Development non-profit, Aeon, hosted two community meetings to gather community input on its development site at the northeast University and Vandalia (across University from the Dubliner at the Pirtek building site). Representatives from different community organizations, Transition Town–ASAP and the Creative Enterprise Zone, as well as other local apartment buildings, the Lyric and the Carleton Lofts, among many other residents and employees came out to share their opinions on the new development with Aeon. Community members identified a need and desire for green space in the area–maybe even apple trees!
Aeon shared very preliminary plans with residents so that they could draw all over them with their hopes and dreams for the site. Ideas tossed out included space for artists, public art, an area for children to play, sustainable practices, a strong connection to the University Ave. streetscape and more. Aeon developers will take all of this feedback, amalgamate it, and see what they can feasibly use on the site. In a stark contract to many other development companies, Aeon rests much of their planning for a site on what the community wants to see there. They plan to own and manage the site for many decades to come, so they want to fit their development into the vision community members have for our neighborhood.
Participants were able to do a design charette with crayons and creativity! Based on the responses our neighbors gave, we see a lot of excitement over this development. We are glad community members were able to attend and share their thoughts on the site. If you have other ideas for the location or want to hear more about this project as it begins its long financing and planning period, email Cailin at cailin@sapcc.org. Thank you to both Jennings and the Dubliner for hosting our meetings!