Friday, November 13, 2009
Moving forward...
Farming in the City
Synopsis
Introducing Urban Farm to Las Vegas Valley by raising awareness about available, but unused resources and exploring possibilities to promote biodiversity within cityscape, educate residents how to use what is available locally to improve their well being and facilitate community and to create identity for their community and the city.
Position Statement
The land in the Las Vegas Valley has a lot to offer, including resources for farming, but such resource has not been explored for nearly hundred of years since population rely on their neighborhoods’ grocery stores to provide them with produce and products that have been brought from all over the world. I would like to raise awareness about available resources and show residents how they could use what is available locally to better their lives by reconnecting to local agriculture and providing access to healthy, nutritious and locally grown foods. Knowledge about possibilities will connect population to the land by their eagerness to learn more and willingness to work collectively to improve their well being, change their lifestyle and to create communities and identity for themselves.
Project Description
I would like to explore what would be the best way to engage and encourage people to work collectively and raise awareness about possibilities that could ultimately change lifestyle and improve way of living in Las Vegas Valley. The site at the Water District in Henderson has a lot to offer, yet just as farming itself, has been neglected and is in need for attention. I am therefore seeking to revitalize the site and reconnect people with the site and land. The experience would be evoking sense of community while space would be providing tools for people to learn, teach and share ideas with each other. Learning is an important aspect for Urban Farm to be successful; therefore, I propose to build an educational center which would become part of overall farming experience. As it is important for people to be part of the community and feel the sense of belonging, I would like for educational center to part of and belong to farmland itself as one entity where people would come together for learning as well as for any other type of activities.
Synopsis
Introducing Urban Farm to Las Vegas Valley by raising awareness about available, but unused resources and exploring possibilities to promote biodiversity within cityscape, educate residents how to use what is available locally to improve their well being and facilitate community and to create identity for their community and the city.
Position Statement
The land in the Las Vegas Valley has a lot to offer, including resources for farming, but such resource has not been explored for nearly hundred of years since population rely on their neighborhoods’ grocery stores to provide them with produce and products that have been brought from all over the world. I would like to raise awareness about available resources and show residents how they could use what is available locally to better their lives by reconnecting to local agriculture and providing access to healthy, nutritious and locally grown foods. Knowledge about possibilities will connect population to the land by their eagerness to learn more and willingness to work collectively to improve their well being, change their lifestyle and to create communities and identity for themselves.
Project Description
I would like to explore what would be the best way to engage and encourage people to work collectively and raise awareness about possibilities that could ultimately change lifestyle and improve way of living in Las Vegas Valley. The site at the Water District in Henderson has a lot to offer, yet just as farming itself, has been neglected and is in need for attention. I am therefore seeking to revitalize the site and reconnect people with the site and land. The experience would be evoking sense of community while space would be providing tools for people to learn, teach and share ideas with each other. Learning is an important aspect for Urban Farm to be successful; therefore, I propose to build an educational center which would become part of overall farming experience. As it is important for people to be part of the community and feel the sense of belonging, I would like for educational center to part of and belong to farmland itself as one entity where people would come together for learning as well as for any other type of activities.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Some ideas on program...
The diagram of program shows what spaces will be included in areas as well as hierarchy. Program still needs to be developed in greater detail, but I see farm being primary function on site. Education Center and Food Processing Plant are primary architectural/ structural functions; Living Machine is secondary function on site and plaza, secondary architectural/ structural function.
Urban Farm with Educational Community Center and Food Processing Plant is the center that is open to everyone. Local residents, visitors from other states and other countries are welcome to visit the center. It is expected that there will be people visiting the center that are not only locals, because site is located in downtown area and adjacent to uses and functions such as resort hotels and casinos. Urban Farm is also for any and all age, occupation and cultural groups of people.Education center is meant to be a place for people to learn, therefore it is expected that people using the site will be coming there for a specific purpose. Food Processing Plant, on the other hand is expected to be visited by people who would be coming for a specific purpose as well as for exploration. The plant, that is open for visitors, will mostly be filled by people who are curious to learn and know how certain foods are made.
