Notes from the Field: Summer Highlights

Storefront for Community Design inspires equitable community-driven design through our innovative design education programs including low-cost design and planning assistance and design workshops.

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DesignRVA Envisions Richmond Through the Eyes of the City’s Young People

More than than 250 Richmonders attended our first-ever DesignRVA event on Saturday, June 24th at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design! During this day-long community event, children and their families were given the opportunity to interact and engage in hands-on activities to raise awareness of the four critical needs identified in the Richmond 300 plan — health and wellness, housing, land use, and transportation. Attendees were asked the question "How would you design a more fair and equitable neighborhood?"

We believe that when young people have space to imagine what their communities can become, they’re likely be active participants in sharing their environment for generations to come. Storefront launched this event to introduce these visioning opportunities to a younger audience and encourage conversations around city planning and equitable development.

Volunteers from community-based organizations and design professions like architecture, engineering, urban planning, and construction offered hands-on activities to build elements of a neighborhood. The result is a 5x12 foot tabletop display depicting a 3-D map of our Richmond through their eyes and ears. The map was on display at Storefront during August First Fridays and is now on view at the Richmond Public Library Main Branch through September in the children’s department!

Learn more about DesignRVA in Style Weekly: Vision Quest

Many thanks to our DesignRVA sponsors, advisory council, and volunteers who made the event possible: Virginia Housing | Baskervill | Genworth | DPR Construction | Fall Line | Hanbury | Moseley Architects | Creative Office Environments | GRACRE | VHB

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Design Session
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community members design and planning assistance at an intimate, approachable level including one-on-one advice, conceptual sketches, and plans of action from volunteer design and planning professionals. Learn more about Design Session. Want to receive our upcoming project calls? Sign up to be a Design Session volunteer !

01 MLK Jr. middle school restorative garden

Community partners meet Storefront volunteers for a site visit at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School restorative garden. This summer, we're helping envision a conceptual landscape design with a holistic approach that continues cultivating the urban garden and provides space for programs already taking place within the school and surrounding community.

Once known as "Howard's Grove," this used to be a popular picnic-recreation area that was developed into a Confederate hospital and later repurposed for a mental health hospital for African-Americans.

02 The Hive Campus

This summer we worked with The Hive, a local non-profit, and a passionate volunteer team at Quinn Evans to create a conceptual site plan for The Hive Campus, a project that serves the holistic needs of young people transitioning into adulthood. The team led the partners through a participatory design process to visualize an unprecedented, multi-acre site that brings together community-based, holistic infrastructure that supports young people impacted by the justice system. Does your workplace want to engage in community-driven projects? We are always open to partnering with workplace teams to facilitate larger projects with assistance!

Design Review meeting at Quinn Evans

Conceptual design for The Hive Campus

mOb studio is in session for Fall 2023!

Keep an eye out on the @middleofbroadstudio instagram for updates throughout the semester.

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City Builders Design Workshop
Design Workshops

We convene project-based learning opportunities that focus on real world issues in the built environment and encourage youth and young adults to discover and design solutions that create effective change in their lives and communities. Learn more and register for City Builders Design Workshop. Interested in getting involved as a mentor? Apply Today!

SPRING semester/ summer opportunities

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What if we included youth in the design and development of our cities? Engaging youth participants in the City Builders program and involving various stakeholders like city leaders, community members, professors, and designers demonstrates a collaborative and inclusive approach to community development. In these past six months, the City Builders program has done more than engage over 25 youth participants in community design; it has created an opportunity for the community’s future to be shaped by all of its members. In Richmond, youth aren't just the future; they're active contributors to building a better city.

Spring Semester: Youth-led Design

During the spring semester participants worked with design mentors to envision a new Richmond City Center. Their ideas included multi-use housing, a dog park, a gym, a historical site, a playground, and a transportation hub. They presented these ideas to both the community and the design team behind the City Center project, showcasing the power of youth voices in shaping urban landscapes.

