject to the zoning requirements of neighboring parcels. The prop-erties north and east of 434 West Chicago are zoned RT-4. So will assume the property is RT-4 for discussion purposes. But its location in a PD raises a red flag; we do not know the full implications.

Permitted Uses

Within RT-4, a variety of uses are allowed. Religious uses are permitted. Ac-cessory Uses are permitted. Community uses require special permission.

The washing/washroom structures previously discussed with 4th Presbyterian representatives could be considered accessory structures. In order to be clas-sified as “accessory,” a building must:

1. be subordinate to the principal building or principal use of the property;

2. contribute to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal use; and

3. be located on the same zoning lot as the principal building or principal use.

Per item #1 above, if a washing facility is to be considered an “accessory” we must first define the principal use of the site, to which our washing facility would be subordinate. The list of permitted uses in RT-4 includes: all sorts of Residential uses; Public and Civic uses, including Parks & Recreation and (by special permission) Community Centers; Public Safety buildings; Religious As-sembly; Schools; Utilities and Services.

It’s worth noting that neither Food and Beverage Retail Sales nor Commercial Greenhouses are permitted in RT-4 but are permitted in other districts.

Strategy

[Note: this analysis ignores any “temporary” structures on the property such as hoop houses and movable storage sheds. It assumes that the only structure requiring approvals from the zoning and building departments is the washing/washroom building, which requires fixed hookups to city utilities.]

One approach with regard to zoning might be to ignore the food production/agriculture aspect of the site and define the existing use as Religious Assem-bly: state that the property is presently used for open-air gatherings/picnics/games and the proposed washing building will be an accessory to the existing Religious Assembly use. Any mention of growing food or the church’s long term goal for a community center on the property may create complications with zoning.

Building Height and Area Limitations

Under the strategy described above, there are few limitations as to where to put the building. For planning purposes, assume a front setback of fifteen feet, side setbacks of five feet on each side, and zero rear yard setback (ac-cessory buildings are permitted in rear yards). Maximum height is 15’-0” if located in the rear yard.

Note that the above analysis is preliminary and for discussion purposes only.


Program RequirementsIt is our understanding that Fourth Presbyterian will be shifting its focus on the Chicago Avenue Site toward supporting more youth programs and inten-sive agriculture and aquaculture as administered by Growing Power. Community garden plots will continue to operate on the site.

The long-term plan for the site includes eventual construction of a large, permenant community cen-ter on approximately half of the site, with farming facilities on the roof. During our discussions with Natasha Holbert of Fourth Presbyterian, we identi-fied the following items as near-term prioirities for establishing farming operations on the site:

• Etablish electricity, water, sewer, and natural gas connections

• Provide for accessible restroom facilities

• Provide a wash station for vegetable preparation

• Build an additional storage shed

• Build a farm stand for retail distribution of pro-duce grown on site

• Solidify access and security on the site

• Construction of approximately six hoophouses

• Re-use and relocation of existing shed and com-post facilities

• Lay out the above items in a manner complimen-tary to the long-term plans for the site.


Timeline

Garden Infrastructure•Water • Irrigation system installation Summer 2010 • Rain barrels / water collection system Spring 2010 • On-site water system 2010 / 2011• Safety lights (electric or solar power) Summer 2010• Moving shed to NW corner Spring 2010 • Creating a processing area near the shed Summer 2010• Faith stations and guided tour kiosk Summer 2010/ Kiosk 2011?• Installing 3-5 hoop houses on East side of garden Fall 2010/ Spring 2011• Purchasing shed for east side of the garden 2011• Port-a-potty or on-site bathroom installed 2010 / Structure 2011-13• Pergola (with water cistern for rain collection) 2011

Farm Expansion • Expansion of former community beds (west side) Spring 2010• Building new beds in former shed area (west side) Spring 2010• Improved entrance on Chicago Avenue (west side) Summer 2010• Herb and edible beds created (west side) Spring 2010• Perennial beds (berry canes, rhubarb, asparagus) Spring 2010• Dismantling old middle fence production bed Spring 2010• Dismantling labyrinth Spring 2010• Building new production beds on east side Fall 2010 / Spring 2011

Compost Expansion• Move compost bins along the middle fence Spring 2010• Expand compost bin construction Summer/-Fall 2010

Community Allotment Garden• Building new allotment plots on east side Spring 2010


Concept NarrativeIn developing our preliminary master plan for the Chicago Avenue site, the Bridge group sought to create a flexible plan that is capable of adapting to the changing needs of the site. Given the long-term plan for a permanent building, we sought to find ways of meeting the program’s current needs economically without interfering in the long range plan.