Farm and Farmers’ Market, similarly, are expected to be visited and used by different people, those who grow their own food for themselves, those who grow their food to sell, those who would buy food from Farmers’ Market, those who would come to shop for farming supplies and those who are just curious, because they heard about it and same to see and explore for themselves.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thesis Statement - very first draft
Farming in the City
Synopsis
Introducing urban farm to Las Vegas to educate people on how to grow their own food that is healthy and local and to raise awareness about naturally and locally grown food that could benefit and improve peoples’ lifestyle and health.
Position Statement
Most of today’s population takes for granted local agriculture and naturally and locally grown food since variety of food is available at the neighborhoods’ grocery stores with foods brought from all over the world. Many people in this country, however, understand that natural and healthy locally grown food is essential to improve our health and therefore, facilities such as educational community center and farm is the middle of Las Vegas is needed to educate people about possibilities. I propose to build an urban farm in the busy downtown area and build educational center and food processing plant where people could come and learn and gather, share their experience and ideas and grow or buy in the farm grown food.
Project Description
The urban farm in Downtown Las Vegas will have not only plots of land for farming, but also faculties where people could get familiar and learn about farming and how they could grow their own food. Project will include educational community center and food processing plant as well as farmers’ market as well as gathering space/ plaza for events. Educational center and food processing center plant are key facilities on site to raise awareness about locally grown healthy foods and how it can improve our health. Educational center will include classrooms and conferences rooms or small scale of auditoriums where classes, lectures and workshops will be held to leach people local farming and how they could farm themselves. Center and plaza/ gathering space will hold farmers’ markets which will have not only fresh vegetables and fruit, but also foods processed at the plant. Center will also include offices and information centers where people can find out more about organizations and people involved as well as find out about classes and workshops and schedule to tour the facilities which will also include shops where visitors of the center could buy not only produce, but also all of the supplies and tools needed for farming. Food processing plant will be accessible to all of the visitors of the farm and will be welcoming to tour the facility and see and learn how certain foods are made as well as have a taste of them. Center will also provide hands-on workshops and everyone interested will be able to volunteer at the farm and experience first-hand what it is like to work in the farm and further learn about local agriculture. To encourage people to visit and learn about farming, education center will hold festivals such as food and music festival, spring/ fall festivals and arts and crafts festivals which are widely popular in Las Vegas Valley and which will be informative as well as awareness rising.
Product
Product of urban farm will be an educational community center which will consist of classrooms, conference rooms, small auditoriums, offices, information center and shops as well as indoors and outdoors farmers’ market. Another key facility on site is food processing plant which will be open to visitors and tours and food tasking. The plaza of the facilities is gathering place where people will enjoy number of events including food, spring/ fall and arts and crafts festivals as well as large group gathering for any occasion. Educational community center will have two types of farming, one that is run by organization and taking care of by organization in charge or by volunteers with food distributed to food processing plant or farmers’ market. Another type of framing will include plots of land that could be leased to people who are interested in growing their own food for their own consumption. Also on site, there will be a Living Machine which will help with water needs. Currently, Las Vegas is in drought and therefore water is scarce, while a lot of it is needed to sustain farm. Grey water will be collect from facilities on site and recycled for reuse.
Site
Why did you pick it?
The site is located in Las Vegas Downtown District and is adjacent to the area that was first developed when people started to settle in the valley. The site is surrounded by variety of uses which attracts locals and visitors equally. The site is currently empty with some new development starting up, but its surroundings are always filled with people. Most of the city’s civic and government buildings are located in the area, downtown’s casinos and hotel s are adjacent to the site on one side of the site, there are number of office, retail as well as residential uses nearby. The site is a brownfield, and used to be used for industrial uses as an industrial park therefore, some areas around are still zoned for such use. There are also institutional and educational uses adjacent or near the site, such as brain institute which is currently under construction and a satellite campus for School of Architecture of UNLV. It is like a beehive, with lots of attractions and therefore urban farm would really benefit the area as well as area would benefit the farm.
What are its physical attributes?
The site is relatively flat and a brownfield infill in downtown area. It is considered to be an injured plot of land due to previous industrial use. Site is surrounded by variety of used including commercial/ retail, offices, civic, resort, residential, institutional and educational uses. Site had great views and is visible from surroundings.