Summer Opportunities: Exploring Design

City Builder alumni had an exciting summer. Some attended Inside Design & Architecture a week long summer camp at Virginia Tech, learning from college graduates, professors, and architects. Others visited Fultz and Singh, an architecture firm, to see design in action and gain valuable insight into the life of a designer. Others attended a drawing session and art activation, hosted by _the.third._ focused on combining meditative practices and art. Thank you to all of our summer partners for investing in our youth and providing opportunities for exploration in design this summer.

Virginia Tech Inside Design & Architecture alum, youth, and Baskervill staff

Press and resources

• Check out our interview about our youth design education program with MentorVA, consulting partner

• VA NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) is hosting a Happy Hour mixer September 15th

• Last Chance to see ‘Modeling a Vision: Design Technology, and Impact’ at The Branch, on view through Sep 10th.

• Association for Community Design announces annual conference Oct 20-21 Chicago
  

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Community Visioning
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community-based design and planning assistance that inspires community members to take action, leverage their creativity, and realize a shared vision that strengthens our neighborhoods. Learn more about Community Visioning.

JACKSON WARD COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATES

Our team has been collaborating with the Jackson Ward Community Plan project team to host visioning events in 2023, meeting with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representatives to provide updates on the process, and working together with Gilpin Informed Residents to develop creative communications.

Celebrate the completion of the Jackson Ward Community Plan and all the accomplishments achieved during the last 18 months!

• Check out the Jackson Ward Community Plan webpage to learn more about upcoming meetings and to review past meeting materials.

Notes from the Field: May Program Highlights

Storefront for Community Design inspires equitable community-driven design through our innovative design education programs including low-cost design and planning assistance and design workshops. . Check out our May 2023 Notes from the Field to learn about recent updates from our programs.

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City Builders Design Workshop
Design Workshops

We convene project-based learning opportunities that focus on real world issues in the built environment and encourage youth and young adults to discover and design solutions that create effective change in their lives and communities. Learn more about City Builders Design Workshop.

SPRING semester

Cities don’t magically appear. They are planned, designed, and then developed.

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This semester our City Builders Design students have had an opportunity to learn about the plans for the City of Richmond. Samantha Lewis, a Planner from the City of Richmond’s Planning Department, stopped by to talk about her profession as an urban planner and the plans for Richmond currently outlined in the Richmond 300, the City’s master plan. The master plan aims to guide the development of Richmond by its 300th birthday in 2037. Students discovered how closely related urban planning and urban design are to each other and how impactful they both are when it comes to the success of a city.

Sam, Planner with the City of Richmond planning office introduces the Richmond 300

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Design Session
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community members design and planning assistance at an intimate, approachable level including one-on-one advice, conceptual sketches, and plans of action from volunteer design and planning professionals. Learn more about Design Session.

RVAFridges shelter desigN

Good things take time!

In 2021, we met with RVA Community Fridges to dream up a shelter for a Southside fridge to protect it from the elements. mOb studio continued the project with a focus on modular designs that could adapt across citywide locations. A tiny footprint with a great impact, the fridges promote ideals behind food justice and directly remove barriers to fresh food.

Over the past few months, the RVAFridges team partnered with a local carpenter, August Neuscheler (mound.info) to adapt and build out a shelter design for their new fridge in Northside! Last month, they held a community build led by August to put it all together. We're thrilled and proud of this community partner for taking their design ideas into the built environment. Check out this project at 3613 Meadowbridge Road (along with MAD RVA's new free store!) and leave a food item to help stock the fridge.

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reimagining a vacant lot in the east end

Earlier this year, we started working on a Design Session with RVA Community Development Corporation (RVA CDC), a new organization that strives to promote economic opportunity and stability for vulnerable neighborhoods in Richmond. Our fantastic landscape architecture and planning volunteers (Robbie, Lizzy and Michael) reimagined a small vacant lot in the East End into a multi-use community gathering space! Beginning with a chilly site visit and a couple design review meetings later, they created a conceptual plan that does a lot with a little and can be a community engagement tool for RVA CDC to get additional feedback.

