January 18, 2007 -- Introduction and Brainstorming
Share information on the Barns and Property and brainstorm future uses
Meeting Summary -- January 18, 2007
(a pdf of the summary can be downloaded - here)
Watch it on tctv2, schedule is here.
This summary compiles the results of the first public input session of Brainstorming the Barns: Creating a Community Vision for the Barns and Surrounding Property, sponsored by the City of Traverse City -- Charter Township of Garfield Recreational Authority. Approximately 70 community members expressed their interest and shared their excitement about the future of the Barns property.
Session Structure
The purpose of the first session was to discuss the visioning process, share information on the Barns and Property and to brainstorm ideas about future use. The discussion of the process included an overview of each session, anticipated outcomes, and the givens. Information shared on the Barns and the Property included the history of use and the Recreational Authority’s acquisition, the stabilization of the Barns, and a description of the buildings and property.
After the presentation, participants formed seven small groups of 8 -10 people to begin the process of brainstorming the future uses of the Barns. Volunteer facilitators, one for each small group, assisted in the discussion and ensured that all participants had the chance to be heard and understood. Large maps of the site and building footprints were provided for each group to record their ideas. Participants were asked to consider and provide input not just on the uses, but on site and building access, building improvements, parking, economic viability, and management structure.
After about an hour and fifteen minutes of lively small group discussion, the facilitators met during a 15 minute break to compile common themes, interests, and ideas. The results of that discussion were shared with the full group to make sure that the themes and ideas were adequately and accurately compiled.
Results
One of the surprising outcomes of the small group discussion was the emergence of a series of principles that could guide any site or facility development or activity that is undertaken on the property. While there were a number of specific uses and opportunities that were expressed in the small groups, it is the development principles that can provide the framework for the best and most effective uses to evolve over time.
In addition to the development principles, certain use themes became apparent through the diverse ideas and concepts shared by the participants. These themes are summarized as:
- Agriculture
- Arts
- Community
- Recreation
These development principles and use themes are more fully described below.
Development Principles:
During the course of small group discussion and various potential uses for the Barns and surrounding property, ideas of how the property should be developed and used began to evolve to help guide and provide a framework for the specific use proposals.
These development principles include:
Mixed Use: With the amount of space and buildings available on the site, there is ample opportunity for broad and diverse uses with synergy between groups and activities.
- Minimize Disruption: The integrity, natural features, and topography of the property should be maintained. This includes accommodations for people and mobility by utilizing existing parking areas on or near the property, shuttles, “green” parking areas, and generally ensuring that increase the use of the site does not mean dramatically increasing the impervious surface or widespread land balancing on the property.
- Developed and Open Areas: Focus higher intensity uses in the area of the current buildings and preserving the open space and natural features of the site.
- Connections: Provide physical and activity-based linkages to adjacent property and their uses, including the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, TBAISD, Copper Ridge, West Junior High School and the proposed new YMCA facility.
- History: Respect the historical significance of the site and property, not just the buildings as historical structures, but the use of the property as a self-sufficient farm for the former State Hospital.
- Sustainability: Improvements to the buildings and operations of the site should utilize sustainable technologies, including green building materials, alternative energy, and waste minimization.
Use Themes:
As ideas for future uses of the Barns and surrounding property were listed by the small groups and shared collectively by the facilitators, a series of use themes or categories became apparent that would likely encompass most of the uses, ideas, and concepts expressed at the session.
These themes are Agriculture, Arts, Community, and Recreation. The listing of ideas and uses are compiled below, in no particular order, within each of these themes.
Agriculture
- Botanical gardens
- Fee Based
- Arboretum
- Educational programming
- Enhancement for other on-site uses
- Conservatory
- Community Garden
- Agricultural Legacy
- Working farm
- Historical operations
- Orchard restoration
- Educational – organic, hands-on
- Farmers Market – year round
Entrepreneurial agriculture ventures – focus on education
Arts
- Performing Arts Center
- Natural Amphitheater – outdoor
- Visual Arts Studio
- Music Venue
- Interactive Dance Studio
- Film Festival Venue
Community
- Community Event Center – weddings, gatherings
- Small festivals and gatherings
- Shows
Recreational
- Outdoor recreation – climbing wall, ropes course
- Trail Head and hiking trails
- Sledding Hill
- Dog Park
- Softball fields
Next Session: Thursday, February 15, 2007, 6:30 p.m., West Junior High School
The original process design included the development of a series of alternative use scenarios, based on the input from the first meeting. Because the results of the meeting so clearly showed that many of the uses can at least co-exist and likely thrive on the property, and the importance of the development principles that should be followed irrespective of the use, a different approach is proposed for the second meeting.
First, the results of the first meeting will be shared with the participants to make sure the principles, themes, and uses were accurately and completely compiled and expressed, and provide the opportunity for additional or new ideas to be shared. While many additional uses may be expected, they should fit within one of the four themes. There also may be additional development principles that the group believes are important to preserve the integrity of the buildings and the property.
Next, small groups will be asked to share their thoughts about the location and allocation of the four themes throughout the property. Once again, large maps of the property will be provided to each group and participants will be asked to show on the map where each of the themes should be located and what space they should be allocated. Facilitators will record the input by designating colors for each of the four themes and note the specific uses and ideas that the small groups discuss within the context of this larger space allocation process.
Facilitators of the small groups will come together and determine if there is a general community vision of the use of the property. The results will be shared with the participants that same night.
The outcome of the second session will be a series of maps that will illustrate each small group’s concept of the use of the site by each of the four themes.
The structure of the third session will be dependent upon whether there is commonality or divergence among the groups. If the use maps show commonality, the next step will be to detail the use allocations and present a draft use plan at the third meeting. If there are widely divergent viewpoints, alternative use scenarios will be developed and discussed at the third meeting.
Additional Information
There is a need for additional information to support the input process. This information includes:
- Topographic Map – A topographic map from either the original Distrrict Plan or other sources such as the USGS will be secured and posted on the website.
- Ballot Language – The ballot language has been secured, posted on the website, and will be shared with participants.
- Soils Map – SEEDS has prepared a soils overlay map that will be posted on the website and shared with participants.
- Building Information – Clark Walter Sirrine Architects are compiling additional information, including interior space design and cost class for reuse (low, medium or high) on each of the buildings to help determine use opportunities
- Vicinity Map – The City GIS Department is preparing a larger scale vicinity map that includes color coded uses on nearby property, such as the Civic Center for recreation and the Opera House for community and arts.