Vacant Lot Project in Albany New York
Grand Street Community Arts Transforms Abandoned Urban Property
Jul 14, 2009
What happens to a city neighborhood when houses are torn down and absentee landlords leave behind abandoned lots? In a dense urban neighborhood of row houses, it creates an eyesore, is a hazard for residents, and dramatically reduces property values.
Finding Lots for Vacant Lot Project
In 2009, after having success creating the Youth Organics Garden in an unused open field at the Creighton Story Housing Project, the Director of Grand Street Community Arts, Tom McPheeters, approached the city about vacant lots in the Mansion Neighborhood and adjoining South End Neighborhood.
Properties were researched to determine ownership and the master plan for the South End revitalization was studied by volunteer Rebecca Platel, who has a background in community organizing and planning. It was found that a number of the vacant lots were now taken over by the city and available.
Employing Teens from City Summer Work Program
The city of Albany Youth Employment Program (YEP) hires, pays, and assigns teens to work at various not-for-profit organizations or at city sites during the summer vacation.
Four teens from YEP were assigned to Grand Street Community Arts to work on the Vacant Lot Project with three volunteers – a community organizer and planner; an architect and University at Albany MFA student; and an artist/educator – to design and implement the transformation of a vacant lot for public use.
The YEP teens meet 4 hours daily during the week with the goal to understand the issues surrounding abandoned urban vacant lots, to learn about art in public places, and to visit local salvage warehouses where unusual materials are available.
The teen's work is a combination of facilitated dialogue, creative design, and hands-on work:
- designing a logo for the Vacant Lot Project
- drafting a plan for potential use of the lot
- talking with neighbors about their ideas
- establishing a working plan for lot transformation
- physically building or finding ways to obtain necessary materials
Without current operating funds for this project, work is being done on a shoestring encouraging the teens to think "out of the box" about discarded materials that can be found, gathered and used...like tires, doors, or wrought iron railings.
Making a Difference
The Vacant Lot Project will make a difference in Albany New York – one lot at a time. Public interest is mounting as the teens are out in the community and as residents become engaged in the process. Interest and community engagement will continue to grow as the abandoned lot begins to change. Vacant lots can go from being an eyesore to a useful public space with a lot of hard work from organizations and individuals dedicated to making a difference.
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