What are its boundaries?
Model/ drawing shows variety of uses around the site.
The site is surrounded by existing streets as well as divided by streets. Surrounding uses are of different density. In parts, boundaries are dense and continuous and very active due to use (resort boundary is always active 24/7) with lots of people and activities, while other parts, such as civic boundaries are more open with mostly locals coming and going. World Market Center and shopping mall are also boundaries and become very busy and active during certain hours and certain days during shows and conventions.
What does this site offer you that will allow you to study/test your thesis idea?
Educating is big part of thesis as well as raising awareness and teaching people about farming and how to grow their own food. Thesis is also about encouraging people to look beyond grocery stores’ shelves and start eating healthy and locally grown foods. I believe that farm and educational program such as educational community center in Downtown Las Vegas will raise the awareness and due to site’s surroundings and activities around, people will come to the area and then learn about naturally grown healthy fruits and vegetables which will encourage them to start farming themselves.
Educational Community Center
Classrooms/ small auditoriums
Workshops
Offices for organization in charge
Information Center-“Tool Shed”
Visitors’ lounge
Shops
Indoor farmers’ market
Educational Community Center Plaza
Outdoor farmers’ market
Area to accommodate variety of events, such as festivals
Outdoor seating/ courtyards
Food Processing Plant
Plant’s machinery area
Visitors’ lounge
Shop of products
Cooking kitchen for food festivals and/ or food demonstrations
Restaurant
On site
Farms
Organization’s plots of land
Leasable plots of land
Living Machine
Synopsis
Introducing urban farm to Las Vegas to educate people on how to grow their own food that is healthy and local and to raise awareness about naturally and locally grown food that could benefit and improve peoples’ lifestyle and health.
Position Statement
Most of today’s population takes for granted local agriculture and naturally and locally grown food since variety of food is available at the neighborhoods’ grocery stores with foods brought from all over the world. Many people in this country, however, understand that natural and healthy locally grown food is essential to improve our health and therefore, facilities such as educational community center and farm is the middle of Las Vegas is needed to educate people about possibilities. I propose to build an urban farm in the busy downtown area and build educational center and food processing plant where people could come and learn and gather, share their experience and ideas and grow or buy in the farm grown food.
Project Description
The urban farm in Downtown Las Vegas will have not only plots of land for farming, but also faculties where people could get familiar and learn about farming and how they could grow their own food. Project will include educational community center and food processing plant as well as farmers’ market as well as gathering space/ plaza for events. Educational center and food processing center plant are key facilities on site to raise awareness about locally grown healthy foods and how it can improve our health. Educational center will include classrooms and conferences rooms or small scale of auditoriums where classes, lectures and workshops will be held to leach people local farming and how they could farm themselves. Center and plaza/ gathering space will hold farmers’ markets which will have not only fresh vegetables and fruit, but also foods processed at the plant. Center will also include offices and information centers where people can find out more about organizations and people involved as well as find out about classes and workshops and schedule to tour the facilities which will also include shops where visitors of the center could buy not only produce, but also all of the supplies and tools needed for farming. Food processing plant will be accessible to all of the visitors of the farm and will be welcoming to tour the facility and see and learn how certain foods are made as well as have a taste of them. Center will also provide hands-on workshops and everyone interested will be able to volunteer at the farm and experience first-hand what it is like to work in the farm and further learn about local agriculture. To encourage people to visit and learn about farming, education center will hold festivals such as food and music festival, spring/ fall festivals and arts and crafts festivals which are widely popular in Las Vegas Valley and which will be informative as well as awareness rising.
Product
Product of urban farm will be an educational community center which will consist of classrooms, conference rooms, small auditoriums, offices, information center and shops as well as indoors and outdoors farmers’ market. Another key facility on site is food processing plant which will be open to visitors and tours and food tasking. The plaza of the facilities is gathering place where people will enjoy number of events including food, spring/ fall and arts and crafts festivals as well as large group gathering for any occasion. Educational community center will have two types of farming, one that is run by organization and taking care of by organization in charge or by volunteers with food distributed to food processing plant or farmers’ market. Another type of framing will include plots of land that could be leased to people who are interested in growing their own food for their own consumption. Also on site, there will be a Living Machine which will help with water needs. Currently, Las Vegas is in drought and therefore water is scarce, while a lot of it is needed to sustain farm. Grey water will be collect from facilities on site and recycled for reuse.
