Sustainable Sites Initiative
Reuse of sidewalk for patio
Archer-McNamara Blitz Build
Size & Type of Project:
Residential development in greyfield sites; Lot sizes range from about 14,500 - 21,640 s.f.
Location:
Detroit, Michigan
Budget:
No budget for landscape design and construction
Project Phase:
Completed in June 1997
Project Overview
The Archer - McNamara Blitz Build project, principally sponsored by Detroit's Habitat for Humanity affiliate, consisted of building twenty new homes in six days (June 22-28, 1997). Design of the site was greatly dictated by the lack of funds and the availability of resources. Plants, mostly unwanted, overstocked herbaceous and evergreens, were solicited from various Michigan landscape nurseries. Although many of the plants were not necessarily native to the region, every effort was made to acquire native plants to reduce maintenance and acclimation concerns. In the process of the landscape design, the need became apparent for hardscape materials in addition to the plants. The material needed to be abundant, free of cost, not likely to be stolen and aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately, onsite concrete was recycled and re-used, as well as donated mulch. Through this creative re-use of materials and donations, the residential landscapes were greatly enhanced and as a result, the project, specifically the landscapes, received the Michigan governor's acknowledgement of resourcefulness and beauty.
Site Context
Detroit is located within the Southern Great Lakes Forests ecoregion. Forests and wetlands, once rich with wildlife, have been almost entirely converted into intensive industrial and urban development. The topography is typically flat, rising gently northwestward from the waterways to the rolling terrain. Annually, Detroit has an average temperature is 48.6°F and receives an average of 31 inches of rain and 45 inches of snow.
All 20 homes, approximately 1,200 square feet in size, are located in the Westwood Park Neighborhood, an extremely blighted area of Detroit where very few homes remained following obligatory demolition.
Reuse of sidewalk for patio
Sustainable Practices
Material Reuse: The City of Detroit required the removal and replacement of the concrete municipal sidewalks adjacent to the lots. Rather than going to the landfill, the sidewalk concrete, approximately four feet wide, was broken up and re-used in whole form for various landscape details including retaining walls, planter boxes, patio surfaces, and plant bed edging. Reusing the concrete as hardscape materials eliminated the need to haul it off site and dispose of it in a landfill, which would have greatly increased costs in terms of financial and environmental/greenhouse gases costs. The site also incorporated various amendments such as hard wood chips (mulch) provided by the utility companies (Detroit Edison and Consumers Power Company) from their line-clearing activities.
Community Involvement: The volunteers of this event were solicited by the Habitat for Humanity website, advertising in local newspapers, by word-of-mouth and inquiry of regular volunteers including the Master Gardeners of Wayne County. An active member and enthusiastic volunteer of the Habitat for Humanity coordinated the volunteer efforts with a special gathering adjacent to the sites a few days before the event.
Although a very minimal amount of interaction in terms of surveys and focus groups took place, once the project progressed, the adjacent neighbors and property owners became involved in the site design and construction. Eventually, the entire neighborhood was improved. Nearby neighborhoods were also inspired and encouraged to renovate their properties, implementing the same technique used by the Westwood Park residents.
Social Gathering Spaces: Each home varied in terms of orientation, design and layout but all were designed to have outdoor "rooms." The use of existing or newly planted trees provides a "ceiling" giving the space a human scale. Additionally, the trees serve as a sun filter while pyramidal evergreen hedges provide a feeling of enclosure for the patios. In some designs, "garden walls" made of the broken concrete stacked to a height of 3 ½ feet surrounded the patio, providing privacy and blocking out strong winds.
Construction Cost
The lack of funds for hardscape materials is what ultimately inspired the team to be creative with the concrete sidewalks. The project made use of free materials that many would consider to be waste or undesirable products. Labor was accomplished by volunteers, and tools, including earth-moving equipment, were donated. Because of these donations, the creative re-use of materials, and the free labor, there was no cost for site improvements. This is especially significant for the client, Habitat for Humanity, as they are a non-profit organization that relies on donations. For the project team, this was a win-win solution. As a result of the incorporation of the concrete into the landscape, the cost of approximately $410,000 (at $6.21 yard) was not incurred. As a result, the cost of the homes' construction was driven down to approximately $50,000.
Monitoring Information
No formal monitoring was conducted.
Maintenance
While no specific maintenance is required for the hardscape material items in the landscape, except the occasional pressure washing, the county's Master Gardener program has provided expertise to sustain efforts in the planted areas of the site (trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, flowers etc). Local Master Gardeners were recruited to assist the new residents in maintaining their landscapes by working side-by-side with the future homeowners in the initial design and installation of their yards. The goal was to empower and educate homeowners so that their yards were maintained properly. The service was provided free-of-charge since the Master Gardeners are required to provide pro bono service for their certification as Master Gardeners.
Reuse of sidewalk for retaining walls
Issues/Constraints of the Site
The development was situated on sites where former homes were torn down due to abandonment and a rundown appearance. Materials were left behind from their prior residential usage (e.g. boards, bricks, etc) and onsite soils were degraded.
Lessons Learned
One of the greatest challenges of this effort was also its greatest strength - the willingness of its volunteers. While they had a terrific enthusiasm for the effort at first, they became tired out and their replacements (additional future volunteers) needed to be educated on what was to be accomplished. However, because the work was not technical, training was easy.
More project details
Although no website for the project remains, as it has expired, further details of this effort can be found on the design firm's website: http://innovativelanddesign.com/
Project Consultants
V. Scott Holmgren
President, Landscape Architect
Designer and Supervisor
Innovative Land Design Associates
Elizabeth Pierce (Currently: Tim Buhl)
Development Director
Habitat for Humanity - Detroit Metro
Joseph Newland
Construction Director
Habitat for Humanity - Detroit Metro