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mOb studio semester wrap up and fall 2023 project call

Last week, we attended mOb studio’s final critiques. We’re grateful for our community partners and mOb mentOrs that made all the community-engaged projects possible! Keep an eye out on the @middleofbroadstudio instagram to learn more about each project over the next few weeks.

Spring 2023 Community Partners:

• Councilperson Robertson / Public Arts Comission

• Dept of Social Services, City Hall

• Alternatives Boutique

• VCU SHIFT Retail Lab

• Highland Support Project

Could your organization benefit from conceptual design assistance this fall from a group of interdisciplinary VCUarts students? Check out the program menu and fill out a Design Session form for mOb studio!

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mOb studio: Rendering for a gathering space behind Alternatives Boutique

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mOb studio: Modular design for an interior fixture at VCU Shift Retail Lab

resources

• RPS High schoolers are invited to design Richmond’s next “I Voted” sticker! Deadline May 12th

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Community Visioning
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community-based design and planning assistance that inspires community members to take action, leverage their creativity, and realize a shared vision that strengthens our neighborhoods. Learn more about Community Visioning.

JACKSON WARD COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATES

Our team has been collaborating with the Jackson Ward Community Plan project team to host visioning events in 2023, meeting with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representatives to provide updates on the process, and working together with Gilpin Informed Residents to develop creative communications.

On February 11, we hosted the Draft Plan Event. where we transformed the Calhoun Center’s gymnasium into a community space with interactive stations. Upon arrival, attendees received a passport map to guide them. Attendees took part in many activities to learn about the project, explore maps of current conditions and proposed improvements, and review the community plan’s vision, themes, and goals.

image: Interactive stations at the Community Draft Plan Event on February 11

In April, Gilpin Court and Jackson Ward residents, planning experts, and stakeholders attended one of two sessions, in person or virtual, for the Community Plan Event. This was a great opportunity to see the latest iteration of the community plan based on the input and ideas received over the last ten months. Comments received will help the project team prepare for the final community presentation in fall 2023.

A HUGE shout out goes to the Gilpin Informed Residents, Dreame, Quiera, Paula, and Stephanie, for helping the team lead a great presentation!

image: Gilpin Informed Residents presenting at the Community Plan Event on April 18.

• Read the full recap of the Jackson Ward Community Draft Plan Event in February

• Read the full recap of the Jackson Ward Community Plan Events in April

• Check out the Jackson Ward Community Plan webpage to learn more about upcoming meetings and to review past meeting materials.

Storefront Kicks Off Inaugural DesignRVA Celebration

Storefront for Community Design announced its inaugural DesignRVA celebration will take place on June 24 at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design. This year DesignRVA highlights the critical need in areas of health and wellness, land use, transportation, and housing. The event will initiate community ideas and focus conversation around the question, “How would YOU design a more equitable and fair Greater Richmond?” 

“The launch of our DesignRVA program is one way, we’re sharing the power of design with the Richmond community. We’re always excited to engage with people and demonstrate to them that they have the capacity to improve their neighborhoods as well as themselves. through design.”

— Bernard Harkless, Board Chair

DesignRVA is a one-of-a-kind free event that introduces children ages 8-14 to the design of our area, while informing them how their voices can be a part of the planning, creation, and improvement of the places where we live, work, and play. Storefront for Community Design invites families from across Greater Richmond to participate in this inaugural community day.

“This will be a unique, hands-on experience for the children that participate that they won’t be able to get anywhere else. We want to let Children’s ideas run wild in designing Richmond from the ground up, and there will be many activities planned for them.”