Site
Why did you pick it?The site is located in Las Vegas Downtown District and is adjacent to the area that was first developed when people started to settle in the valley. The site is surrounded by variety of uses which attracts locals and visitors equally. The site is currently empty with some new development starting up, but its surroundings are always filled with people. Most of the city’s civic and government buildings are located in the area, downtown’s casinos and hotel s are adjacent to the site on one side of the site, there are number of office, retail as well as residential uses nearby. The site is a brownfield, and used to be used for industrial uses as an industrial park therefore, some areas around are still zoned for such use. There are also institutional and educational uses adjacent or near the site, such as brain institute which is currently under construction and a satellite campus for School of Architecture of UNLV. It is like a beehive, with lots of attractions and therefore urban farm would really benefit the area as well as area would benefit the farm.
What are its physical attributes?
The site is relatively flat and a brownfield infill in downtown area. It is considered to be an injured plot of land due to previous industrial use. Site is surrounded by variety of used including commercial/ retail, offices, civic, resort, residential, institutional and educational uses. Site had great views and is visible from surroundings.
What are its boundaries?
Model/ drawing shows variety of uses around the site.
The site is surrounded by existing streets as well as divided by streets. Surrounding uses are of different density. In parts, boundaries are dense and continuous and very active due to use (resort boundary is always active 24/7) with lots of people and activities, while other parts, such as civic boundaries are more open with mostly locals coming and going. World Market Center and shopping mall are also boundaries and become very busy and active during certain hours and certain days during shows and conventions.
What does this site offer you that will allow you to study/test your thesis idea?
Educating is big part of thesis as well as raising awareness and teaching people about farming and how to grow their own food. Thesis is also about encouraging people to look beyond grocery stores’ shelves and start eating healthy and locally grown foods. I believe that farm and educational program such as educational community center in Downtown Las Vegas will raise the awareness and due to site’s surroundings and activities around, people will come to the area and then learn about naturally grown healthy fruits and vegetables which will encourage them to start farming themselves.
Educational Community Center
Classrooms/ small auditoriums
Workshops
Offices for organization in charge
Information Center-“Tool Shed”
Visitors’ lounge
Shops
Indoor farmers’ market
Educational Community Center Plaza
Outdoor farmers’ market
Area to accommodate variety of events, such as festivals
Outdoor seating/ courtyards
Food Processing Plant
Plant’s machinery area
Visitors’ lounge
Shop of products
Cooking kitchen for food festivals and/ or food demonstrations
Restaurant
On site
Farms
Organization’s plots of land
Leasable plots of land
Living Machine
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Possible Locations for Design Site
Criteria: Qualities of Site for Design Site Options
· Site should be infill lot(s) and either never used plots or “injured” plots.
· If site is not an infill lot(s), it could be plots of lands that are developed, but mostly vacant and in areas in need of revitalization.
· Site should be located in an area that would benefit from Urban Farm and which could make farm successful. Urban Farm should also be benefitting from site’s surroundings or nearby uses.
· Site’s surrounds should include uses such as business/ commercial and residential uses as well as institutional or/ and educational and civic uses nearby.
· If there is no residential uses nearby, lot(s) need to be of sufficient size to accommodate residential or mix use program.
· Site should have easy access (located near major roads or freeways/ highways)
· Site should be in an area of great visibility from different directions.
SITE A-Downtown Las Vegas. Location: I-15 & I-95
The site (55 acres) is located in the Downtown Las Vegas. It is adjacent to the area that was first developed when people started to settle in the valley. It is an infill lot and “injured” plot of land which once use to be an industrial park and then was demolished as revitalization of Downtown District started. The original railroad tracks that run through the site are still in use today. The city already has plants for the site and construction on some parts of it started. Currently, site is zoned as Planned Development with no plans to rezone it, since it was already rezoned for planned use from Industrial Park. This site would be great for Urban Farm, because it is in a center of all of the action. Surrounding areas are equally used by residents and visitors, even as revitalization which is the main focus of the city is still ongoing. Urban Farm would benefit the site as well as be benefited by its surrounds.
