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Downtown Sebastopol (photo by Adam Jackson via Flickr)
The Core Project, an architectural competition sponsored by the Redwood Empire Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a local group of merchants to revitalize Sebastopol’s Downtown Core, recently announced the registration deadline has been extended to Jan. 20, 2012; submission deadline is Feb. 3, 2012. The international design competition to intended to “generate innovative ideas for renewing the city center. The overarching intent is to explore how the physical presence of the city can become a more economically thriving and aesthetically vibrant place reflective of the natural beauty of the region, and the character of the community. Submissions will explore the ways a small, northern California city can transition from its agricultural past to a lively and sustainable future.”
The Core Project has also added a site-specific component by challenging entrants to envision the best use for certain strategic sites in downtown Sebastopol currently used as surface parking lots, such as the city-owned lots near the Veterans Memorial Building and adjacent to Hop Monk.
This project is separate from the City-sponsored Downtown Core planning process (currently on hold) that primarily addresses streetscape and street furniture improvements.
The Core Project will be a juried competition with cash prizes. There will be a public exhibition, and online publication of top award winners. A follow-up forum to determine possible implementation of design ideas is scheduled in 2012. A minimum of $500 in cash prizes will be awarded. Total amount of prize money available is subject to number of entries received and final number of contributing sponsors.
Competition details can found on the project’s website: http://the-core-project.org.
Related posts
- Sebastopol Downtown Core (socolife.wordpress.com)
Kenyon Webster, Sebastopol’s Planning Director, sent an alert to the Downtown Core Streetscape Committee today:
I am writing to let you know that work on the Downtown Core Streetscape project as well as two other Sebastopol Community Development Agency (redevelopment agency) projects is being suspended. The two other suspended projects are the Skategarden Expansion project; and the Ives Park Renovation Master Plan project.
Image via Wikipedia
A planned August 11 workshop on the Streetscape Plan has been canceled; and the July 21 advisory committee meeting is also canceled.
This is occurring due to recent actions by the State of California. As you are likely aware, the State recently adopted major new legislation affecting local redevelopment agencies, which may affect ongoing expenditures and funding in general for these projects, not to mention determine whether agencies continue to exist or not.
Redevelopment agencies throughout the State, including ours, are in the process of evaluating the legal and financial implications of the State legislation. Agencies have until October 1 to allow dissolution or to continue existence under significantly altered financial conditions. The legality of the State legislation will be challenged, but the timing and outcome of litigation is unknown.
This is very unfortunate for our City. We expect to know if we are able to continue, or if the projects need to be terminated, within 90 days or less.
This was not unexpected, but unfortunate nonetheless. The best outcome would be retention of the Redevelopment Agency and continued funding, but even in that case, funding will likely be reduced as long as the State of California is scrambling to fill the gaps.
I’ve been involved in two of the three Sebastopol projects , as well as (peripherally) another project in Monte Rio, the redevelopment of the old Monte Rio School, which would serve as the trailhead for the proposed “Monte Rio Mountain Park.” I would hate to see all of these projects die since it would likely be a long time before they could be resurrected.
Related articles
- Brown Signs Bills That Kill Redevelopment (converseblog.wordpress.com)
- Opinion: Killing redevelopment kills housing dreams for many
(MercuryNews.com) - Dan Walters: Will redevelopment rise from the dead?
(Redding Record-Searchlight)
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