— Shawn Balon, Executive Director

Children and families will engage with volunteers from community-based organizations and design professions like architecture, engineering, urban planning, and construction to build elements of a neighborhood. Children will take their elements to a designated communal space, which will evolve throughout the day, and build a shared vision of a more equitably built environment for their community. A stamped event “passport” will serve as a unique event souvenir for participants. Food trucks and entertainment are also part of the day.

Storefront Launches Development of ‘Design Richmond’

image: City Builders Design program participants visit a local architecture firm to learn about design and planning efforts in Richmond’s Arts District.

Storefront for Community Design announced the launch of the development of Design Richmond: An interactive guide to exploring and shaping our city. The interactive guide and activity book will empower residents, specifically youth ages 13-18, to become active participants in the design of their communities. The comprehensive community-developed guide will also support the Richmond 300 Master Plan.

The success of similar guidebooks in Baltimore and Chicago were the inspiration for the book. Design Richmond will be organized into four chapters: Health and Wellness, Land Use, Transportation, and Housing. Each chapter will encourage residents to investigate the city’s past planning and design, discover current challenges, and design solutions.

“The interactive guidebook will help connect residents to the resources they need to arrive at real life solutions for Richmond’s built environment and supports the goals of creating a more equitable, sustainable, and livable city.”

— Shawn Balon, Executive Director

Storefront kicked off the initial development of Design Richmond in fall 2022. In 2023, Storefront is collaborating with urban planning and design professionals, consultants, nonprofit partners, educators, interns, and youth to create the guidebook and launch it in 2024. The book will provide supplemental activities for middle school classrooms and nonprofit programs, an accessible resource for Richmond residents, and new curriculum for Storefront’s City Builders Design program.

The book will be developed thanks in part to national grants, sponsorships, and donations from supporters. For more information and to learn how to give involved click the link below.

Notes from the Field: February Program Highlights

Storefront for Community Design inspires equitable community-driven design through our innovative design education programs including low-cost design and planning assistance and design workshops. . Check out our February 2023 Notes from the Field to learn about recent updates from our programs.

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City Builders Design Workshop
Design Workshops

We convene project-based learning opportunities that focus on real world issues in the built environment and encourage youth and young adults to discover and design solutions that create effective change in their lives and communities. Learn more about City Builders Design Workshop.

fall semester: sharing ideas for equitable transportation

Imagine a city where ALL residents have access to shared bike systems, safe streets, improved intersections, multiple modes of transportation, and parklets for outdoor activities. This past fall semester, our City Builders Design program participants took a walk through the city to learn about equitable transportation and discover solutions for Richmond.  Learn more by reading a recent blog post highlighting the semester of activities.

Become a City Builder! Registration now open for our spring semester.

Who: Teens ages 13-18
When: Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30pm, March 2 to May 18, 2023
Where: 205 E. Broad St.
*Dinner and stipend provided; register by Feb. 15

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Design Session
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community members design and planning assistance at an intimate, approachable level including one-on-one advice, conceptual sketches, and plans of action from volunteer design and planning professionals. Learn more about Design Session.

Update: Whitcomb Court Park

It's a wrap! Storefront volunteers created a conceptual design for a vacant green space in the Whitcomb Court Community informed by previous community engagement. Richmond’s Parks and Recreation, a key stakeholder and partner on this project, took the plan to the Urban Design Committee (UDC) where it got a favorable reception. This project was initiated by Councilwoman Robertson and implementation is awaiting next steps.

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image: Conceptual design for Whitcomb Ct Park by Storefront volunteers Natsumi and Katrina (Hanbury)

Image: Vision board of various park element precedents

Fall 2022 semester collaboration with mob studio:

Since 2012, VCUarts mOb (Middle of Broad) studio has collaborated with Storefront’s Design Session allowing students to gain practical design experience while engaging the city. The mOb studio is an interdisciplinary studio that brings together the departments of graphic, fashion, and interior design. Students from urban planning have also participated over the years. mOb studio had a packed fall semester with projects spanning all across the city. A summary of select project briefs below.