There are number of different uses around the site and even more uses are planned. There are lots of commercial lots and offices (currently, mostly there are law offices), there are several blocks of single family residential left as well as brand new mid to high rise residential towers. Most of the civic buildings, such as Clark County main downtown building and Clark County Development Center, Court House, local and regional Justice Centers, Southern Nevada Water Authority as well as Clark County Police Station and Jail/ Detention Center are also located adjacent or nearby the site. There is also big outdoors/ courtyard like shopping mall which attracts lots of locals and tourists. In a walking distance, there is also Downtown Las Vegas Hotel and casino District where Freemont Street is located which alone attracts thousands of people daily. Adjacent to the site, there are three World Trade Centers and Pavilions which hold world famous furniture conventions and therefore also attract millions of people worldwide. Some Industrial and Commercial Industrial still remain on or near the site with some of them to be rezoned and take part in downtown revitalization. Site also has easy access, located adjacent to two major freeways in the valley, I-15 and I-95, and is definitely in the area of high visibility which will help in educating people since there are so many that come to this area including architecture students. There is a downtown satellite campus of UNLV School of Architecture for upper division and graduate students. Downtown studio focuses on downtown revitalization and urban environments. There is also institutional facility adjacent to the site that is currently under construction, Brain Institute designed by Frank Gehry. The site meets all of the criteria for picking the design site. At this point, this area is need of program such as residential and restaurants which would have to be included into project.
SITE B-Downtown Henderson. Location: Water Street & Lake Mead Boulevard
The site (up to 155 acres) is located nearly in the center of the valley. It is surrounded by most used freeways and streets, I-15, 215 Beltway, Blue diamond and Las Vegas Boulevard. It is located south of the Strip and nearby McCarran International Airport. The area was mostly developed during 1970’s and 1980’s, but lots of land have been undeveloped or buildings were demolished and never rebuilt. Currently, site is zoning for several types of uses, such as manufacturing and limited resort and apartments and rural residential. Future plan use has not been specified and therefore is not available. It is very likely, however, that planned zoning will be for resorts, due to sites’ frontage on Las Vegas Boulevard. The area is surrounded by variety of uses such as rural and medium density residential, resorts and apartments, shopping malls, general and neighborhood commercial, recreational vehicle park, public facilities, office buildings and manufacturing which are used equally by locals and visitors, because area is distant enough from the Strip for locals and yet close enough to the Strip where tourists’ attractions are. The site would be good for Urban Farm even though it doesn’t meet all of the criteria for design site, there are no institutional or educational uses nearby, but it is in a great location with visibility and easy access.
· Site should be infill lot(s) and either never used plots or “injured” plots.
· If site is not an infill lot(s), it could be plots of lands that are developed, but mostly vacant and in areas in need of revitalization.
· Site should be located in an area that would benefit from Urban Farm and which could make farm successful. Urban Farm should also be benefitting from site’s surroundings or nearby uses.
· Site’s surrounds should include uses such as business/ commercial and residential uses as well as institutional or/ and educational and civic uses nearby.
· If there is no residential uses nearby, lot(s) need to be of sufficient size to accommodate residential or mix use program.
· Site should have easy access (located near major roads or freeways/ highways)
· Site should be in an area of great visibility from different directions.
SITE A-Downtown Las Vegas. Location: I-15 & I-95
The site (55 acres) is located in the Downtown Las Vegas. It is adjacent to the area that was first developed when people started to settle in the valley. It is an infill lot and “injured” plot of land which once use to be an industrial park and then was demolished as revitalization of Downtown District started. The original railroad tracks that run through the site are still in use today. The city already has plants for the site and construction on some parts of it started. Currently, site is zoned as Planned Development with no plans to rezone it, since it was already rezoned for planned use from Industrial Park. This site would be great for Urban Farm, because it is in a center of all of the action. Surrounding areas are equally used by residents and visitors, even as revitalization which is the main focus of the city is still ongoing. Urban Farm would benefit the site as well as be benefited by its surrounds.