We propose that during the next ten years, the only permenant structure built on the site be a small utility building, containing all utility con-nections, an ADA-accessible bathroom, and a food preparation area. This approach minimizes construction costs and operation costs by locating all permenant utility connections in one building. By properly locating this structure on site, it can remain a useful accessory structure even after the permenant community center is built. We propose locating the Utility building in the northwest cor-ner of the site, easily accessible to all parts of the site, as well as the gathering space in the cul-de-sac.

To meet the additional farmstand and storage structure needs, we propose utilizing two tempo-rary structures. These programattic have minimal utility requirements, and need only be secure, functional spaces. We propose using two recycled and reconfigured shipping containers to meet these needs. This strategy allows for the purchase of a ready-made, stable, secure structure for minimal cost. Eight by twenty foot units are readily avail-able for around $1000. The units can easily be redesigned and reconfigured.

When the containers are no longer needed at the Chicago Avenue site, they can simply be unplugged, loaded up and moved to another urban farm site. By planning for temporeality and re-use of these structures, we can minimize waste while maximiz-ing value and flexibility.


Concept Sketch from Fourth Presbyterian


Year 1 - Site Plan - (2011)- Community Garden Beds- East Side Hoop Houses- Utility Building

Hoop House20’ x 80’




Open-air Farming

Bathroom/Utility

Shed

Compost

Chicago Avenue

Community Garden Beds

Herb Garden


View from South - Year 1


View from Southeast - Year 1


Year 3 - Site Plan - (2013)- West Side Hoop Houses- New Farm Stand & Storage








Bathroom/Utility

Shed

Compost

FarmstandNewShed

Chicago Avenue

Community Garden Beds

Herb Garden


Year 10 - Site Plan - (2021)- Construction of Permenant Community Center - Consolidation of on-ground farming to west side of site





Permanent Community Center~12,000 sq. ft. footprint

Bathroom/Utility

Compost

Chicago Avenue

Herb Garden


Charette Scope & StructureThe purpose of a Community Charette is to involve users, owners, and designers in a collaborative process to design something. Charettes are usu-ally about a half a day, and pair groups of users with designers. Designers help to give form to the ideas of the users. At the end of the session, each group presents there ideas, and the best ideas are combined into the final solution.

We feel that this process is ideally suited to designing a portion of the Chicago Avenue Site. We suggest that the charette focus on the street edge along Chicago Avenue, the community garden beds, and the two containers that will become the farmstand and new storage shed. In addition to being a manageable portion of the site, this area constitutes the ‘front door’ of the garden. We think that developing a consolidated approach to designing this space will help to present an attrac-tive, branded face to the community.

The treatment and placement of the containers can help to create a clear entryway into the site, in addition to creating a distinctive landmark that announces the farm to passers-by on Chicago Ave. Upon completion of the charette, the Bridge group will document and formalize the proposal, and create a booklet and images to aid in fundraising efforts.


Proposed Charette Focus Area- Approximately 20’ along Southern Edge of Site- Place Two 20’ Containers- Place Community Garden Beds- Plan Access, Security, and Storage- Create a unified, branded presence on Chicago Avenue


Precedent StudyIn both theoretical and built projects, shippin con-tainers have been a favorite module among archi-tects. Containers are sturdy, durable and afford-able and can easily be recycled into buildings. With a coat of paint and the addition of a few windows and doors, a container can quickly a house, retail store or farmstand.

An added benefit of containers is that they are already designed to be moved. If changes on the site change the need for the farmstand and stor-age shed, they can be ‘unplugged,’ picked up and moved to another site for only the cost of a truck. Given the potential changes coming to the Chicago Avenue Site, this flexibility is a real bonus that will extend the useful life of the structures.


Concept Sketches


Materials PaletteThe palette for this project is driven by two aesthetics: the industrial and the natural. Sheets of plastic, galva-nized poles, and crumbling asphalt lay the back drop for a cyclical palate of green and brown vegetable materi-als.


ConclusionThis document is the first step in an on-going col-laborative design effort. Over the past few years, Fourth Presbyterian has explored a number of different options for the Chicago Avenue Site. We hope that we can add to this on-going discussion and help to formalize and visualize the ideas those who use and treasure the garden.

In our first pass at the design, we have endeavored to create a framework that addresses all of the site’s current needs and uses while still offering the flexibility to meet future needs. The next steps involve getting the input and ideas of those who will be using the space and continuing to refine the design to better suit their needs.

We are very excited about the prospect of working in partnership with Fourth Presbyterian Church and Growing Power. Together, we can create a space that will be a beautiful and functional community asset that is able to grow and change to meet the needs of future generations.

chicago avenue urban farm - site study & charrette proposal

Documents

urban site

subject site

site plane

site planf

site plan4

site informationa

block of chicago avenue

site planning proposala