Image: Conceptual rendering for public bathrooms at the Belle Isle Wedge Building by mOb studio

1. Belle Isle Wedge - Friends of the James River Park

Conceptual design for repurposing the "wedge building" on Belle Isle as a public bathroom/parks facilities building.

2. Varina LandLab - Capital Region Land Conservancy

A cohesive vision for a recreation area and trail system identity for for a new 350+ acre public park opening this fall just outside Richmond.

3. Public Plot - Jefferson Ave Community Garden

Conceptual design for an educational plot (signage and seating) at a long-standing community garden in the East End.

4. Arts District Placekeeping - Hanbury/Public Arts Commission

Design concepts that activate alleyways and neglected spaces in the Arts District for a larger proposal to Richmond's Public Arts Commission.

5. Arts District Charrette - Hanbury/Public Arts Commission

Activity design for an Arts District charrette as part of AIA's Arch Ex VA conference.

resources

• Resource Guide: Architect's Role in Creating Equitable Communities:

  Looking to use your design practice to inspire more equitable outcomes? This resource shares how architects can, in their practices, bring about racially just and equitable outcomes for all members of the communities they serve. Created by our friends at Neighborhood Design Center in partnership with Gensler Design, and AIA National.

• LISC VA Community Investment Grants

  LISC Virginia has several grant programs for local community projects seeking financial support.

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Community Visioning
Low-cost Design and Planning Assistance

We provide community-based design and planning assistance that inspires community members to take action, leverage their creativity, and realize a shared vision that strengthens our neighborhoods. Learn more about Community Visioning.

CHAMBERBROOK BUSINESS and ARTS DISTRICT UPDATES

The Chamberbrook Business and Arts District of Northside RVA is a grassroots effort by longtime Richmond residents, community organizers, and designers dedicated to re-establishing the Chamberlayne Ave. and Brookland Park Blvd. Corridor. In early 2022 Real Chances, Inc. partnered with Storefront for Community Design, Hanbury Community Design Laboratory, FORM Coalition, Tactile Studio, and The LIFT Group, to kick off community engagement to create a unique sense of place rooted in community and culture.

In fall 2022, the team launched the Chamberbrook Business and Arts District Design Guidebook to be a tool for community member and business owners to generate ideas. It was assembled using the initial recommendations gathered from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders in and around the Chamberbrook Business and Arts District.

The design guidebook provides the opportunity for community members to “choose your own adventure” based on your knowledge of the project and interest in participating to envision the future of Chamberbrook Business and Arts District.

Jackson Ward Community Plan Updates and Community Event

Since the November Jackson Ward Community Plan Alternatives Workshop, our team has been busy collaborating with the Jackson Ward Community Plan project team to prepare for visioning events in 2023, meeting with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representatives to provide updates on the process, and working together with Gilpin Informed Residents to develop creative communications.

Save the date for the next community event on Saturday, February 11. The Community Draft Plan Event will be held at the Calhoun Center and residents, community members, and stakeholders are invited to participate.

• Read the full recap of the Jackson Ward Community Plan November Workshop.

• Check out the Jackson Ward Community Plan webpage to learn more about upcoming meetings and to review past meeting materials.

Five Ways to Get Involved in 2023

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Are you looking for ways to get involved at Storefront for Community Design in 2023? Check out the following opportunities and consider supporting us in 2023.

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VOLUNTEER FOR UPCOMING COMMUNITY VISIONING events 

We are seeking residents and professionals who are passionate about community voice, equitable design, and collaborative partnerships to volunteer at upcoming community events for the Jackson Ward Community Plan. The next community event will be held on February 11.

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BECOME A DESIGN MENTOR 

We are looking for two qualified design professionals to join our City Builders Design 12-week program in spring 2023. Design mentors will receive a stipend for participation along with the reward of developing the next generation of designers. Learn more and apply by January 13.

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Join our Design Directory

Storefront's Design Directory aims to provide a resource for aspects of design projects that go beyond the scope of our low-cost design and planning assistance programs. Help us build our community of design professionals.