There are number of different uses around the site and even more uses are planned. There are lots of commercial lots and offices (currently, mostly there are law offices), there are several blocks of single family residential left as well as brand new mid to high rise residential towers. Most of the civic buildings, such as Clark County main downtown building and Clark County Development Center, Court House, local and regional Justice Centers, Southern Nevada Water Authority as well as Clark County Police Station and Jail/ Detention Center are also located adjacent or nearby the site. There is also big outdoors/ courtyard like shopping mall which attracts lots of locals and tourists. In a walking distance, there is also Downtown Las Vegas Hotel and casino District where Freemont Street is located which alone attracts thousands of people daily. Adjacent to the site, there are three World Trade Centers and Pavilions which hold world famous furniture conventions and therefore also attract millions of people worldwide. Some Industrial and Commercial Industrial still remain on or near the site with some of them to be rezoned and take part in downtown revitalization. Site also has easy access, located adjacent to two major freeways in the valley, I-15 and I-95, and is definitely in the area of high visibility which will help in educating people since there are so many that come to this area including architecture students. There is a downtown satellite campus of UNLV School of Architecture for upper division and graduate students. Downtown studio focuses on downtown revitalization and urban environments. There is also institutional facility adjacent to the site that is currently under construction, Brain Institute designed by Frank Gehry. The site meets all of the criteria for picking the design site. At this point, this area is need of program such as residential and restaurants which would have to be included into project.
SITE B-Downtown Henderson. Location: Water Street & Lake Mead Boulevard
The site (up to 150 acres) is located in the Henderson’s Downtown. The site has only several 2-3 acres of infill lots and the rest of the site is single family residences of high to medium to low density lots. The houses were built in 1940’s as temporary housing for families who built and worked at Magnesium Plant which manufactured magnesium and supplied it to army during wartime. The plant and houses were meant to be demolished as soon as the demand for magnesium was met. Therefore, the houses were built quickly and cheep and to be just of better quality than tents. The only reason houses were built is to house workers with families and not single people who lived in a tent city. As more and more workers moved to the areas for work, people stayed in the area and protested against demolition of houses and so the area developed into town and soon became incorporated. Currently, the same houses are still there, but only number of them are still occupied, because housed are falling apart. If site is chosen for project, most of houses would have to be demolished and therefore, program would include housing to replace demolished units.
As the city stared to grow, all of the civic facilities were built in the area on Water Street. Most of the houses on frontage Water Street have been already demolished and rebuilt or converted into retail, offices and cafes/ restaurants. There is also one of the oldest casinos in the valley left that is located on Water Street which attracts many locals. Water Street District, unlike most of the other areas in the valley is pedestrian street, even though it is all vehicular street. The Water Street attracts many locals, because it has a small town main street atmosphere with great restaurants that create great night life environment. Convention Center Event Plaza often has number of exhibitions as well as is home to Arts and Crafts Festivals. Some of the commercial areas within the site that are adjacent to Lake Mead Boulevard, however, are also as old as houses themselves, since buildings have been converted and while many have been demolished already, there are number of lots that still need to be cleared to achieve the plans of downtown improvement that city has been making. Adjacent to the site there is also a hospital which was rebuilt in the same location where old, first hospital was located. Also, across the Lake Mead Boulevard, new development for shopping mall has been completed recently. There are also number of schools in or nearby the site such as middle and high schools as well as Henderson campus of College of Southern Nevada and College of Las Vegas. This site also meets criteria for picking the design site. The Urban Farm would be great addition to a downtown community and benefit the area. Urban Farm would also benefit from surroundings areas. As already mentioned, there are lots of people that use the area everyday and it is in a great location with easy access and visibility from number of directions. The site is also located in the pathway to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam which is one of the most visited areas by tourists. Most tour busses or visitors in their own cars stop by Henderson Downtown and Water Street, therefore, even though area which is mostly used by locals is also used and visited by tourists.