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VOLUNTEER FOR DESIGN SESSION

Are you a professional in the planning and design field and interested to offer conceptual guidance for community-initiated projects? Become a Design Session volunteer and provide assistance at an intimate, approachable level.

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Share your insights

Do you know of a resource that would benefit community members helping to shape our city that should be shared more widely? Help us collect community resources for our toolkit.  

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Top Blog Posts of 2022

This year has been a great one! We celebrated 10 years of impact, enhanced programming, brought on new team members and board members, created a new Advisory Council, hosted a fun Golden Hammer Awards, and built our strategic roadmap for the future. We are extremely grateful for what we have accomplished with our small team, Board of Directors, and community partners. Thank you for helping Storefront for Community Design inspire equitable community-driven design in the built environment.

We've got big things in store for 2023! Until then, we thought it would be fun to share the top read blog posts of 2022. It’s fun to see many of our stories and resources from past years resurface as we adapt to the changing landscape of our communities. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

City Builders Share Ideas for Equitable Transportation

image: City Builders Design program participants present ideas for transportation solutions.

Imagine a city where ALL residents have access to shared bike systems, safe streets, improved intersections, multiple modes of transportation, and parklets for outdoor activities. This semester our City Builders Design program participants took a walk through the city to learn about equitable transportation and discover solutions for Richmond. 

Take a walk with us as we venture through our semester of discovery and design!

• Stop 1: History and Policy

  We connected with Kelli Rowan and Brandon King from the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM) to learn about why transportation matters. We talked about the history and inequitable policies in transportation. They even brought in a RVA Bike Share bike to talk about a new pilot project in the city’s Southside.

• Stop 2: The Design Process

  We discovered the steps of the design process to create signs. We learned how to communicate a message with limited colors, shapes, and graphics to express things universally, just like a STOP sign!

image: Meeting with the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM) to learn about why transportation matters and learn about RVA Bike Share.

• Stop 3: Reading an Intersection

  We observed the intersection of N 2nd St. and E Broad St. Participants and design mentors created a list from what they observed and discussed the similarities and implications of the different elements in an intersection. We discussed the need for traffic lights, trees and plants, transportation options, crosswalks, and sidewalks.

• Stop 4: Exploring Design Professions

  We visited the Hanbury Community Design Laboratory to tour their office space and learn from architects and engineers in the profession. One of our design mentors, Heather Madden, discussed her job as a Transportation Engineer. She also presented an aerial image of the Richmond Arts District along Broad Street and taught us how to read a map in plan view. 

• Stop 5: Engaging the Community

  We stopped by a GRTC bus stop to speak with community members about their experiences. We learned the importance of listening to bus riders and understanding the different perspectives they have. 

image: City Builders visited Hanbury Community Design Laboratory, a local architecture firm, and learned about design professions.

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image: City Builders designing solutions in preparation for their final presentation.

• Stop 6: Discovering Creative Solutions

  We stopped by the Brook and Marshall mural and parklet project, a recent Golden Hammer Award winner. We talked about the purpose of a parklet, measured the size of it, and learned about the different amenities they may include, like seating and tables.

• Stop 7: Designing a Solution 

  In the last few weeks of the semester, we created teams to design safety solutions for the high traffic area at N 2nd. St. and E Broad Street. City Builders participants collaborated with design mentors to create fun ideas for the intersection.
  
  In the last class, we celebrated our City Builders’ achievements! We held a party where they shared their ideas to board members, parents, design mentors, and community partners.
  
  The first team had a showstopper consisting of bright colored turtles in the crosswalk to caution drivers to slooowww down. They also proposed painting the utility/sewer lids, replacing a few abandoned buildings to create a parking deck, adding greenery to bus stops, and removing trees that were too close to the corners to avoid accidents.
  
  The second team presented the removal of a parking space to create a parklet for Storefront staff, mob students, tourists, and community members. The parklet was designed for meeting space, greenspace, hanging out, and relaxing.
  
  Congrats on an amazing night and semester!

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Thank you Design Mentors and Volunteers!

We share our gratitude to our design mentors and volunteers who have helped our team inspire equitable community-driven design. A huge THANKS goes to Perry, Heather, and Glenn for sharing your talents and architecture/engineering expertise as design mentors (and Jim as our honorary mentor). You made an impact on our City Builders and we appreciate you for that. 

Storefront Launches Roadmap for 3-year Plan

In May 2022, Storefront for Community Design announced a bold, new vision and a three-year strategic plan. We will firmly focus on transforming our low-cost design and planning assistance programs and expanding our design education programs to inspire community-driven design in the built environment.

This is a living, breathing plan that we will continue revisiting over the months and years ahead. Since kickstarting our plan in July, we've been building an intentional roadmap that prioritizes actions and creates measurable goals. We are excited to share it and begin collaborating with you as we continue to realize our vision.

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Storefront’s 3-year Roadmap (Illustration by Siteations, Meg Studer)

Storefront Celebrates Community Impact in 2022

It’s been an amazing year! Our small staff, volunteer base, and scores of community partners incorporated new and creative ways of engagement and problem solving that increase access to design resources and advance equity in the built environment.

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In FY 2022, Storefront for Community Design collaborated on 26 projects that have the power to serve over 92,000 Richmond area residents. We provided volunteer services in our design education and low-cost design and planning assistance programs valuing over $132,000. Check out our FY 2022 Program Impact Report and project impact stories.

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Impact Story 1 | City Builders Design

A Health Empowerment Project

When the Richmond Henrico Health District’s data revealed low adoption of COVID mitigation and prevention practices among youth and black communities, SFCD endeavored to use the built environment to empower these groups to take advantage of resources available and make informed decisions. Battling against COVID fatigue and set against the backdrop of racism’s formal declaration as a public health crisis, both City Builders and VCUarts mOb studio worked to design a visual health awareness campaign with a unique design style, messaging, and strategic placement.

SFCD convened students, an artist mentor, and a poster design collective to develop and install visual works, creating space for intentional conversations about health, wellness, race, and safety that culminated in a public poster show event in the Northside, increasing community awareness.

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“Teaching with City Builders reminded me that not only should we include our children in the process of designing better things for our cities but also to become better designers we need to awaken the child in ourselves.”

— John, Volunteer + Community Collaborator

Impact Story 2 | Design Session

A Community Circus in Southside

Determined to preserve a fabric of community arts in the changing landscape of the Manchester neighborhood, Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus, a professional aerial dance and circus arts company, struck out to renovate a new space. The owner, Heather, needed an advocate who could begin to translate a vision into reality. After reaching out to SFCD, Heather was connected with Jessie, a local volunteer architect.

Possibly even more valuable than the design assistance was Jessie's ability to demystify the language of construction: “there is such a need just for translating between community members and developers, landlords, and architects so they can better advocate for themselves." Once Design Session concluded, Heather and Jessie continued collaborating and in fall 2022 Host of Sparrows held their grand opening welcoming students and non-profits for community classes in circus arts to fulfill their mission.

Impact Story 3 | Community Visioning

A Guidebook for Highland Grove

When the Better Housing Coalition (BHC) was named as the developer to manage the initial plan to final buildout of Highland Grove, a 33-acre mixed income neighborhood, they knew that collaboration was critical to create lasting change for the better. The first step was to ensure that community voice continued to shape the project. BHC collaborated with SFCD to lead a community visioning process to guide the design of outdoor and architectural elements in the plan.

Alongside BHC, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the City of Richmond, Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, project:HOMES, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, and resident ambassadors, SFCD convened meetings, created a community survey, and hosted open house events that brought affordable housing non-profits under one roof for resource sharing. Over 150 residents participated throughout the process building a strong foundation to help guide BHC’s work moving forward.

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