As the city stared to grow, all of the civic facilities were built in the area on Water Street. Most of the houses on frontage Water Street have been already demolished and rebuilt or converted into retail, offices and cafes/ restaurants. There is also one of the oldest casinos in the valley left that is located on Water Street which attracts many locals. Water Street District, unlike most of the other areas in the valley is pedestrian street, even though it is all vehicular street. The Water Street attracts many locals, because it has a small town main street atmosphere with great restaurants that create great night life environment. Convention Center Event Plaza often has number of exhibitions as well as is home to Arts and Crafts Festivals. Some of the commercial areas within the site that are adjacent to Lake Mead Boulevard, however, are also as old as houses themselves, since buildings have been converted and while many have been demolished already, there are number of lots that still need to be cleared to achieve the plans of downtown improvement that city has been making. Adjacent to the site there is also a hospital which was rebuilt in the same location where old, first hospital was located. Also, across the Lake Mead Boulevard, new development for shopping mall has been completed recently. There are also number of schools in or nearby the site such as middle and high schools as well as Henderson campus of College of Southern Nevada and College of Las Vegas. This site also meets criteria for picking the design site. The Urban Farm would be great addition to a downtown community and benefit the area. Urban Farm would also benefit from surroundings areas. As already mentioned, there are lots of people that use the area everyday and it is in a great location with easy access and visibility from number of directions. The site is also located in the pathway to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam which is one of the most visited areas by tourists. Most tour busses or visitors in their own cars stop by Henderson Downtown and Water Street, therefore, even though area which is mostly used by locals is also used and visited by tourists.
SITE C-Henderson. Location: Beltway 215 & St. Rose Parkway
The site (53 acres and could increase up to 60 acres) is located in a new Henderson area which was developed mostly during 2000-2005. There is still some development that is ongoing in the infill areas. The site would be interested to work with, because it has major street St. Rose Parkway that intersects site and smaller, residential collector street that intersects with St. Rose and divides the site further. Therefore, site is in three separate unequal plots of land subdivided by vehicular paths. The site is zoned for Community Commercial and Public/ Semipublic districts and it is a planned use. Parts of site started to be developed but seem that construction was put on hold about a year ago. The sites surroundings are mostly residential single family and medium density. There are also number of parks around, open spaces and business parks which include neighborhood commercial uses such as offices and retail. There is also elementary school nearby and station (for locals) hotel and casino, which is one of the most visited stations in Henderson, because it is connected to The District, a village of mixed use residential, retail and number of cafes, restaurants, night clubs and bars. The site is conveniently located next to 215 Beltway (Beltway connects all of the highways and freeways and major streets and wraps around the whole valley), therefore, there is an easy access to site and due to uses that surrounds it, it has visibility from most of the directions. This site meets all of the criteria for picking the design site. Program for this site would mostly focus to accommodate needs of residents, but since site is located close to hotel and casino and The District which is becoming one of the tourists’ attractions, site would also need to accommodate program for visitors.
SITE D-Las Vegas. Location: I-15, Beltway 215 & Las Vegas Boulevard
The site (up to 155 acres) is located nearly in the center of the valley. It is surrounded by most used freeways and streets, I-15, 215 Beltway, Blue diamond and Las Vegas Boulevard. It is located south of the Strip and nearby McCarran International Airport. The area was mostly developed during 1970’s and 1980’s, but lots of land have been undeveloped or buildings were demolished and never rebuilt. Currently, site is zoning for several types of uses, such as manufacturing and limited resort and apartments and rural residential. Future plan use has not been specified and therefore is not available. It is very likely, however, that planned zoning will be for resorts, due to sites’ frontage on Las Vegas Boulevard. The area is surrounded by variety of uses such as rural and medium density residential, resorts and apartments, shopping malls, general and neighborhood commercial, recreational vehicle park, public facilities, office buildings and manufacturing which are used equally by locals and visitors, because area is distant enough from the Strip for locals and yet close enough to the Strip where tourists’ attractions are. The site would be good for Urban Farm even though it doesn’t meet all of the criteria for design site, there are no institutional or educational uses nearby, but it is in a great location with visibility and easy access.
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